Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson believes the difference between his side and those at the top of the table is the ability to make big plays when needed.
After scoring the first try and taking it to the Storm for the opening 20 minutes, the Roosters then conceded the next 26 points in their 26-10 loss to Melbourne on Saturday night.
While the score didn't reflect how close the Roosters were, Robinson lamented his side's execution during a crucial period in the second half.
"I saw a lot of effort, we we're in the arm wrestle there and some errors in the middle of that second half when it was 14-6, we just turned over some good possession… we just lacked good execution on the critical times in the game," Robinson said.
"We're sitting in a position that we don't want to be in, but we also don't try and hold ourselves as one of those teams, as a bottom dweller, we feel like we're a quality team and a quality club, and we want to play that way.
"I feel like we've done that the last couple of weeks, but the reason they're up the top and we're down the bottom is making critical plays at critical times, and we haven't done that."
Blake Ferguson donned the number one jersey for the first time since Round 1 this season to give Latrell Mitchell a rest from the position, and Robinson was pleased with how the NSW Blues star played the role.
"I thought he was busy. I thought he organised our line well and we defended well for most of game, we had to," Robinson said.
"There was some good organisation there, and I think he grew as the game wore on, obviously with the last try and then the break at the end, I thought he was finding his way and improving, and still a way to go for him and Latrell in that position."
The Roosters now face their second consecutive five-day turnaround which Robinson labelled as 'tough scheduling' post game, although captain Jake Friend had a more positive outlook on their situation.
"Sometimes I think you lose like that and we've played well in the last two games for long periods, so sometimes just a quick turnaround is good just to get back out there and play footy and try and fix those things that we didn't get on tonight. It is tough on the body, but sometimes it's good just to get out and play footy," Friend said.
The Roosters will likely have to back up on Thursday night against the Broncos without prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, after he was forced off in the 20th minute with a knee injury and did not return.
"It's just a lateral ligament in the knee. It's not long term, but it won't be ready in five days," Robinson said.
