Rosters NRLW coach John Strange is adamant his side won't be taking the favourites tag into a game any time soon after being upset by the Raiders on Saturday.
On the back of a win over the Broncos in Round 1, the Tricolours were expected to make it two from two in Canberra but instead they were given a wake-up call by the Raiders in a 24-14 loss.
“I don’t think we’re the favourites now after playing like that and we probably shouldn’t be,” Strange said post-match.
“So that’s probably not a bad thing, it’s Round 2 of a nine-round competition so that’s positive.
“Last season we went all the way through playing good footy and came up short in the semis so to play like that now, that’s a positive for us because we’re certainly not the favourites playing like that.
Cheyelle Robins-Reti try 36th minute
“Not a good look for the women’s game unfortunately what we dished up today.”
The Roosters lost star centre Jess Sergis to a hamstring injury before the game but Strange said her absence was no excuse for the errors and lack of discipline that cost his side dearly.
Completing at just 66 per cent and missing 32 tackles, compared to the Raiders' 14, the Roosters were left with plenty of work to do before they host the Dragons at the Sydney Cricket Ground in just five days.
Monalisa Soliola try 63rd minute
“It certainly wasn’t the reason we lost, losing Jess,” Strange said.
“It wasn’t ideal losing her in the warm-up but Fres (Jayme Fressard) is a centre and she did a good job out there.
“We came up with simple errors, they weren’t even errors through playing footy and that’s the frustrating thing. Just one up drops.
“It was probably a little bit embarrassing to be honest to watch it because I thought with 20 minutes to go we were still going to come home and win the game.”
After going down to fellow NRLW newcomers Cronulla in Round 1, the Raiders went to another level at GIO on Saturday.
“It was just the belief. We had a bit of a game plan there and the girls stuck to it and executed really well,” said coach Darren Borthwick.
“We took a lot of lessons away from last game and we took a few away from today but we got the result in the end.
Borthwick soaks up historic Raiders victory
“These girls have got a lot of belief in themselves and we’ve got something to work with again now.
“But we’ve got to keep a lid on thing now, it’s a longer competition next week and we need to be better again.”
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