Canberra coach Ricky Stuart insisted that a "tough week" didn't affect his team but was at a loss to explain another fadeout in a 44-16 defeat to the Roosters.
The Raiders dominated headlines leading up to Saturday's game at Central Coast Stadium after the messy and surprising immediate release of homesick English halfback George Williams on Tuesday.
Stuart said the fact Canberra led 10-0 after 29 minutes proved they were in the right headspace to compete despite the drama.
However, the manner in which the Roosters then piled on eight tries left Stuart lamenting his once-dogged side's lack of resilience.
"It was a tough week. I'm not going to sit here and lie to you, it was a tough week," a dejected Stuart said post-match.
"But I think we showed you when we got to the game, there was a lot of energy and good play - I thought we had good control of the game for 30 minutes and then it falls away.
Match Highlights: Roosters v Raiders
"If we didn't start that way, I'd say it's really affected us - but it hasn't. It didn't affect us because the boys got here, they were upbeat. I think you could only imagine how disheartened they are. We all are."
The Raiders now sit in 12th position with only four wins but they'll enjoy the chance to regroup with a bye next week.
"There's some run of play and some patches of play where things aren't bouncing our way at the moment," Stuart said.
Resilience lost: Raiders making their own bad luck
"A try off a bomb, [Jordan] Rapana getting stripped for a try. Such soft tries we're letting in. I probably shouldn't use the word soft but tries that we shouldn't be leaking. Easy tries that are breaking our back.
"When you're in this type of rut, it's very easy to find that lack of confidence again. We're starting well, we're getting into the game, we're leading, and the passages of poor play, bad luck, seem to be breaking our spirit.
"I really feel bad for all the coaches, the players. I feel sorry for them because they really are trying hard.
"But you talk about making your own luck - that's true - but at the moment we're making our own bad luck and it's really hurting us.
"It used to be the complete opposite. It was only just yesterday - the last couple of years - that we had been so resilient and so tough and yet it just seems to be sucked out of us at the moment."
