Canberra Raiders Face Early Struggles in 2026 Campaign
The Canberra Raiders have had a challenging start to their 2026 season, recording just one win and three losses following a 34–22 loss to the Cronulla Sharks on Sunday afternoon. This result marks a significant departure from their performance last year, when they were minor premiers and strong contenders for the Grand Final.
The team’s difficulties began early in the match, with prop Corey Horsburgh being sent to the sin bin just three minutes into the game. This early setback proved costly, as the Raiders conceded 12 points during his absence, putting them on the back foot from the outset.
Leadership and Resilience
Despite the loss, Raiders captain Joseph Tapine remained composed and focused on maintaining team unity. In his post-match comments, he emphasized the importance of perseverance and hard work.
“We just have got to stick together and just go back to work and work hard,” Tapine said in the press conference. “There is no point in us sulking over it.”
Head coach Ricky Stuart was also candid about the team’s struggles, pointing out recurring issues with discipline and execution that have affected their performance in three of the first four games of the season.
“They’re a good footy team, I’ve got a football team there,” Stuart said. “But our biggest issue is the self-destruction. It’s happened three out of our last four games, that we’re not giving ourselves an even chance to test ourselves against the opposition. But we’ve been dealing with it, we spoke about it again just then after the game, and until we do, we won’t win a game of footy.”
Discipline and Execution
Stuart acknowledged the impact of Horsburgh’s early sin bin, agreeing with the referee’s decision but highlighting the need for improved discipline.
“It put us under pressure,” Stuart said about the early sin bin of Raiders Horsburgh. “It was the right call. It was a professional foul. And in the heat of the moment, it is hard for players, but we’ve got to be better.”
He also noted that while the players’ intent to win is strong, it sometimes leads to mistakes. “That’s coming from trying too hard,” he said. “That’s the care in the guys in regards to wanting to win, but you’ve got to balance that. But I don’t want them to lose it either. As long as they keep the effort there in regards to what they have got at the moment, we can keep building on it.”
Fighting Back
Despite the early 12-point deficit, the Raiders showed resilience in their efforts to come back into the contest. “There was never a concern for me that we weren’t going to keep fighting and try and come back into the contest, but it was a massive head start for them,” Stuart said.
“The 12 points in the first four or five minutes was sort of on the back foot chasing from the start of the game. Different calculations come into the mind when you’re trying to play and trying to balance the game out, and you still know you’re 12 behind. I thought they did a really good job. I think we got back 18-12. We set up an opportunity for ourselves in the second half.”
Looking Ahead
While the effort to claw back into the match offered some encouragement, the Raiders’ inability to control key moments continues to define their early-season struggles. With discipline and composure now clear priorities, the team faces a crucial period if they are to rediscover the form that made them one of last year’s Grand Final favourites.
