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| Wayne Bennett. |
Dragons coach Wayne Bennett has warned his team that they will have to show more killer instinct if they are to become the first in 18 years to win back-to-back premierships.
Bennett, speaking after tonight’s 24-19 loss to the Canberra at Canberra Stadium, admitted the defending premiers played to protect a lead after heading to halftime with an 18-6 advantage.
The loss was sealed by an 80th-minute Josh Dugan try after Jamie Soward looked to have secured the Dragons first win in the ACT since July 2000 with a 40-metre field goal less than a minute earlier.
Earlier, the Raiders levelled through tries to Blake Ferguson and Dugan as the Raiders rebounded from a flat first half.
“The first 10 or 15 minutes of the second half we were a little bit conservative,” Bennett said.
“Twelve points is not enough in this comp to win a game of football.”
The master coach, who guided the Brisbane Broncos to consecutive titles in 1992 and 1993, was happy with the Dragons first-half effort, which included an incredible 20-from-20 completion rate.
“Not much went wrong, we just got beaten on the full-time hooter,” he said.
“I thought we played pretty good football, overall we scored some pretty good tries.”
However, he admitted the Dragons failed to kill of the Raiders challenge when it came in the second stanza.
“They (Canberra) defended (the Dragons left edge) much better (in the second half),” Bennett said.
“We had some chances in the second half but we didn’t take them, the last play of the game comes down to luck and a bit of luck went their way.”
Bennett also shot down suggestions the Dragons’ Canberra hoodoo was at work.
“I don’t think we spoke about it that much, it’s always been a tough place to come and play,” he said.
The Dragons (29 points) remain third on the NRL ladder behind leaders Melbourne (34 points) and second-placed Manly (32).
The Brisbane Broncos and North Queensland Cowboys (both 28) are one point further behind.
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