It’s hard to know where the Cowboys loss rates on the disappointment scale this year, but certainly pretty darn high.
With all to play for, the game could hardly have been off to a better start.
Up 18-0, the Raiders looked to be going into half-time shutting the Cowboys completely out.
It wasn’t to be. One error later and a Cowboys try on the stroke of half-time changed the whole game.
It’s frustrating for sure but it’s frustration for a very specific reason.
Raiders fans know full well their side is capable of beating anyone.
It’s a matter of time until those big games are won by the Raiders more than they’re lost.
But unfortunately, we just haven’t been able to get those tight wins as much as we’d like… yet.
The key word in that sentence is “yet”.
Without a doubt, the Raiders have one of the most talented rosters in the comp.
The forwards are big, strong and determined.
The backline is young, quick and capable of breaking through any defence in the comp, time and time again.
The Raiders can also defend like premiership heavy weights.
We’ve seen it at times. In the first half against the Cowboys, the boys’ defence was unbelievably good for the most part.
It’s not the first time we’ve seen it either.
The issue is, it’s been great in patches, but not always for entire games.
And that’s the source of frustration.
If they stick together through the tough times, this Raiders team won’t just be good, they’ll be great.
Unfortunately, it’s just taking a little more time than fans would like.
But, reflecting on the same time last year, things certainly felt a lot worse for the Raiders and their fans.
If we were told then, that just one year on from the end of 2014, we’d be regularly in with a shot against teams at the top of the comp, we’d have taken it.
Improvement takes time. It takes patience.
It starts from this weekend and it continues into next year.
We know what’s just around the corner but like a kid on a road trip, we just want to be there already.
We will get there Raiders fans and when we do, it’ll feel a whole lot better than it did at full-time last weekend.
Personally, I'm hoping to feel a whole lot better at the conclusion of the 80 minutes against the Tigers on Monday night at home. Let's get out there and support the boys in what is a highly crucial game.
Go Raiders!
