Paul Crarey admits his side were not at the races as they suffered a 58-6 defeat to promotion favourites Featherstone Rovers on Good Friday. 

The Raiders hadn’t tasted defeat on the road in 2022, but it proved to be a difficult afternoon as the in-form hosts ran in a total of 10 tries at the Millennium Stadium. 

Outside back Shane Toal produced an excellent finish at the end of the first half, but it proved to be in vain as the hosts proved to be worthy winners on home soil.

Speaking post-match, Crarey admits his side didn’t have enough on the day to compete with the league leaders. 

“The five-day turnaround was going to be pretty short for us when they’ve had 10 days rest, but having said that, we were starved of possession,” he said.

“I think we had 17 sets to [their] 22 in the first, and in the second half we only had 14 sets to 20.

“They had a mountain of possession, and it’s very difficult to stop with the quality that they have in their side. 

“I said to the fellas in there, ‘if you’re going to have an off day, let’s have it here’.

“You’re going to get that [kind of result] a little bit in this league, especially when you’re undercooked and playing the top teams away from home on that short turnaround.”

The Raiders are back in action away at Halifax Panthers next weekend, who themselves are on a three-game winning streak following a dramatic 20-17 victory at Bradford Bulls last time out. . 

Crarey accepts it will be a tough test away from home but has backed his players to recover quickly following Friday’s defeat. 

“Featherstone did a number on us; [they] starved us of possession, were clinical, real good discipline,” he said.

“We just need that rest this week leading up to the Halifax game, because that’s another tough test in Yorkshire.”

Away travel is still available for our trip to Halifax on Sunday 24 April.