It's one thing to deal with another match riddled with errors and ill-discipline but the most frustrating aspect of the Western Rams' poor start to the Andrew Johns Cup is inability to put a finger on what exactly is causing the lacklustre performances.
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Much like the round one loss to the Illawarra South Coast Dragons, the Western Rams under 16s were their own worst enemy on Sunday at Narromine's Cale Oval.
The final result was a 30-16 win for the Macarthur Wests Tigers and while the visitors were worthy winners the match was one the Rams could have easily won.
The Tony Woolnough-coached Rams led at quarter-time and at half-time but the ball handling only got worse and more penalties crept into the match as the Tigers took control.
Some penalties against the Rams were contentious but many stemmed from silly mistakes or frustration in the warm conditions, leaving Woolnough too disappointed to comment after the match.
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Assistant coach Thomas Wilson admitted it was a similar performance to the one at Cowra in round one and added it was all more painful given the side had spoken about it and shown a great deal of effort and talent at training.
"It's just silly mistakes. It's attention to detail and we've just got be better in those areas," he said.
"We've got a great team but they don't realise how good they are yet. I don't know if it's an age thing but they've just got to get through those things and they'll be fine.
"They try hard and train hard and everything is really good and they're a great bunch of kids but it's those little things and I can't put my finger on how to fix it yet.
"We've just got keep working and hopefully they get it together."
While the Rams shot out to a 12-0 lead early their task was soon made more difficult as key forwards Michael Coady and Jonah Raidaveta exited the match.
Red Bend prop Coady suffered a head knock soon after scoring the opening try on seven minutes while St John's powerhouse Raidaveta appeared to be battling a shoulder complaint.
"It wrecks your rotations, especially with your middle forwards," Wilson said of their departures.
"And especially a player like Mick Coady, he offers a lot of go-forward in the middle and is good in defence as well."
Coady's front-row partner and Orange youngster Ethan Young was immense in the match and scored his side's second try in a strong effort but there was little he could do as the Rams were forced to defend their line time and time again in the second quarter following a host of mistakes.
The Rams' lead was cut to 12-10 at the main break and tries were swapped in the third quarter to leave everything to play for at 16-all.
But things didn't get any better for the Rams in the final term and the Tigers had their tails up by then.
Some attacking flair began to show while lively hooker Lincoln Miners kept the Western defence on the back foot throughout the contest.
Three fourth quarter tries secured the win, the Tigers' second from three rounds while the Rams have the one victory to their name.
"There was a lot of good things. Our forwards moved well and our defence was good considering how much pressure we put ourselves under," Wilson added.
"It's just the mistakes. You can't win a football match making mistakes like that."
The Tigers weren't perfect in the victory and coach Michael Holz was disappointed to see the team begin slowly again but with two wins recorded from the first three rounds his side is in a handy position.
"It was very pleasing to get the win. We didn't start too well and we always seem to start slow but it was good," he said.
"They've got the ability to play footy and they haven't shown it as much as they should.
"They've come back from behind twice now but we've got to start well."
- MACARTHUR WESTS TIGERS 30 (Bowen Roper, Lincoln Miners, Daniel Waqa, Heith Pritchard, Josh Liu tries; Zac Gibson 5 goals) defeated WESTERN RAMS 18 (Michael Coady, Ethan Young, Braith Boyd tries; Kaydden Hoad 3 goals)