The Queanbeyan Blues' woes were compounded on Sunday by their second loss in a row, against the Goulburn Bulldogs, 36-24.
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While it was always going to be a tough assignment to play the Bulldogs at their home ground, the Blues made a positive start and led several times in the first half of the match.
A couple of late tries to the Bulldogs pulled the score to an even 18-18 at half time, but once the teams took to the park for the second half, Goulburn had it all their own way.
The home side scored a further three tries in the second half, while the Blues could only add one more to their tally. This was, in part, due to a series of injuries which reduced Queanbeyan to 12 players by the time the match finished.
"We had a lot of injuries last week [against the Gungahlin Bulls] too, it's kind of deja vu," Queanbeyan captain and coach Terry Campese said.
"The exact same thing happened last year around this time where we lost four key players for the season [in which the Blues would finish sixth].
"I think [the injuries are] more concerning than the loss at this stage."
Campese knows full well how important it is to have a full strength side on the field if the Blues are to have a shot at the premiership.
Luckily for Queanbeyan, he added, there is plenty of depth in the club.
"Hopefully we can just rally the troops up, we've got a healthy squad," Campese said.
"Our 19s are travelling pretty good, but I don't want to take too many more from them."
The Queanbeyan Blues will take on the Tuggeranong Bushrangers this Saturday at Seiffert Oval from 3.30pm.