Josh Papalii injury compounds Canberra Raiders loss to Sydney Roosters

He was talking about one of the most valuable shoulders in the ACT after Raiders enforcer Josh Papalii was unable to return in the second half due to a shoulder injury he suffered in a hit-up in the first half.

While he was able to play on, he didn't return after being substituted in the 31^st minute - having already amassed 112 run metres.

It compounded the Raiders' 18-6 loss to the Sydney Roosters in the NRL grand final rematch at Canberra Stadium on Saturday night.

Papalii has carried the Raiders pack on his back at times this season, scoring important tries and making massive metres through the middle.

His efforts have led to talk of him going down as a Raiders great.

Both his loss and the actual loss also makes it that little bit harder for the Green Machine to make the top four, with the fourth-placed Roosters now one win and one place ahead of them on the ladder.

He was looking his usual impressive self during that first stint until he emerged from a collision clutching at his shoulder.

It could be up to the likes of Ryan Sutton, Joe Tapine and Dunamis Lui to cover his absence if he does spend any amount of time on the sideline as Canberra's injury curse for middle forwards continued.

They could welcome back Sia Soliola (face) in the coming weeks, but Stuart said it wouldn't be next week against St George Illawarra.

They're already missing Emre Guler (ankle), Corey Horsburgh (foot) and Josh Hodgson (knee), with rookie Kai O'Donnell a possible inclusion to cover Papalii.

Stuart was disappointed with the Raiders' performance in the second half and felt it was in stark contrast to the first half.

"Concerned," he said when asked about Papalii's shoulder.

"We'll find out how serious it is. For Josh not to come back on, he's obviously feeling it.

"Joe Tapine is playing the best form of his career too. If Josh is out we'll find someone to fill the jumper.

"I said it here seven or eight weeks ago when everyone wrote us off that you don't understand what's inside, no one gave us the ability to show you what's within the playing group, what the mentality is.

"Since the Josh Hodgson injury, Corey Horsburgh, Emre and the boys who are out in the middle, I think they've shown you how much spirit's in the joint."

In little comfort for Papalii, but he was right. Never mind Sonny Bill Williams. It was James Tedesco you had to worry about.

Tedesco scored a double to further frank his standing as the best footballer in the world.

He had 12 tackle busts in the first half and finished the game with 14.

Williams spent an eternity on the sideline waiting to come on in the second half before finally doing so in the 59^th minute.

He only spent about 12 minutes on the field and only had a few touches after all the hype during the week.

There were also concerns for the Roosters, with Luke Keary put on report for a crusher tackle on Raiders fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad in his return from a rib injury.

Starts have been a focus for the Raiders all season, but it wasn't an ideal one for the grand final rematch.

One Raiders mistake compounded another - Jack Wighton failed to find touch, then Semi Valemei lost the ball in a hit-up and within seconds Tedesco was over in the corner to open the scoring after just six minutes.

The Raiders enjoyed large swathes of possession, but just weren't quite able to crack the impressive Roosters' defence.

That proved the difference between the two teams, with only some John Bateman brilliance able to crack it.

Bateman capped off an impressive build up from the Green Machine.

He kicked in behind the Roosters' defensive line and chased to put the ball down himself.

Why he wasn't given the try assist as well is anyone's guess.

The door's always open for him to return to the Green Machine and everyone in Canberra will be hoping it doesn't take long for the England international to step back through it.

That trademark unpredictability has been proving gold for the Raiders since his return from a shoulder injury.

Raiders halfback George Williams' kicking game was excellent in the first half as he forced three dropouts in the first half as he looked to take control of that aspect of the game whenever the Raiders pressed on the fifth tackle.

But the Roosters went back into a lead they would never surrender when Kyle Flanagan kicked for winger Daniel Tupou to fly over Nick Cotric to score.

It made it 10-6 at the break.

Stuart felt they were a different team when they came out in the second half - and it wasn't in the good way.

But it wasn't due to a lack of effort.

He was confident they would be able to get back on track over the final three rounds leading into the finals.

"That's why I credit the players, the way they just keep turning up each week and filling the jersey," Stuart said.

"I was really disappointed with how we played in that second half, the way we started the second half we were really loose. It just wasn't us.

"As I say, we'll move on quickly from it and get back to where we were because they're a good football team and they're a lot better than what they showed in the second half. Two different teams."

A Flanagan penalty goal looked like it could be the only score of the second half at one point, until Tedesco struck again.

He took a leaf out of Bateman's book and kicked for himself, although it fortuitously fell for him to regather and score under the posts.

Keary attempted a field goal, which cannoned off the post as the Raiders couldn't find a way through the Roosters' stiffling defence.

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo presented Roosters centre Josh Morris the match ball after the game to mark his 300^th NRL game.

AT A GLANCE

SYDNEY ROOSTERS 18 (James Tedesco 2, Daniel Tupou tries; Kyle Flanagan 3 goals) bt CANBERRA RAIDERS 6 (John Bateman try; Jarrod Croker goal) at Canberra Stadium. Referee: Gerard Sutton.