AN off-colour Queanbeyan Blues may have dished-up their scrappiest performance of 2015, but coach Simon Woolford insists there's no need to panic.
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Despite a plethora of turnovers and an early deficit, the Canberra Raiders Cup favourites did enough to evade defeat against the Woden Valley Rams at Seiffert Oval on Saturday.
A piece of individual brilliance from centre Tim Ruediger seconds from time spared the Blues blushes and gave the hosts a come-from-behind 24-19 win.
Inside the final minute of the game and staring down the barrel at a one-point defeat, Ruediger tip-toed down the touchline and kicked and regathered before throwing an inside pass to Jake Wheeler, who dotted down to secure a last-ditch win.
The try kept intact the Blues' unblemished record of nine wins without loss and shores-up their chances of a minor premiership and back-to-back grand final appearances.
Coach Woolford knows his side must improve if they're take down nemesis Goulburn on the road tomorrow.
"I'm very happy with the result but our performance as a team wasn't up to the standards we have set over the last couple of years," said longtime Raiders skipper and retired NRL veteran Woolford.
"It seems like at the moment we are finding our best efforts at the back end of games which is good in a way but also disappointing as we want to start games the way we're finishing them."
Goulburn, along with hometown rivals the Queanbeyan Kangaroos, are firming as the Blues' biggest threat for the Canberra Raiders Cup.
Tomorrow's match, which kicks-off at 2pm at Goulburn's Workers Arena, is a repeat of last year's decider.
The way things are going, it could yet be a precursor to this year's grand final, too.
