Canberra players are taking ownership for their crushing NRL loss to Cronulla, rather than blaming costly errors from the referees.

Forward Elliot Whitehead and halfback Sam Williams believed a poor first half, as the Raiders trailed 22-6 at the break, was more to blame for the defeat that all but ended their finals hopes.

"After the game people were speaking about the calls and it's a bit tough to take in that aspect but we realised we can't just blame it on the referees," Whitehead said on Monday.

More: https://wwos.nine.com.au/2018/07/23/13/23/raiders-players-not-blaming-nrl-referees