While disappointed with Saturday's result, Newcastle Knights forward Robbie Rochow was pleased to be back out on the field after a broken arm had sidelined him for a number of months.
"I find it really hard to watch, so to be back and contributing to what I should be doing with the team, it was a good feeling once I got back into the rhythm," Rochow told the media at Knights HQ on Monday.
In his return match, Rochow recorded 128 metres, 23 tackles and three offloads.
"I have a bit soreness from not doing enough contact but I feel fine and I am ready to train tomorrow," he said.
After a number of tough weeks for the young squad in red and blue, Rochow added some valuable experience.
"You just try and do your job really well, it is hard to criticize when you aren't playing," the 25-year old said.
"I can do my job well and hopefully I can give positive feedback and tell players where they should be better, based on what I am doing as well. I have to be better defensively."
Rochow lamented the Knights' bad start on Saturday against the Dragons.
"Our ruck defence was poor... at the end of the day if your ruck defence is poor, that is where it starts," the 25-year old said.
It is an area of improvement the team will need to work on as they prepare to take on the ninth-placed Raiders at GIO Stadium on Sunday.
"It is never easy, Canberra in Canberra," Rochow said.
"Our ruck defence is going to be even more inmportant, so we will have to fix that up."
