Representative prop Sam Moa says it has been difficult to accept Sydney Roosters' dramatic fall from grace this NRL season.
The Roosters, who have won the last three NRL minor premierships and the 2013 title, sit second last on the NRL ladder and need to win nine of their last 11 games to qualify for this season's finals series.
It is a highly unlikely scenario given their poor form this year, which culminated in a record 46-0 loss to Melbourne last week and resulted in coach Trent Robinson questioning the commitment of his players.
Moa admitted on Thursday that the sudden demise had been difficult to swallow.
"It has been hard. We have had three really good years, including winning a premiership. But I guess you can't cry about it. You have to move on, other clubs have gone through the same thing. They have a sustained run of success and then it falls away," Moa said.
"To lose in the manner we have been losing this season has been very disappointing.
"On the other hand we have had the chance to blood some good young players who might not have had a crack if things had turned out differently, and they are the future of this club."
Moa said Robinson's comments had hit home with the players.
"We are under no illusions that he spoke the truth and we as knew as players as soon as the game finished we were lacking desire," Moa said.
"It was unacceptable for us as a club the effort we turned out on the weekend. Hopefully it won't happen again."
The Roosters face the Warriors in Auckland on Sunday in a virtual must-win game for the club in a truncated round 15.
"It is a must-win game and we need a much-improved performance from what we dished out this weekend," Kiwi representative Moa said.
Utility Mitchell Aubusson re-signed with the Roosters for three more years on Thursday.
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