It was a slow start for the Rhinos as they struggled to carry the momentum gained in their last outing against the same side on Saturday.

Coach Gabriel Abdala though his side was a bit too panicky during the first 45 minutes.

“The message was to pretty much just settle the ball down play our style of football and making sure we are looking to play positively rather than the negative approach,” he said.

“We started off really slow in the first half so it was just matter of trying to switch on and I think we switched on a bit too late.

“I'll be honest we didn't finish the opportunities that we created. It just proves that if you don't finish your opportunities, it comes back to hurt you and that what happened. 

“They broke through clearly once, and they got a goal out of it.”

It was a goal in the 85th minute from Monaro’s Sam Smith which proved to be the killer blow for the Rhinos as despite pushing hard for the final five minutes they were unable to find an equaliser to send the game into extra time.

Despite the result, Abdala still took positives from his side’s performance.

“It was more positive in the centre driving forward,” he said.

“We all stuck to the plan and stuck to the structure so I can't fault them at the end of the day it is a cup game, and it comes down to the team that shows up on the day and has a bit of the luck.”

The Rhinos now move into their third game in seven days and will face more stiff opposition with another trip to the nation’s capital.

“Canberra FC is one of the bigger teams in the competition,” he said.

“We knew coming into this weekend that it was going to be a big seven days with three hard games so now it is just about regathering the group and moving forward.”

The side looks set to be without the services of Andrew Vitucci who hurt his calf over the weekend and will miss the game with Canberra FC as a precaution.