A multitude of handling errors proved the downfall of the best players from the Canberra Raiders Cup in its narrow 18-12 loss to Illawarra at Cooma on Saturday.

Nathan Chappell's second-half try reduced the deficit to just six points, but that was as close as Canberra came to keeping their title aspirations alive. Canberra defied the slippery conditions in the first half to go into the break at 6-6 on the back of an 80 per cent completion rate.

However, that dropped to 42 per cent for the second 40 minutes. Giddings was unhappy with the constant mistakes early in the tackle count as his side completed eight of its 19 sets in the second half.

''It was a game we shouldn't have lost really,'' Giddings said.

''It was a gutsy effort, but the mistakes came in threes sometimes. Poor ball control coming out of our red-zone cost us big time.''

Fullback Tyler Stephens had a late chance to tie up the scores, but was bumped off the ball in trying to regather a chip kick from halfback Carl Johnson.

Former Raiders under-20s hooker Ben Picker, the younger brother of Raiders duo Joe and Michael Picker, was a standout and scored Canberra's only try of the first half.

Giddings also nominated second-rower Levi Freeman and captain Josh Ayres as players in contention for higher honours after speaking with Country selector David Barnhill.

''Kids like Ben Picker, Levi Freeman, they certainly didn't do their chances any harm today,'' Giddings said. ''Same with Josh Ayres, he's been around a while, he was great. Nathan Smith was good. He was nice and tough. He plays back row for his club, but he can play centre as well. He was strong defensively.''

The Canberra side didn't lead in the game at any stage.

They were unlucky to concede a couple of tries from kicks along the slippery surface and fought hard to remain in the contest.

Canberra hasn't won the country championship since 1999, but Giddings believed his side wasn't far away from making the necessary step up.

''You've got to control field position, control possession and you're in it,'' he said.

''Illawarra was a good side, they just plugged away all game.''