Brad Fittler has highlighted the two minutes of action that swung Saturday night’s semi final in the favour of Cronulla and effectively ended Canberra’s season.

It was a bitter exit for the minor premiers at GIO Stadium, losing back-to-back games and going out in straight sets from the finals series with a 32-12 defeat at home.

The game remained in the balance until the last 10 minutes but according to Fittler, there was one obvious time period where the Raiders let it slip away.

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“There was a couple of minutes there and it was around the time when Billy Burns scored, which was a really soft try,” he said on Nine’s Sunday Footy Show.

“Just after that, Sebastian Kris [made a break] and there was support on the inside, but he just didn’t quite get that. Then a penalty went against them for a high tackle.

Sione Katoa earned a penalty for this tackle Nine

“It was nowhere near his head and they are very sensitive the referees when anyone’s head goes jolting back.

“Blayke Brailey on fifth tackle of the penalty set [got hit high], they kicked the goal and went eight points clear. After that moment, they couldn’t answer it.”

The try from Burns that started Canberra’s downfall saw the back-rower beat a host of Raiders defenders close to the line in a poor moment for the hosts, before KL Iro and Teig Wilton put the icing on the cake for the Sharks late in the contest.

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Billy Slater admitted it was “one that got away” for the Green Machine in the finals.

“They had a real chance when Sebastian Kris went through – if he could have found a teammate on the inside, they were under the posts,” Slater said.

“That makes it 18-18 with 20 minutes to go and it’s game on. I know the scoreline blew out, but they had their chance Canberra.

Seb Kris makes a break against the Sharks Nine

“They had their chance last week against the Broncos, leading by 16 points … it will definitely feel like the one that got away.”

Andrew Johns believes the absence of Ethan Strange, who was pulled out on game day due to illness, was too much for Canberra to overcome.

“They missed Ethan on the left side,” he said.

“They did not have any flow in their attack.”

Cronulla will take on the Melbourne Storm next weekend to battle for a spot in the grand final.