It's a case of too many cooks spoiling the broth at St George Illawarra.

Ironically, it was the much anticipated return of Dragons skipper and five-eighth Trent Barrett from a six-match suspension that coach Nathan Brown thinks contributed to his team's 31-12 loss to Canberra in their NRL showdown at Canberra Stadium.

With playmakers Barrett, Mark Gasnier, Matt Cooper, Ben Hornby, Jason Ryles and Luke Bailey all calling the shots, it may have been a case of too much talent swelling the Dragons' ranks.

"We got in each others way a little bit," Brown said.

"It was our worst performance in the last eight or nine weeks as far as everyone knowing their role.

"It was a lot of people trying hard ... to get us out when we were behind by trying to do jobs that weren't their jobs.

"It was our first time with Bailey, Ryles, Barrett and Gasnier and Cooper and Hornby going at once, they really haven't seen each other and we didn't get a flow like we had for a period of time there."

Ultimately the Dragons lost the game by handing Canberra too many penalties - 11 to the Raiders' five - which Canberra managed to convert into tries to remain undefeated against St George Illawarra since 2002.

But it was a refereeing decision that ensured the Dragons had no chance of making a late comeback.

An under pressure Ryles was sin binned in the 73rd minute for dissent after complaining about a penalty awarded against him when Canberra was leading 19-12.

Video referee Graeme West said Ryles was marched for "using language in relation to a (referee) decision".

The decision sealed the match for Canberra, which took advantage of its extra man on the field to score late tries to halfback Todd Carney and winger Adrian Purtell.

Brown accepted the sin binning decision but urged referees to be consistent in their decisions. Last week Newcastle winger Anthony Quinn was penalised for swearing at a touch judge at a pivotal moment in its loss to Melbourne.

"If Anthony Quinn and Jason Ryles go, I just hope that everyone now that does dissent, regardless of who it is, I hope they go," Brown said.

"I just hope they don't make exceptions for high profile players or because they feel sorry for someone or like someone."

Canberra deserved to win Sunday's match which moved it into ninth position on the NRL table, but in equal sixth place on points.

Brown believes the Raiders could be premiership contender if they make the top eight.

"Matt Elliott is as good a coach as (Melbourne's) Craig Bellamy ... they're the two best coaches in the competition," he said.

"They (Canberra) are like bad relatives, they don't go away, they just hang around.

"They keep staying and drinking all your good wine and beer and they just stay there, it doesn't matter what the score is, they are there."

Barrett wasted no time in making his presence felt on the field when he opened the scoring in the seventh minute.

But a penalty to Canberra five metres out from St George Illawarra's line opened the way for Raiders forward Michael Weyman to reply.

Canberra gained a 12-6 halftime lead when five-eighth Jason Smith was awarded a try off a flat pass from centre Adam Mogg and then went ahead 18-6 when Carney crossed for his first try two minutes after the break.

Schifcofske kicked a field goal in the 62nd minute before the Dragons replied with a try in the 68th minute to Gasnier.

Ryles' dismissal in the 73rd minute ensured Canberra was never in danger of losing its lead.

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