Sydney Roosters captain Braith Anasta said the 2010 grand finalists were finding out the hard way the consequences of failing to take their half-chances.

Just one week away from the halfway point of the NRL season, the Roosters sit in equal second last with just three wins for the season.

The Roosters squandered a couple of try scoring opportunities in their round 12 match against North Queensland on Saturday and Anasta said it had been an all too common sight this season.

"We seem to be struggling all year in converting opportunities in to points and we did that again ...," he said.

Coach Brian Smith said that inability to cash in on their attack was piling more pressure onto the side and their confidence was taking a hit.

"We need to find improvement. No doubt we need to convert that into wins. Our problem in the last few weeks has been converting the chances and the half chances into points. And when that doesn't happen that in itself brings pressure," he said.

The Roosters found a new low in Saturday's match, finishing with a completion rate of just 50 per cent.

And with winger Steve Naughton joining the long-term injury list with a fractured collarbone, things don't look like getting any easier as they now prepare to face the fifth-placed Warriors in Sydney on Saturday night.

"The pieces aren't all there but they're the pieces we've got at the moment," Smith said.

"We're not whinging about it and our boys are going out and having a crack. (It's not as if) they're not trying and as Braith pointed out our goal line defence was outstanding," Smith said.

The veteran coach said he'd been through bad patches like this before and it was a matter of working on the small things.

"Anyone who's been around understands that you have some times like this. It's a question mark on all of us, how we deal with it," he said.

"Last year we enjoyed a fantastic second half of the season, almost a dream come true. I'mpleased to report that everyone in our place is working really hard. We've had no-one drop their bundle."

He said one positive from the injury toll was that the younger players were gaining vital match experience.

"The young boys are getting a good education and a good grounding by our senior players, who are really trying to help those boys to learn how to play at this level," Smith said.

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