Gutted standard-bearer Tom Carter has demanded the Waratahs finally use the pain of another season of heartache to seize the day.

Emotionally wrought after NSW's Super Rugby season ended with a 26-13 loss to the Blues on Friday night, Carter said the biggest regret was the continued failure to handle "the big moments".

The passionate centre listed moments in key games throughout the year when NSW failed to cope with the pressure and bemoaned their inability to learn their lessons.

"Insanity is the definition of doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result and I think that's our biggest problem," he said.

"We go out there and make the same mistakes.

"If we are serious about winning the comp, we need to be better in those big moments."

Thanks largely to Carter's own 17th-minute try, the Waratahs led 8-7 after a spirited opening half hour at Eden Park.

But the powerful Blues grabbed the upper hand when NSW turned the ball over twice in attack and then panicked with transgressions at the breakdown to concede a 13-8 halftime score.

From there, the Blues dominated every facet.

NSW were ravaged by injury during 2011 and were missing nine of their strongest starting 15 at Eden Park but Carter declared there should be no excuses, especially after a strong start.

"We showed incredible courage and incredible spirit to play the way we wanted to play but in the end out lack of discipline cost us," he said.

"We have enough experience to be better than that.

"We've had enough players who have played three of the last four finals (series) here, so I think it's about us growing as a group and these big games are about winning the big moments and we didn't win the big moments."

Seen as a potential future captain, Carter is convinced NSW can cover for the losses of stars Phil Waugh and Kurtley Beale next year and won't need to rebuild.

"We've definitely got enough firepower. There's no excuses," he said.

The Blues are likely to meet the Queensland Reds in next Saturday night's semi-final at Suncorp Stadium but must overcome a second-row crisis with Anthony Boric their latest lock to be sidelined with a foot injury.

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