Cougars player-coach Jason Demetriou admits last night's thumping Northern Rail Cup quarter-final defeat was a reality check for his players.

Demetriou’s men were utterly outclassed as they crashed to a 60-12 defeat in front of the Premier Sports cameras at Cougar Park.

Much has been made of the Cougars’ close-season recruitment drive, which harvested the acquisition of several former Super League stars, but this loss marked a second home defeat in succession.

Co-operative Championship rivals Halifax won at Keighley last weekend, and Demetriou is taking a philosophical stance.

He said: “I was very disappointed last night but, like I said to the lads afterwards, it happens.

“Featherstone have had 60 points put past them twice this year but we’ve got to learn from this.

“I’ve been saying recently that technically we’ve dropped off and because we’ve been getting away with it and getting results, we’ve kidded ourselves.

“I think we needed to realise that we’re not on the money.”

Demetriou’s side were outclassed during a disastrous opening 40 minutes in which Rovers ran riot to book their semi-final spot but they improved markedly after the break to score tries through Jy-mel Coleman and Sam Obst.

Demetriou added: “The second half was much better and defensively we showed what we’ve been about this year.

“But in the first we just backed away and did things that we just don’t do.

“Lessons have been learnt and a lot of blokes have to look in the mirror and be honest with themselves.

Like I say, I think we’ve been kidding ourselves that we’ve been doing better than we have.

“Featherstone just ripped straight through the heart of our defence and that hasn’t happened all year.

“At least in the second half Featherstone had to earn their points whereas they didn’t have to in the first half. We just gave them to them.”

Cougars are in action again next Sunday when they host Batley.