Canberra Raiders were looking to win their fifth consecutive game when they faced last years Grand Finalists, Parramatta Eels in round 11.
Result
Canberra Raiders 26
Tries: (4) Albert Hopoate 36th; Hudson Young 42nd; Sebastian Kris 45th; Matthew Timoko 74th
Goals: (5) Jarrod Croker 5th, 38th, 43rd, 47th, 64th
Parramatta Eels 18
Tries: (3) J’maine Hopgood 32nd; Bailey Simonsson 53rd; Maika Sivo 67th
Goals: (3) Clint Gutherson 14th, 34th, 69th
Report
The Canberra Raiders returned to GIO Stadium looking to record five consecutive victories as they were seeking revenge from their 40-4 loss to the Parramatta Eels in last year’s semi-final at CommBank Stadium. Parramatta would be without Mitch Moses who was sidelined under the 11-day HIA protocols as Jake Arthur stepped into the halfback role.
It was an intense and entertaining first half which saw both teams exchange penalty goals before Ryan Matterson kicked behind the line for J’maine Hopgood to score his first NRL career try, and Jack Wighton looped a pass out to Albert Hopoate to score in the corner meant both teams would go into the sheds at eight points apiece.
Corey Horsburgh and Matterson were involved in an exchange which saw the Raider sin binned midway through the first half, while Junior Paulo was placed on report for third man in below the knees on Joseph Tapine. Further confusion about the hip drop interpretation saw Bayley Simonnson placed on report without being sent to the sin bin.
Within six minutes of the second half the Raiders skipped away to lead 20-8 with Josh Starling kicking through for Hudson Young to score before Jamal Fogarty set up Sebastian Kris to score out wide.
Parramatta clawed their way back into the game with Will Penisini finding space down the sideline before Simonsson scored against his old club. When Maika Sivo went over with 12 minutes to go the Eels were within four points of the lead.
Another break from Penisini looked set to level scores but an error by Haze Dunster ended that opportunity. Soon after, Fogarty with a pin-point kick saw Jordan Rapana tap back from Matt Timoko to score the match winner.
In victory, the Raiders matched their five-game winning streak from 2022 before the Eels beat them in the finals series and in doing so moved to ninth place on the ladder. Parramatta dropped to fourteenth spot just two points ahead of last placed Wests Tigers.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR POINTS
Embed from Getty Images3 – Jamal Fogarty (Raiders)
2 – Hudson Young (Raiders)
1 – Will Penisini (Eels)
