The Raiders welcome the Tigers to the nations capital as they look to entrench themselves in the top eight.
Result
Canberra Raiders 22
Tries: (4)ย Sebastian Kris 25th, 44th; Hudson Young 28th; Matt Timoko 63rd
Goals: (3) Jamal Fogarty 30th, 45th, 64th
Wests Tigers 18
Tries: (3) Charlie Staines 35th; David Nofoaluma 56th; Luke Brooks 70th
Goals: (3) Apisai Koroisau 36th, 58th, 71st
Report
The Canberra Raiders held on in a tight affair, overcoming a valiant Wests Tigers side to solidify their top eight push heading into the final four games of the season.
The Raiders were able to overcome 14 errors as a team, including 10 in the first half, as they struggled to put the Tigers away; but they walked away with the two competition points and moved to fifth place on the ladder – on equal points with the fourth place Melbourne Storm.
Both sides had plenty of chances, but it was Sebastian Kris (back at centre) who would get the first points of the game when Jack Wighton attacked down a short side and chipped over the top, before an absolutely cruel bounce left Jahream Bula and David Nofoaluma grasping at thin air, leaving Kris to picked up the scraps.
After struggling to complete their chances up until this point, it wasn’t long before they were granted another, and this time it wouldn’t go begging when Hudson Young charged onto a short ball close to the line and stretched out to plant it over the line. Jamal Fogarty kicked the extras and gave the home side a 10-point lead.
The Tigers would be the next to score when David Nofoaluma turned defence into attack, taking an intercept and streaking away, finding Luke Brooks in support with a sublime pass, before Brooks fired a ball away to Charlie Staines, with the winger touching down in the corner. Apisai Koroisau nailed his conversion attempt from the sideline to bring the score to 10-6 heading into the half-time break.
Kris would then electrify the home crowd early in the second half, leaving four defenders in his wake as he showed a great turn of pace to run away and score his second of the afternoon. Fogarty pushed the lead back out to 10 points, slotting his conversion attempt.
After creating the opportunity for their first try of the afternoon, Nofoaluma would score the Tigers’ second of the afternoon when a bat back from Bula off a high ball found Koroisau, who then landed a pinpoint cross-field kick right in the winger’s hands to bring the Tigers back within four points.
The Raiders would once again establish a 10-point lead with Jordan Rapana finding Matthew Timoko close to the line and the centre showing his strength, fighting through contact to reach out and score.
The Tigers refused to lay down, once again hitting back to reduce the deficit to four points when a Koroisau grubber found Brooks flying: the halfback scored untouched under the posts to set up a grandstand finish.
The Tigers had a number of chances in the dying stages but were ultimately unable to crack a resolute Raiders defensive effort.
Staines and Kris both sustained hamstring injuries in this clash, while Daine Laurie failed his HIA and will be subject to concussion protocols.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR POINTS
Embed from Getty Images3 – Jordan Rapana (Raiders)
2 – Corey Horsburgh (Raiders)
1 – Luke Brooks (Tigers)
