2023 NRL Round 3: Raiders 24, Sharks 20

Andrew Pelechaty reports on Canberra’s tense win against Cronulla-Sutherland at GIO Stadium.

Result

Canberra Raiders 24
Tries: (4) Corey Horsburgh 30th, 51st; Albert Hopoate 15th; Matthew Timoko 43rd
Goals: (4) Jamal Fogarty 16th, 31st, 45th, 52nd

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 20
Tries: (4) William Kennedy 6th; Ronaldo Mulitalo 33rd; Jesse Ramien 55th; Briton Nikora 71st
Goals: (2) Braydon Trindall 8th, 72nd
Field Goal:

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Report

After a horrible collapse against The Dolphins, Canberra had the worst possible start in their return to Bruce Stadium: Danny Levi sidelined with a suspected broken jaw after two minutes. It added to Canberra’s already troubling injury/suspension list.

Cronulla-Sutherland opened the scoring after six minutes with a try to last week’s hat-trick hero William Kennedy.

Albert Hopoate hit back for Canberra after a beautiful cut-out ball from Jack Wighton.

Corey Horsburgh gave Canberra the lead after 30 minutes with a classic Raiders crash ball try. Jamal Fogarty’s second conversion gave Canberra a 12-6 lead.

Ronaldo Mulitalo struck back three minutes later after grounding a Kennedy kick. Braydon Trindall missed the conversion as Canberra went to half-time leading 12-10.

With Canberra’s habit of poor second halves, would Raiders fans be feeling nervous at the break?

Matthew Timoko eased some of those nerves with a try early in the second half – extending Canberra’s lead to 18-10.

They pushed it further with a second try to Horsburgh. There was further pain for Cronulla when Royce Hunt was sin binned for throwing a punch in the lead up to the try. Could Canberra capitalise on this?

No, they couldn’t, as the Sharks got one back through Jesse Ramien (playing his 100th NRL game), cutting Canberra’s lead to 24-14 with 25 minutes left.

The Raiders showed their desperation soon after with a string of passes to get out of the in-goal – though the risky play was heart-in-mouth stuff.

The Sharks then ensured a grandstand finish when Briton Nikora scored. Trindall’s conversion made it 24-20 with eight minutes left. 

But for once, Canberra hung on – opening their account for 2023. A trip to Newcastle awaits, while Cronulla have their local derby against St George Illawarra.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR POINTS

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3 – Corey Horsburgh (Raiders)
2 – Albert Hopoate (Raiders)
1 – Joseph Tapine (Raiders)