The Raiders have moved into the top four with a thrilling golden point victory over the New Zealand Warriors at GIO Stadium in Canberra this afternoon. It’s the second week in a row that the Warriors have lost in golden point, and it’s likely they’ll now drop out of the top eight.
» Re-live the match with our live blog
Canberra captain Jarrod Croker crossed for his third try of the match two minutes into golden point extra time, after the Warriors had conjured a miracle comeback. They trailed 22-6 with ten minutes to go, before scoring three tries in the last ten minutes. A sideline conversion by Issac Luke on the hooter forced the match into golden point.
The Raiders showed real grit in defence in the first half, scoring two tries just before half-time to lead the Warriors 12-4 at the break, after only having 40 per cent of possession.
The Warriors controlled most of the first half, but scored just one try through Manu Vatuvei who crossed for his 150th career four-pointer. They also had a try by David Fusitua contentiously disallowed when the bunker ruled that Canberra’s defence was impeded.
The Raiders absorbed a lot of defensive pressure with several repeat Warriors’ sets, before Jarrod Croker and Joseph Tapine both scored late in the first half.
In the second half, a second try to Croker and one to his centre partner Joey Leilua looked to have the Raiders safe at 22-6, before two tries to Warriors five-eighth Thomas Leuluai and one to David Fusitua helped the Warriors to storm back into the match.
Final score
Canberra 26
Warriors 22
Stats
Try scorers (Canberra): Jarrod Croker (3), Joseph Tapine, Joey Leilua
Top metres gained (Canberra): Jordan Rapana 173, Joey Leilua 172
Top tacklers (Canberra): Josh Hodgson 46, Elliott Whitehead 39
Try scorers (Warriors): Thomas Leuluai (2), Manu Vatuvei, David Fusitua
Top metres gained (Warriors): David Fusitua 175, Ryan Hoffman 155, Ken Maumolo 148
Top tacklers (Warriors): Simon Mannering 42, Bunty Afoa 34
The Roar’s AFL MVP votes
3 – Jarrod Croker – A dream game for the Raiders’ skipper, scoring 3 tries, assisting with another, and putting in his usual solid goal-kicking performance.
2 – Shaun Johnson – Looks to be playing injured, but is still the Warriors’ spark in attack. His kicking game to force repeat sets in this match though was the reason the Warriors had so much ball in the first half.
1 – Jordan Rapana – Saved the day for the Raiders numerous times in defusing the Warriors’ dangerous kicks in goal, while also churning through 173 metres in attack.
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