A fantastic game of footy has suffered an anticlimactic finish, as the Knights and Raiders traded field goal attempts in a 24-all result.
REPORT: DRAMATIC DRAW FOR KNIGHTS, RAIDERS
The Knights dominated the second half of footy, scoring three quick tries to take a 24-18 lead with just over five minutes to play. However, a moment of brilliance from Jordan Rapana would get the Raiders back in the game, and Jarrod Croker nailed the conversion to send the game to extra time.
Debutant Cory Denniss scored two tries on debut for the Knights, while Sam Mataora and Pat Mata’utia also got onto the scoreboard. Josh Papalii, Iosia Soliola, Jordan Rapana and Brenko Lee all got over the line for the Raiders.
Final score
Newcastle Knights 24
Canberra Raiders 24
The Newcastle Knights have been very poor over the first two weeks of the season, but they’ll get a chance at redemption when the improved Canberra Raiders come to town on a Saturday afternoon. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 5pm.
The Knights have been poor over the first two rounds, there’s really no way around it. After an opening loss to the Titans on the Gold Coast, Newcastle a suffered 42-point embarrassment at the hands of the Rabbitohs last weekend. Not much has gone right for the Knights thus far, but coach Nathan Brown will be hoping that his club can put up a better fight in their first game in front of a home crowd.
The Raiders have flown out of the blocks in 2016, with back-to-back wins over the Panthers and the Roosters giving them the perfect start. However, their success hasn’t been without loss, as both of their Round 1 halves are injured, and they lost centre Joey Leilua during the week to suspension. Ricky Stuart has the Raiders playing good Canberra football, and a third win on the trot would set them up beautifully for a tilt at the Top 8, and potentially the Top 4.
David Bhana suffered syndesmosis of the ankle last weekend, so he will miss two months. His absence means that the previously suspended Pauli Pauli will get a shot at regaining his first grade spot. The Late mail also has Akuila Uate missing the clash, with youngster Cory Denniss set to make his debut. Jaelen Feeney may also lose his fullback spot, with Dane Gagai set to move into the number 1 jersey, and Sione Mata’utia to move into the vacated centre position.
The Raiders have one change for this clash, with Brenko Lee to play his first match of 2016 in place of the suspended Joey Leilua. Shaun Fensom and Lachlan Croker were under an injury cloud during the week, but both are expected to take their spots in the side.
Prediction
The Knights could be in with a shot here, as they have a more experienced halves pairing for this clash. However, the Knights have been extremely underwhelming, and it’s tough to see how they will go about getting their first win. Canberra should do just enough to take the chocolates.
Canberra by 6
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
I didn't have much to complain about from the refs. Which is unusual for me. The Knights supporters might think differently given they had a couple of tries disallowed. Who was the journo that Ricky Stuart laid into at the press conference?
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
Er.., aren't the Raiders missing their two front line halves? And young Croker was carrying a shoulder injury after the match against the Roosters. I think that might explain why Whitehead was playing at 5/8. I think I'll take 5 out of a possible 6 points for the first 3 matches of the season given injuries and suspensions. You can't take any NRL game for granted. To say the Knights should have been a pushover is just rubbish. How many tipped the Panthers to beat the Broncos tonight? Not many I'd wager. I thought the Raiders defensive effort was reasonable given the amount of ball the Knights had in the second half. And lots of teams would have lost after they went behind 24-18 with 5 minutes to go
Jono
Guest
Just watched the post game presser and Sticker cracked it with a reporter in it and refused to answer his question. It will be interesting to see if that is a breach of the NRL's media policy or whatever they call it. It wouldn't be a new NRL season if Sticky wasn't getting fined for something he did in a press conference.
The eye
Guest
Take both halfs out of any team and they're going to struggle...particularly if your backup is a backrower and a virtual no hoper..
Spongebob
Guest
Someone must be injured? He did a pretty decent job in my opinion. 2nd half Raiders were smashed all over so didn't contribute much, first half he had 2 try assists I believe and was quite good all round.
Spongebob
Guest
Huh. For me likely 8-12. They've played 3 winless teams and struggled, their team list has good forwards but ordinary backs, halves on the most part. On both paper & performances not sure you could think they're top 4 material! Souths, Cowboys, Broncos and probably Sharks will be the top 4. You'd be fairly confident calling it already bar injuries. Tigers, Storm, Bulldogs, Eels will probably round out the top 8. Warriors maybeeee. The other 8 are so unpredictable hard to know where they'll finish. But Raiders top 4 - unless it was a joke selection? Sometimes you pick 1 outsider just to see how they go.
Jono
Guest
A good team would have put the Knights away today. The Raiders again road on the back of lady luck and despite again not been the better team didn't lose the game. There are serious defensive issues that still need fixing and the better teams will take proper advantage of. They were also very soft in the middle allowing the Knights to do whatever they wanted in last hour of the game. Knight desperately unlucky not to win that game. The Raiders can't expect to play like they have in the last 2 weeks and think they can make the 8. Also what was Whitehead doing in the halves? I missed the first 15 mins due to a storm taking out Foxtel and never heard an explanation.
Spongebob
Guest
I thought it was good bar maybe 2 pretty bad (in my opinion) decisions. Both teams had a lot of blown opportunities and could have/should have won it.
Jono
Guest
We had an article here on the Roar saying just that. Apart from the fans online some footy experts like Johns have declared the Raiders as a top four team. I completely agree with your sentiment. The Raiders have some major issues that have been papered over by wins that you could argue said more about the opponents than the Raiders.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Hell of a game, but a really bad refereeing performance put a bit of a dampener on it.
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
MVP VOTING 3. Jarrod Mullen 2. Josh Hodgson 1. Pauli Pauli
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
FULL TIME A fantastic game of footy has suffered an anticlimactic finish, as the Knights and Raiders traded field goal attempts in a 24-all result. The Knights dominated the second half of footy, scoring three quick tries to take a 24-18 lead with just over five minutes to play. However, a moment of brilliance from Jordan Rapana would get the Raiders back in the game, and Jarrod Croker nailed the conversion to send the game to extra time. Debutant Cory Denniss scored two tries on debut for the Knights, while Sam Mataora and Pat Mata'utia also got onto the scoreboard. Josh Papalii, Iosia Soliola, Jordan Rapana and Brenko Lee all got over the line for the Raiders. Thanks for joining me for this clash, and be sure to stay with the Roar for the Panthers and Broncos at 7:30.
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
90' Mullen has to shoot from 50 out, and that ends as you'd predict. We have our first draw since 2013!!! FULL TIME Knights 24 Raiders 24
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
89' Under a minute left now, and Williams will have a go, but he's wide again!! The Knights have less than a minute to go 80 metres. Knights 24 Raiders 24
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
87' Hodkinson is charged down again here, and Gagai has knocked on a further 30 metres down field!! Shocking error!! Knights 24 Raiders 24
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
86' Good run from Soliola, and the Raiders are in position now. Williams has a ping, but it's off to the right. Knights 24 Raiders 24
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
85' Rush of blood for Mullen, as he puts in a panicked kick that rolls dead. Knights 24 Raiders 24
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
85' The Knights run it off their own line through Pauli Pauli. He's been very good tonight, possibly good enough for a sneaky one in the MVP voting. Knights 24 Raiders 24
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
84' Last play of the first half now, and Hodkinson is in position. The kick is shocking though, as Wighton catches it shy of the goalposts. The siren goes. Knights 24 Raiders 24
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
83' Croker's kicks won't make the distance, so the Knights will work it away through Mata'utia. Penalty to the Knights now, and they've got just under a minute to try and set something up. Knights 24 Raiders 24