The Canberra Raiders took a golden point win over the Newcaslte Knights on Sunday afternoon, needing to come from behind to escape with a victory over the NRL’s 16th-placed side.
» Click here for the full match report
Final score
Raiders 29
Knights 25
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The Raiders will be looking for a big home win to keep in touch with the top four when they face the cellar-dwelling Knights on Sunday in Canberra. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 2pm (AEST).
On paper and current form this looks a heinous mismatch – a Canberra side looking to assert its position in the congested upper echelons of the ladder against a horrible Knights team that has lost nine games in a row, has a for-and-against of -341 and posses a sum total of three premiership points.
To look for a positives, Knights fans could take some encouragement from the fact that one of those premiership points came in the Round 3 24-24 draw against Canberra, with the Raiders needing a last-minute try to Jordan Rapana to get the game to golden point. Before that draw, the Raiders and Knights had split the last ten games at five apiece.
But let’s be realistic folks, the outcome of this game is dependent on how focused the Raiders are and how long Newcastle can hold out against the waves of attacks from BJ Leila, Rapana, Jarrad Croker and the steamrolling Josh Papalii.
There’s not much to say in team news, with both sides naming unchanged lineups from last week. The Raiders are coming off a 30-22 win up on the Gold Coast while the Knights went down to St George 30-18 in a reasonable performance, one which seemingly pleased Coach Nathan Brown so much he named an unchanged side for the first time this season. Some consistency at the selection table might help the Knights as they look to build their team for the years ahead.
Robbie Rochow made a welcome return for the Knights last week and while he’s been named on the bench, he should play more minutes and give a bit more defensive starch to the forwards. Up and coming forward Mitch Barnett will be looking to make an impact against his old side after a midseason move to the Hunter.
While the Raiders named an unchanged team, they left Robina with injury concerns to Josh Hodgson, Kurt Baptiste, Jack Wighton and Sia Soliola and with that many key players dinged up, there’s still the chance of the seemingly weekly Ricky Stuart selection ‘smokescreen’.
Prediction
If the Raiders are serious about making any noise in 2016 they’ll be out there to put this one to bed early. The Knights will be looking to build on their efforts from last week, but this should be a bridge too far.
Raiders by 22.
Will the Raiders stay focused and take care of business, or can the Knights stand up and cause a massive shock? Join us from 2pm (AEST) to find out.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
How would that work, take another goal line drop out from the knock on in the in goal of the team taking the goal line drop out?
sham
Guest
So does this apply to goal line drop outs?
Jono
Guest
Looks like I was wrong. I thought the Knights would go on with it and put 40-50 on the Raiders due to the defensive work the Raiders did in the first half and with the bench 2 down (though it was really 1 down apparently). I guess I gave a team that has lost, what 10 in a row, too much credit. A better team wouldn't have lose that game. That said I also thought the Broncos would go on with it and they didn't, but at least they still won. Not sure what to make of the Knights. I'm guessing they shut up shop and just wanted to hold on for the win. Can't blame them given how their season is going and when a win seems likely how it might play on your mind. They should have won that, but the final piece of luck went to the Raiders for them to steal the win away. Despite the win I still wouldn't rate the Raiders as one of the 8 best sides in the comp at the moment. Apart from the Dogs I can't think of any team above them they've beaten. They have also spent a lot of the season trying to reel back in big leads they've given up. You need to play 80mins to be a genuine top 4 team and they maybe only did it twice and once was against a hapless Tigers. While I might be very critical of the Raiders I still rather they win than lose, even if you could reasonably argue that they didn't deserve it.
Cugel
Roar Rookie
Are you sure it's not a straw, that should be clutched at?
AJ Mithen
Expert
» Click here for the full match report What a game for my first live blog! Phew. I'll hang round here for a bit to chat but if you crave more live league, join Riley Pettigrew for the Cowboys v Rabbitohs » What's next? Follow our Rabbitohs vs Cowboys live blog My votes from today: 3- Josh Papalii 2- Jarrad Croker 1- Sione Mata’utia
AJ Mithen
Expert
Don't worry boffins, I haven't forgotten you. Here are your end game stats: POSSESSION: Knights 51%, Raiders 49% LINE BREAKS: Knights 3, Raiders 4 PENALTIES: Knights 7, Raiders 8 RUN METRES: Knights 1583, Raiders 1548 ERRORS: Knights 4, Raiders 7 Josh Papalii was huge for Canberra with 189 metres. Josh Hodgson ran for 127 metres and Junior Paulo racked up 142. For the Knights, Robbie Rochow got 152 metres and stuck 35 tackles, the impressive Mitch Barnett got 142 but I thought Sione Mata’utia was their best with 142 metres, 28 tackles and a try. His defence was outstanding today.
PNG Broncos fan88
Guest
The curse of taking 2 points when you have an unassailable lead. Instead of playing negative footy and protecting the lead - go for the jugular and score another damn try!
AJ Mithen
Expert
I reckon we should take that to Tim Gore this week...
AJ Mithen
Expert
Isn't it funny how players sensibilities leave them as the end of a game approaches?
AJ Mithen
Expert
How bout that? The Raiders come from 0-22 down to get the win. The Knights were valiant (get it?) but we came down to the lottery of golden point. Canberra wouldn't want to perform like that very often if they are serious about finals football. As for the Knights, they have strung together a couple of reasonable weeks, can they cause some mischief at the tailend of the year? What do we make of today's madness, folks?
Josh
Guest
The game had so much drama at the end. So exciting. I would have actually liked to see the angle on Rapana being onside or offside but something seemed to happen with the telecast.
LMM
Guest
A drop kick is a knock on. If it doesn't go through for a field goal, it should be treated as a knock on.
Dianne
Guest
Great game! Go Raiders!!! Well done AJ Mithen for keeping those fingers on the keyboard for such an exciting game!
AJ Mithen
Expert
FULL TIME Blake Austin's field goal attempt was the stuff of under 12's, but the spin on the kick caused a huge reverse bounce to give Rapana a play on the ball. Hard, hard luck for the Knights. They played out of their skins today. Raiders get the win, 29-25.
AJ Mithen
Expert
'85 TRY RAIDERS! RAIDERS WIN IN GOLDEN POINT! Jordan Rapana makes the most of a filthy bounce between Dane Gagai and Nathan Ross. Rapana came flying through, took the ball, grounded it and the Raiders faithful breathe a HUGE sigh of relief. Raiders 29 Knights 25
Alex L
Roar Rookie
... That bounce was absolutely ridiculous, but how could they let that one go.
AJ Mithen
Expert
'85 POSSIBLE INCREDIBLE WINNING RAIDERS TRY!! Bunker checking how onside Rapana was when Austin hit a field goal attempt...
AJ Mithen
Expert
'85 DROPOUT NEWCASTLE after Austin's field goal is touched. Raiders 25 Knights 25
AJ Mithen
Expert
'84 Cogger's field goal attempt is charged down! Raiders fly up the field to the 40... Raiders 25 Knights 25
AJ Mithen
Expert
'84 Knights in good position...