The Canberra Raiders will finally get a shot at revenge when they face the Sydney Roosters in the grand final rematch on Thursday night.
The Raiders’ bid for a first premiership in a quarter of a century ended in heartbreak when they lost to the Roosters 14-8 in last October’s decider at ANZ Stadium.
It was a controversial affair, with the Chooks’ two tries coming following contentious refereeing decisions.
Sam Verrills’ try came minutes after a Luke Keary kick was charged down and then ricocheted off one of their trainers.
The second came when the referee signalled six more tackles for Canberra with ten minutes remaining, only for Jack Wighton to be forced to turn the ball over after he had been tackled.
On the next play, the Roosters broke out of their own half, with Daniel Tupou sprinting down the eastern wing and then throwing the final pass to James Tedesco who finished with a 20-metre run to the tryline, ensuring the Chooks became the first team in 26 years to successfully defend a premiership in a unified competition.
It also denied Ricky Stuart a second premiership as a coach, 17 years after he led the Roosters to the 2002 premiership as a rookie.
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)
Despite the result, Wighton won the Clive Churchill Medal.
In 2020’s original fixture, the Roosters and Raiders were to have met in Perth in Round 11, however the reworked fixture has them playing at the Sydney Cricket Ground – 284 days since the decider.
This marks the longest wait between a grand final and the ensuing rematch since 2002-03 – after the Sydney Roosters defeated the New Zealand Warriors in the 2002 decider, the two teams didn’t face each other again until the penultimate round of the 2003 season – 329 days later.
It will be the first time Canberra play at the SCG since their 1987 grand final loss to Manly, which was their first appearance in the summit match since entering the competition in 1982.
And while the Tricolours have called the SCG home while the old Allianz Stadium is rebuilt, it will be the first time they play at the ground this season after it was deemed not to fit under Phase 1 of the NRL’s return to play policy.
The Chooks have won their last ten matches at the ground, their previous loss being in Round 1 last year, to the Rabbitohs.
In the meantime, Trent Robinson’s side temporarily played their home games at Bankwest Stadium, and have only lost one match since the season resumption in May – a thrilling, golden-point loss to the Melbourne Storm at Suncorp Stadium in Round 9.
Last week, Matt Ikuvalu made the most of his late call-up, scoring five tries as the Roosters thrashed the Cowboys 42-16 at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in their first match in Townsville since 2016.
On the other hand, the Raiders have lost three of their last four matches to sit seventh, and have been decimated by injuries to key players.
Last week, they crashed to a 20-14 loss to the Melbourne Storm at home, losing Josh Hodgson and Bayley Simonsson to serious knee and shoulder injuries respectively in the process. The pair join John Bateman, Corey Horsburgh, Sia Soliola and Emre Guler on a growing injury list. As a result, many are writing off the Green Machine’s chances of ending a 26-year premiership drought this year.
Another major point of discussion is the COVID-19 outbreak in Sydney’s south-western suburbs, which could force the entire competition to be shifted north to Queensland should the outbreaks get worse. Still, a crowd of up to 10,000 will be permitted to watch this match, though this could change.
Back at Moore Park for the first time this year, the Chooks should take the points and continue their march to a third straight premiership.
ppa19696837
Roar Rookie
I come from the school that if anything happens off a bomb which is unclear, then the ref should give the benefit off the doubt to the defense. If the attacking team is not good enough and needs a bomb to manufacture a result, then they should execute well enough to remove doubt. I wrote this piece discussing this type of decision and how I think we should look at it. (gets pretty left field but just a simple Benefit of Doubt to the defense would suit me) I know footies about luck etc, and the raiders did get some luck right through out the game, it wasn't just one decision that cost them. Roosters defense was spectacular!!! https://www.theroar.com.au/2020/04/14/its-not-the-refs-its-the-rules-part-1/
Fraser
Roar Rookie
Hey ppa, thanks for sharing that link. Maybe it's a little unclear whether it came off Whitehead or Tedesco first, it definitely still hits Tedesco in the head while he's playing at the ball - six again.
Andrew01
Roar Rookie
And Ben Cummins makes several hundred correct decisions every game, but nobody carries stats on things ref's do right
Panthers3
Roar Rookie
not in my book
King in the north
Roar Rookie
It looks like there are more Roosters fans on this thread than there were at last years GF. The 2019 Roosters premiership will always have a turd-scented asterisk hanging over it - like it or not.
Chris Love
Roar Guru
Roosters by 24.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
Wood Duck, It is irrelevant that the refs got the call right in the end because the ref ruling six again and changing his mind was what mislead the Raiders. Whether he touched it or not the ref ruled 6 again and changed his decision. The two referee system failed and ruined the game as a contest, there's no use denying it. It's not a matter of fairness it was just a system fail and the reason why we have gone back to one referee. Referees aren't allowed to change their decision for a good reason.
Nick
Roar Guru
Me need the tinfoil? If you think the roosters were/are cap compliant then you're the one who needs to stop drinking the kool aid.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Well, Googling Sydney Roosters robbed, the only thing close is the time someone nicked Robbo's Mercedes.
Superspud
Roar Rookie
I don't know that the decision to allow 25% capacity at stadiums is an NRL decision is it? Isn't that a government regulation? I don't know.
Superspud
Roar Rookie
Yes but do you remember what happened the second last time they played there?
ppa19696837
Roar Rookie
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/roosters-were-robbed-in-grand-final-just-like-raiders-refs-boss-20191102-p536vg.html
Andy F
Roar Rookie
So you think the roosters just have really good accountants able to hide massive salary cap breaches? Mate would you like to buy some more tinfoil for your hat?
Short Memory
Guest
Good to see Raiders fans have their excuses and whinges locked and loaded before their team even gets on the bus.
Short Memory
Guest
Nah. Thurston era Cowboys.
Short Memory
Guest
Brandon Smith knock on.
Muzz
Guest
Cheers Ricky.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
It was actually a Qualifying Final where the Raiders beat the Storm after a BJ flick pass to Bateman. They beat the Rabbitohs in the Prelim. Do your homework. Bateman was always going to go home given he has a young daughter living in England. It was a matter of when. At least he got them to a GF. Who knows if he will even get on the field this season. Can't argue about Scott - a major disappointment so far. BJ is rocks and diamonds as the Tigers have found out. Ricky stuck with Sezer for about 4 years and he helped them get to a Grand Final with some good performances in the second half of 2019. George Williams is definitely an upgrade.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
LOL... on the way there Geoff, on the way there. that bus will be wound up something special
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
If I was a fly on the wall and the Raiders lose I wouldn't be doing too much buzzin ...