Canberra overcame a 14-point half-time deficit to keep their finals hopes alive, defeating Newcastle 28-22 at McDonald Jones Stadium.
The Raiders were on life support the break after the Knights jumped them at the start for a 22-8 advantage, but managed to claw their way back into the game via tries from Seb Kris and Hudson Young, before winning it late through Jack Wighton.
Ricky Stuart’s men had to resurrect themselves to stay in the running for a finals spot: they remain in ninth, a win behind the Broncos, Bunnies and Roosters. For and against should keep the latter two safe, but Brisbane will be looking nervously over their shoulder.
It was far from vintage Raiders, but they got the job done with a solid second half performance. They dominated the ball – helped by poor Knights handling – and took their chances. They take the two points and move on.
“I was really happy (with the response),” said Stuart. “It was two halves of football, You’ll hear that a lot of times from coaches as a cliché, but it definitely was.
“I thought the way they reacted after the half time break was the sign of a mature team and a team that cares about a result.
“Winning those games keeps us alive for another week. We’ll review and talk about that first half, but we know what it was. We’ve got to be better.”
Newcastle were playing only for pride, but after a horror month off the field and a series of terrible performances in front of their own fans, they clearly felt obliged to show up and have their crack.
“With 30 seconds to go to be trying to rescue the game back, I’m pretty proud,” said Adam O’Brien.
“I’m gutted, and probably more gutted because of the season that these guys have had, I’d love to have seen them win today.
“We’ll look back on this as a game where we showed backbone. We had to overcome a lot, not just personnel, but for the last month.”
Hudson Young scores. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Anthony Milford had one of his on days, running the show in the first half, and was ably assisted by Tex Hoy from fullback. Typically for the Knights’ rotten luck, neither will be at the club next year.
They lost Bradman Best and Enari Tuala earlier in the week, stood down for disciplinary reasons, then Daniel Saifiti to a positive Covid test and Tyson Frizell in the warm-up, to go with the likes of Kalyn Ponga, Kurt Mann and Jake Clifford to long-term injuries.
The Knights fielded two debutants: Krystian Mapapalangi and Oryn Keeley, called in at the last moment from the reserves.
“The experience of the team showed in the second half,” said O’Brien. “We have two debutants and young blokes, and to lose two rep players, one in captain’s run and one in warm-up, probably hurt a little bit.”
Despite their patched-up team and having nothing to play for, they turned in their best half of footy since defeating the Wests Tigers in round 2.
Milford made his first major intervention, interesting the line on the left edge and getting Edrick Lee into the corner. That was pegged back by Kris, who skinned Dane Gagai far too easily.
The Dolphins-bound halfback then turned up on the right side, creating room for Hoy to get Dom Young in for his first.
Gagai then got revenge on Kris, rinsing his opposing centre to put Young in again, before Jordan Rapana got on the end of a slick backline move to reduce the deficit.
The momentum hardly shifted, however. Milford lofted a kick that Lee rose highest to claim and Hoy split the Raiders down the middle with a pass for Mat Croker, who put Jayden Brailey in.
The 22-8 half-time scoreline flattered Canberra: Milford had missed four of his five attempts with the boot and the gap could have been far wider.
With the season on the line, the Raiders had to fire up and hope for some help from their opponents. Much to Adam O’Brien’s anger, they got it.
Kris was able to get over within moments of the restart, and Young crossed for his ninth of the year after chasing a kick that everyone else had given up on.
Gagai was then put on report for a dangerous tackle, which allowed Jamal Fogarty to level the scores. 22-8 had become 22-22 in no time.
Newcastle did manage to steady themselves, but just when they seemed to have got some control, they were sucker-punched.
Josh Papali’i went straight down the middle, dumped on to Joseph Tapine and he, somewhat untidily, found Wighton to take the lead with seven minutes to play. Fogarty nailed the conversion from the touchline.
The Raiders then turned down the match-sealing field goal – Fogarty lined it up, but opted to go for the try – and invited disaster, just as they did a week ago against St George Illawarra.
Newcastle threw the kitchen sink, with Lee diving at the corner, but his putdown landed on the corner post under pressure from Rapana. Like last week, the Raiders managed to survive and keep their finals hopes alive – just.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Might be better for the comp if the Raiders make the finals rather than the Broncos given their season appears to be in freefall. The Broncos game against the Eels on Thursday is crucial to the final make up of the 8, People are rubbishing the Raiders and its true that many of their wins have been close but at least they are finding ways to win. That wasn't the case a few years ago. Plus they have some reasonable form against those in the top 8 beating the Sharks twice this season and recording wins against the Roosters, Rabbitohs and the Storm.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Well we did get Ben Kennedy from the Raiders, let's hope he turns out to be as good as BK. Luke Davico, not so much.
Muzz
Guest
Do the apologies that other teams get on a Monday morning cancel out the Raiders 3? Sitting in 9th is a fair reflection of their season.
Womblat
Guest
I reckon you'd be pretty stoked with your team right now. Everything they are touching lately is solid gold and they are gonna be REALLY hard to stop. That last game you got against the Rabbits is going to be season defining for a lot of teams.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Bit unfair Randy. Jack's short and long kicking game is a lot better than it was. Sure he has the odd kick out on the full but he's developing in that area of his game. And can't question his effort with kick chases. Don't think he's a natural 5/8 but he's getting better.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Now that we can agree on Randy - and to think he still has two years to go on his contract! I think we expect more form him than squatting on you haunches for 20 minutes trying to get your breath back; attending post match interviews with Ricky sitting there like a stunned mullet; and doing the rounds on the dressing room with the microhone after a win. Ricky has made some shocking recruitment decisions extending Jarrod Croker and Elliot Whitehead for as long as he has. Around $1 million per season down the plug hole.
farkurnell
Roar Rookie
I like those Date Puddings too
Womblat
Guest
There are two other teams in the mix too. The key game might be the final fixture, where those other two teams in equal 8th spot (and therefore the only teams vulnerable to the Raiders nudging them out) play eachother. That Rabbits v Roosters Friday Night game will have the weight of the world on it for maybe FOUR clubs. They are both firing too so could be a belter. Delicious!
Sticks & Stones
Guest
Pretty ordinary or uneducated opinions below regarding Raiders just making up the numbers.. They tend to play to the level of their opposition and they have beat Sharks twice, Roosters, Storm and Rabbits. Pretty decent for a team losing their starting hooker in the 1st minutes of the season. Add the 3 apologies for critical calls potentially costing them games they could already be on 32 points. So in summary they are no better or worse than many of the teams currently in the 8 (excluding Penrith)
Muzz
Guest
Manly will beat the Raiders.They'll snap out of their rainbow coloured nightmare that has devided the team and perform as one unit. They owe it their fans to finish on a good note!
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Hi Albo. I agree. South’s could be 7th on 3 with Easts and raider’s, fitting in with for/against. Close few weeks coming up for many teams.
Adam
Roar Guru
What 4 to 6 points? The Dragons game where the referee correctly awarded 6 again as per the rules?
Randy
Roar Rookie
Yeah we know, Jack has no footy smarts, he is all brute strength.
Randy
Roar Rookie
Adam Elliot has been excellent, the pommie Elliot has been a waste of space.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Yes I realise what you and Pete are saying but and after last Thursday, I've got allot of confidence in the Bunnies winning their last two games. First we have a great record against the Roosters and the Cows will come down to earth next Saturday night as the Bunnies will beat them convincingly. There is no worries boys as we will end up on 32 points and the Bronx and Roosters can please themselves as Parra will lose against the Storm and beat the Bronx and will end up on 6th and the Bunnies on 5th which is pretty much the same and no advantage from 5th to 8th anyway. Go You Bunnies as I've got 100% confidence :thumbup: :laughing:
KenW
Roar Rookie
I think the NRL made terribly unconvincing cases on both occasions, but yeah let's not re-hash it again. Why don't we just say either game could have gone to golden point with less controversy than their actual result and who knows what might have happened. 1 apiece is blunt but probably fair.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Yeah I know that one sticks with you Ken - but the NRL made a pretty convincing case after that time had expired and the tackle had been completed when CHN gives that push. Plus the Dragons player had lost the ball without any interference prior to the push. Don't think the Dragons had much to complain about.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Gotta love your confidence, steveng ! As ordinary as the Raiders have looked at times this season , their favourable draw should see them finish with 2 more wins and finish on 30 points. So the Broncos will need to win at least one of their games - Eels or Dragons to get to 30 ( and hoping for a better for and against to get them through). So the Bunnies will need to win at least one of their games - Cowboys or Roosters to get to 30 ( with better for and against to get them though) So the Roosters will need to win at least one of their games - Storm or Bunnies to get to 30 ( with a better for & against to get them through). I can see at least one of the Broncos, Bunnies or Roosters losing both of their final games and allowing the Raiders into the 8.
KenW
Roar Rookie
They beat the Dragons with a more dubious one though.... at the very least you'd say it evened out.
Albo
Roar Rookie
100% Harry. But it has been 8 years in the making of Joe Tapine. He has showed glimpses in recent years, but in 2022 he has been sensational and consistently so. Now the best prop in the game, just pipping Fisher-Harris for mine. And those two will be awesome for the Kiwis in their World Cup quest later this year.