Raiders
32
Match Complete
Sharks
20
| 79 |  | C. Townsend | ||
| 78 |  | S. Katoa | ||
| E. Whitehead | | 66 | ||
| E. Whitehead | | 66 | ||
| J. Croker | | 58 | ||
| G. Williams | | 57 | ||
| G. Williams | | 57 | ||
| J. Croker | | 50 | ||
| J. Wighton | | 49 | ||
| J. Wighton | | 49 | ||
| J. Croker | | 47 | ||
| J. Wighton | | 46 | ||
| J. Wighton | | 46 | ||
| G. Williams | | 37 | ||
| 27 | | C. Townsend | ||
| 26 | | B. Brailey | ||
| 22 |  | C. Townsend | ||
| 18 | | R. Mulitalo | ||
| 18 | | R. Mulitalo | ||
| J. Croker | | 10 | ||
| J. Tapine | | 8 | ||
| J. Tapine | | 8 | ||
| 5 | | C. Townsend |
| 11 | Tries | 4 | ||
| 4 | Conversions | 2 | ||
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 2 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
The Canberra Raiders host the Cronulla Sharks in a sudden-death NRL elimination final. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match from 5:40pm (AEST).
In a strange quirk of fixturing, these two faced off last weekend, although the Canberra side which runs out today will be markedly different from the Round 20 line-up, Ricky Stuart taking the opportunity to rest his key players ahead of today’s elimination final.
Even so, a relatively full-strength Cronulla outfit were unable to claim the win at home, the Green Machine getting up 38-28.
With today’s match being played in the nation’s capital and all of John Bateman, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Jordan Rapana, George Williams, Jarrod Croker, Jack Wighton, Elliott Whitehead, Josh Papalii and Joe Tapine returning for the Raiders, the hosts are scorching hot favourites to progress to the second week of the finals.
The Sharks have some good news in the return from suspension of Chad Townsend. With Shaun Johnson and Matt Moylan out injured, the halfback will carry all of the playmaking burden for John Morris’s men. Wade Graham hasn’t been at his best in recent weeks, but he’ll need to find a creative spark from the second row if Cronulla are to get up.
Prediction
It’s a massive task which lies ahead for the men from the Shire. While they sealed their place in the finals with two rounds to spare, they haven’t beaten a top-eight side all season. If they’re to break that duck today, it’s going to have to be on the back of an incredible individual performance from someone.
Canberra, meanwhile, are rested and come into today’s match-up with the knowledge their B-team was capable of handling the Sharks. So long as complacency doesn’t rear its head, they will have no problems in notching an elimination final win.
Raiders by 16.
Game information
Kick-off: 5:40pm (AEST)
Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra
TV: Nine, Fox Sports
Live stream: Kayo Sports, Foxtel, NRL Live Pass, 9Now
Odds: Raiders $1.18, Sharks $5
Teams
Raiders
1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Semi Valemei, 3. Jarrod Croker, 4. Jordan Rapana, 5. Nick Cotric, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. George Williams, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Tom Starling, 10. Dunamis Lui, 11. John Bateman, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Joseph Tapine
Bench/Reserves: 14. Siliva Havili, 15. Iosia Soliola, 16. Hudson Young, 17. Corey Harawira-Naera, 18. Sam Williams, 19. Kai O’Donnell, 20. Michael Oldfield, 21. Matthew Timoko
Sharks
1. Will Kennedy, 2. Sione Katoa, 3. Josh Dugan, 4. Jesse Ramien, 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo, 6. Connor Tracey, 7. Chad Townsend, 8. Braden Hamlin-Uele, 9. Blayke Brailey, 10. Aaron Woods, 11. Briton Nikora, 12. Wade Graham, 13. Toby Rudolf
Bench/Reserves: 14. Siosifa Talakai, 15. Scott Sorensen, 16. Andrew Fifita, 17. Jack Williams, 18. Teig Wilton, 19. Braydon Trindall, 20. Mawene Hiroti, 21. Bryson Goodwin
Simmo85
Roar Rookie
Also states you can take a quick tap. I think the ref just didn’t hear him and then had to make an excuse up.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
But we'll take the win - and the Raiders will be underdogs from now on - just how we like it
Big Daddy
Guest
Yep , that's the one. Mines a C280 sport. My son bought it for me just to run around on. Paid a couple of grand and runs like a charm and also in Gunmetal Grey.
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
I used to have a 1978 280E. Silver with interior blue leather as well.i drove it into the ground and ended up just giving it the mechanic at Midas who did the servicing. I don't think it had 400k on the clock, but it was well over 300k. Same engine. The older Mercs pre 2005 were great, but not stuff they make today
Emcie
Roar Guru
We'll find out soon enough
steveng
Roar Rookie
No I didnt, even what the Broncs dished out this year was way beyond what any Broncs hater wished for lol thanks mate, the Bunnies will go well, hopefully better than last year?
Emcie
Roar Guru
You loved every second of it steveng!! You've got more faith in next year then I do mate, good luck in the finals :thumbup:
Renegade
Roar Guru
Year over but very proud of the baby sharks in 2020, they got Cronulla to yet another finals series when they had no right to, in fact most people tipped them to finish in the bottom 4. Let’s just put some of this into perspective; • 6 rookies in the starting side today • 4 players that are only in the second season of first grade • played the year with a reduced cap (~$300k) • had around $2m of their cap sitting on the sideline for most of the year • Let Josh Morris go for Bronson Xerri, only to find out Xerri is a cheat a week before the season • lost their best player 2 weeks from the finals All of the above, this squad had every excuse to throw the towel in this season... yet the young coach and young team got the Sharks to yet another finals series! And although they need to learn to defend, they were super exciting to watch - wasn’t too many more exciting teams in attack. Season 2020 done for Cronulla, however I’m still very much of the opinion that these youngsters will deliver the sharks another premiership in the near future. Up Up! P.S. all the best to the remaining teams
Dogs Boddy
Roar Rookie
Proud of the effort by Cronulla tonight. Everyone was just expecting us to roll over and it was anything but. Well outclassed by a much better team but we pushed them all the way. With this squad the future is looking bright in the Shire. Hearty congratulations to the Raiders faithful. Roosters next week so you better be ready for that one. With a bit of luck you could be the first team to take this out from the bottom half of the 8. Until next year Up Up
steveng
Roar Rookie
:laughing: yep it was a hard watch, I felt for you all year. Never mind, they will go better next year.
Big Daddy
Guest
HY, it's good having a vintage beast. My mode of travel is Mercedes but I don't tell them it's a 1997 one with 300k on the clock.
Emcie
Roar Guru
No idea mate, every time I've tried watching the Broncos this year the under 10's seem to be on instead. Not sure why they'd be sending them out instead, the team must've got the virus from some bikie hairdressers or something
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
That's about the size of it. They looked like they were already saving themselves for next week before they had won this game and Sharks caught them unawares. In the end, class won out. :thumbup:
Daniel Jeffrey
Editor
FULL TIME Two crucial game-turning moments in this one, the first was George Williams’ intercept try on the eve of halftime. Cronulla had dominated the first 40, so to go into the break only up by four was a big blow to their chances. The second was Jack Wighton’s first try, when he took a quick tap while Wade Graham was trying to challenge Grant Atkins’ penalty decision. Graham was told he couldn’t challenge a ruck decision, and the try stood, but I’m not sure Atkins got that one right. I’m sure we’ll hear from Mr Annesley about that decision next week. At any rate, Canberra were far better in the second half, and Cronulla just weren’t polished enough in the first. They really missed Blayke Brailey after he went off with an ankle injury – the young hooker had been outstanding up until then. For Canberra, the halves pairing of Williams and Wighton were superb, the two catalysts for the win. However, the Raiders will have to start much better next week if they’re to make it through the Roosters. Thanks everyone for joining me for our coverage of Canberra vs Cronulla, Jack Aubrey will be here soon to take you through tonight’s other final, the qualifying final between the Parramatta Eels and Melbourne Storm. Canberra Raiders 32 Cronulla Sharks 20
Paul
Guest
Well most likely the best team won but like the last 10 years the ref, errors? Have overshadowed the game. No sin bin for a trip, shortly after a tackle in mid air with no penalty. But it doesn't matter the chooks will smash the Raiders next week, then go on to win the comp & then Sydney will win again. Maybe all the other teams in the metro area should put Sydney in front of their name, maybe it will change their luck. ????
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Thanks DPS - been sitting here in Adelaide with no coverage whatsoever - so nice to get some scores on The Roar from time to time - sounds like the Raiders were shocking in the first half but came home with a wet sail - they'll have to improve substantially to get over the Roosters next week
Nat
Roar Rookie
Well done Raiders, far too good in the end. Their champions just made things happen when the 'team' wasn't working. They'll give the chooks a fair shake next week. Sharks fans, you made finals in a very challenging year - well done. Better still, all the young fellas they had to debut is setting them up for a strong future. Brayley was a massive out tonight. I'll put my house on Talakai as rookie of the year.
Tony
Roar Guru
:happy:
Big Daddy
Guest
Nat, he needs a big limo for those youthful ladies on the upper Peninsula.
Ben Lewis
Roar Pro
Well done Canberra for steadying the ship. A tantalizing grand final rematch awaits next week. Hopefully the rested players will have shaken off the cobwebs and the Green Machine will be firing on all cylinders next week. Bad luck to Cronulla. I said at the start that they were the same as the Broncos last year; but they played far, far better than the Broncos did in the final last year. Commiserations to Renegade, Dogs Boddy, and all of the other fans from the Shire that I don't know of. You've done better than eight other teams.