The Raiders have lost to the Warriors 20-19 at GIO Stadium on Saturday afternoon after a last-
minute Shaun Johnson field goal.
Early on Adam Blair was sent to the sin bin for a late hit on Aiden Sezer, the sixth penalty the
Warriors conceded in the opening seven minutes.
The Raiders immediately made their numerical advantage count with Siliva Havili crashing over from
dummy half in the following set of six.
Elliot Whitehead would score the Raiders’ second just two minutes later when he ran onto a Sia
Soliola offload that came after some hot potato football, spreading the ball from one side of the field
to the other.
The Warriors hit back in the 15th minute when Peta Hiku finished off a smart back-line move.
A Nick Cotric break in the shadows of halftime set the Raiders up with some good field position that
allowed Sam Williams to snap a field goal and ensure the home side headed into the break leading
13-6.
Shortly after the break Cotric showed great strength to shrug off four defenders and score in the
corner.
Croker missed the conversion but two minutes later a stripping penalty allowed him to extend the
lead to outside of two converted tries.
Junior Paulo also found his way over the try line but was denied by the bunker due to an obstruction.
In the 58 th minute Tohu Harris did well to step his way past Blake Austin and pull one back for the
Warriors.
With just three left Isaac Luke darted through a gap from dummy half to score for the Warriors and
ensure a grandstand finish.
On the Warriors’ next set Shaun Johnson kicked a field goal to level the scores with 90 seconds
remaining.
The Warriors again made their way up the field and with just 30 seconds left Johnson kicked what
would prove to be the winning field goal.
New Zealand Warriors 20 (Tries: Hiku, Harris, Luke Goals: Johnson 3/3 Field Goals: Johnson 2) def.
Canberra Raiders 19 (Tries: Havili, Whitehead, Cotric Goals: Croker 3/4 Field Goals: Williams)
Attendance: 11,963
