The Canberra Raiders have had an impressive first hit out of the year with a 32 - 18 win over the Sydney Roosters at Leichhart Oval on Friday night.
It was a great performance from the team who overcame some adversity before and during the match.
A couple of late changes before kick-off saw Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad start as halfback and Adrian Trevilyan as hooker.
The Raiders gained some great field position early off the back of a penalty, taking full advantage a few tackles later with fullback Xavier Savage kicking and regathering to plant the ball over the try-line for the first four-pointer of the match.
Jarrod Croker successfully converted to give the Raiders a 6-0 lead after three minutes of play.
The Raiders made it back-to-back tries just three minutes later. Emre Guler surged towards the try-line, before starting hooker Adrian Trevilyan went over for a try from dummy half the next play.
Croker added the two points to extend the lead to 12-0 after eight minutes.
The Roosters hit back in the 20th minute, with a try to second rower Naufahu Whyte. Adam Keighran converted to close the gap to 12-6.
A brilliant piece of play by the Green Machine saw an excellent offload by Semi Valemei to winger James Schiller, who made a break down the sideline before passing in-field to Brad Schneider, who scored the four-pointer.
Croker converted to bring the score to 18 – 6 after 24 minutes.
Trevilyan went off with a head injury in the 29th minute, with Adam Elliot and Nicoll-Klokstad sharing the hooker role for the remainder of the match.
Canberra made it two straight tries in the 30th minute, with Nicoll-Klokstad making a 40 metre run down the centre of the field before finding Corey Harawira-Naera, who got his first try of the night.
Croker continued his perfect kicking record, making it 24 – 6.
It was a great first half display by the team, with the score remaining 24 – 6 at half-time.
The Raiders made a couple of changes at the half-time break, with Seb Kris and Brad Morkos going into the centre positions and Clay Webb into the second row.
Canberra were first on the scoreboard in the second half off the back of a Nicoll-Klokstad grubber kick, with Elliot regathering and passing to Peter Hola who crossed the try-line.
Schneider hit the upright on the conversion, with the score remaining 28 – 6 after 45 minutes.
The Roosters scored in the 63rd minute after Eli Roberts planted the ball down just before the dead ball line. Ronald Volkman converted to make the score 28 – 12.
The Sydney side notched up another try five minutes later through second rower Joshua Wong, with Volkman kicking the sideline conversion to close the gap to 28 – 18.
Croker hit back with a four-pointer in the 73rd minute, running through a gap in the defence and over the try-line. Schiller missed the conversion, leaving the score at 32 – 18.
Raiders 32 (Tries: Xavier Savage, Adrian Trevilyan, Brad Schneider, Corey Hawawira-Naera, Peter Hola, Jarrod Croker; Goals: J Croker 4, ) d Roosters 18 (Tries: Naufahu Whyte, Eli Roberts, Joshua Wong; Goals: Ronald Volkman 2, A Keighran)
