The Canberra Raiders have overcome a slow start to record a crucial victory against the New Zealand Warriors, coming from behind to collect a 26-14 win at GIO Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
After trailing 14-0 at the break a Jack Wighton long range kicking masterclass would see the Raiders get back into the game, before a Corey Harawira-Naera double sealed the two points.
The victory now puts the Raiders equal on points with eighth place, as the Green Machine look to seal a finals position.
Match Highlights: Raiders v Warriors
After having the weight of early possession, it was the Warriors who would get the scoring underway for the afternoon, with their try coming through the hands of Jack Murchie.
The second rower was able to break through the Raiders defence, bouncing his way to the line to score New Zealand’s first in the second minute.
Shaun Johnson would kick the conversion, giving the away side a 6-0 lead in the fifth minute.
The Warriors would add their second soon after following a costly Raiders error on the goal line, with New Zealand making no mistake.
Daejarn Asi was able to find some space on the left-hand side, pushing through the Canberra defensive line to score in the seventh minute. Johnson would again convert, leaving the Raiders trailing 12-0 early.
Canberra would have chances to hit back soon after, finally getting some ball after defending for the majority of the first 15 minutes. Both Adam Elliott and Matt Timoko would go close, held back only by a determined Warriors defence.
Elliott tackled on the line
A penalty from Jack Wighton would see Johnson and the Warriors opt for a shot at a penalty goal soon after, with the halfback making no mistake. This would extend the Warriors lead to 14-0 in the 27th minute.
Despite good chances to both Jamal Fogarty and Elliott in the dying minutes of the first half the Raiders would head into the sheds scoreless, needing a big second half to bounce back from 14-0 down.
A monster kick from Jack Wighton following the first set of the second half would find touch off the hands of the Warriors, giving Canberra the perfect field position.
The Raiders would capitalise, pushing the ball to the right-hand side into the hands of Matt Timoko. The centre would give a spectacular offload with multiple Warriors holding onto him, finding Albert Hopoate in the 42nd minute.
Hopoate scores first NRL try
The winger made no mistake, scoring the side’s first of the afternoon, and after a missed conversion from Fogarty the Raiders would pull the score back to 14-4.
Following a Warriors error, Canberra would strike back yet again, converting after having numerous half chances.
Some crafty work out of dummy half from Tom Starling and a brilliant offload from Xavier Savage put centre Sebastian Kris into space.
Kris crosses
The club’s leading try scorer for 2022 would cross over untouched in the 59th minute, scoring the Green Machine’s second of the afternoon. Fogarty was able to add the extra points with ease, taking the score to 14-10.
Wighton would continue his second half masterclass with a 40/20, with the Raiders again playing off the back of his long-range kicking game.
Wighton's boot making all the difference
Just a few tackles off the scrum Fogarty would find a raging Corey Harawira-Naera, with the second rower running the perfect line to pierce through the Warriors defence and score his first in the 64th minute.
The Raiders take the lead
Fogarty’s successful conversion would see the Raiders collect their first lead of the match, taking the score to 16-14.
Just moments later the Fogarty, Harawira-Naera connection was back on full display, with the halfback finding some room behind the Warriors defence with the boot in the 67th minute.
Harawira-Naera with a quick fire double
The second rower would break through the pack, diving on a loose ball to score his second. Fogarty would add the extra two, converting to extend the score to 22-14.
After a successful challenge following a strip on Harawira-Naera, the Green Machine would opt to take a penalty goal in the 73rd minute, converting to extend the score to 24-14.
A penalty off the back of a Shaun Johnson drop out that went out on the full would see Fogarty add another penalty goal, taking the final score to 26-14.
The Raiders will continue their push towards the finals next weekend, travelling to play the Gold Coast at Cbus Super Stadium at 3pm next Saturday. The Warriors will instead head home, taking on the Melbourne Storm on Friday night.
