The Canberra Raiders Jersey Flegg side have claimed a big 56-16 win over the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in their final game of the season at GIO Stadium Canberra.
It was a fantastic way to end the season for the Raiders who will finish the season inside the top eight but will miss out on the finals which are limited to the top five.
While the Raiders will be disappointed they have missed the finals, the future looks bright with some great performances over the course of the season despite a shaky opening month to the season.
It didn't take long for the Raiders to open the scoring after earning some great field position following a brutal defensive set.
The Raiders attempted to kick the ball into the Sea Eagles corner, but the bounce sat up perfectly for Casey who scored in the second minute.
The conversion attempt was unsuccessful from the left sideline, giving the Raiders an early 4-0 lead.
The green machine's fast start continued with another try in the fifth minute and once again from a kick.
This time it was Josh Smith who scored in the left corner, giving the Raiders an eight-point lead early in the first half.
The Raider's kicking game continued to terrorise the Sea Eagles, this time setting up a try in the ninth minute. It was another favourable bounce for the home side as the ball bounced into the hands of Josh Billing, who crossed over in the right corner.
Goal kicking proved to be tough from both sidelines for the Raiders, limiting their lead to 12 points.
After proving to be deadly with the boot, it was some great ball movement and a great line run by Tiane Kiriona which saw him break the line and set up a second try for Josh Billing.
This time the conversion was successful from Casey, as the Raiders took an 18-0 lead heading into the final 20 minutes of the first half.
It was a relentless attack from the green machine who looked close to scoring once again from the kick-off set, before making an error close to Manly’s try line.
The Sea Eagles finally hit back against the Sea Eagles in the 19th minute, through a try from left winger Fletcher Myers.
The conversion attempt from the left sideline was successful from Taylor Bunting, limiting the Sea Eagles deficit to 12.
The Raiders attack continued to look relentless against the Sea Eagles but a few errors cost them chances to continue scoring.
The Raiders would crack the Sea Eagles defence once again in the 26th minute through Numambo. The Raiders conversion attempt was once again unsuccessful, keeping the home side's lead to 16-points.
The green machine's onslaught continued as this time it was Mariota who crashed over from close range in the 30th minute.
Noah Ryan would nail his first conversion of the afternoon, giving the green machine a 28-6 lead with just over two minutes remaining in the first half.
The Sea Eagles would get some great field position on the stroke of halftime after regaining the ball from the kick-off.
However, the away side was held out by some great defence by the Raiders who went into halftime leading 28-6.
The second half started the same for the Raiders as Smith crossed over for his second try of the match in the 36th minute.
Ryan kicked his second successful conversion of the match as the Raiders led 34-6 with plenty of the second half still to play.
However, the Sea Eagles proved they weren't going to replicate their start to the first half, after hitting back with a try in the 41st minute through Iosefa.
The conversion attempt was unsuccessful from the Sea Eagles, keeping their deficit to 24 points.
The Sea Eagles would score another try not long after in the 43rd minute. A great cut-out pass from the Sea Eagles found Luke Tucker who crossed over in Manly’s right corner.
The conversion attempt from Bunting was successful once again as the home slide still led 34-16.
The Sea Eagles marched down the field once again following the kick-off but this time were held out by some great scrambling defence from the Raiders right edge.
All the momentum was with the Sea Eagles until a cut-out pass was intercepted by Jacob Church who ran the length of the field to score in the 51st minute.
Ryan nailed his third conversion which brought up 40 points for the home side.
The Raiders would cross over again 55th minute, once again through Church. Giving the Raiders a 44-16 lead with 15 minutes remaining.
The Raiders continued their relentless attack as Kiriona powered his way over in the 60th minute.
Ryan converted from the left side of the post to bring up 50 points for the green machine, giving them a 34-point lead.
The Raiders would cross over for their final try of the match in the 69th minute after a great long-range try ended with a great try for Ethan Strange.
Ryan converted the try on the final play of the match which saw the Raiders secure a 54-16 win.
Despite the Sea Eagles efforts, they were outclassed by the green machine who will take plenty of confidence heading into 2023 after such a great performance.
