The Toyota Forklift Raiders went down to the New Zealand Warriors 36 – 14 in what was a fiery affair at GIO Stadium Canberra on Friday night.
The Raiders were unable to hold on to their half-time lead in Jarrod Croker’s 300th NRL game.
Zac Woolford forced an error in the 14th minute to give the Raiders an opportunity to score first. However, the Warrior’s defence was able to repel the Raider’s attack, forcing an error.
The Raiders cracked the scoreboard first after a costly Warrior error. Jack Wighton chased down his own kick to open the scoring in the 22nd minute.
Jarrod Croker converted from in front to give the Raiders a 6 – 0 lead.
The Warriors have left a man down after Mitchell Barnett was sin-binned in the 24th minute after a Dangerous Tackle on Jordan Rapana. Rapana was forced from the field with an HIA.
The Warriors capitalized on consecutive penalties to get on the scoreboard in the 31st minute. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak claimed a Shaun Johnson kick in the corner inches from the sideline.
Shaun Johnson successfully converted from the sideline leveling the score at 6 – 6.
The Raiders were awarded a penalty with them opting for the two points. Croker successfully made the penalty goal to put the Green Machine in the lead 8 – 6.
The Warriors scored first in the second half. Former Raider Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad crossed over in his return to Canberra on a set play in the 47th minute.
Shaun Johnson converted the try to give the Warriors a 12 – 8 lead.
A Luke Metcalf line break set up the second Warrior try of the half. Tom Ale crashed over the line in the 54th minute to extend the Warrior’s lead.
The conversion was again successful by Shaun Johnson pushing the score to 18 – 8.
Shaun Johnson showed his experience by throwing a cut-out pass to Luke Metcalf to score in the 62nd minute.
Adam Pompey successfully converted the try to give the Warriors a 24 – 8 lead.
The Warriors did not take long to strike again as Wayde Egan broke through the Raider’s line from dummy-half four minutes later.
Adam Pompey made his second conversion of the night pushing the score to 30 – 8.
New Zealand had their second player sent to the sin-bin when Marata Niukore was sent off in the 74th minute.
The Raiders got their first points in the second half as Josh Papali’i crashed over in the 77th minute.
Jarrod Croker successfully converted the try narrowing the score to 30 – 14.
The Warriors were quick to respond as Shaun Johnson intercepted a Raider’s pass off the kick-off. Johnson was able to convert his own try pushing the score to 36 – 14.
Full Time: New Zealand Warriors 36 d Canberra Raiders 14
