The Wests Tigers escaped with a two-point victory in Canberra on Monday night. Here are the key points from the game.
Taylor pleased with fight in the Tigers
There were a number of improved facets to the Wests Tigers performance on Monday night, but what stood out the most to their coach was their ability to bounce back.
"There were a lot of strange happenings; we had a lot of things go against us and the way the guys kept fighting was really special," Taylor said.
"The try that they scored from the high kick that went into the in-goal, it's not ok that we allowed them to make that break.
"We didn't play the referee's whistle there, that was really poor but the way we fought back from that and a couple of decisions that went against us.
"We fought back and ended up winning the game which is really good signs."
Raiders struggle to close out close ones
Once again the Canberra Raiders failed to close out a tight match this season, despite having a lead late in the game.
Coach Ricky Stuart refused to lambast his players however, accepting that an ability to win tight matches comes with time.
"We get into tough periods of a game and we're not good enough to close it out," Stuart said.
"We're too impatient, we want to score off every set of six instead of playing a little bit of percentage football and that comes with experience and more time playing with each other.
"When you lose those types of games through a lack of discipline through being impatient, that's the frustrating thing."
Meanwhile skipper Jarrod Croker insisted the Green Machine players were more disappointed about the result than anyone, a loss that essentially extinguishes his team's finals hopes.
"It's extremely frustrating as a player, let alone the tough fans that come out here and support us every week," Croker said.
"I'm sure they're disappointed but no one's hurting as bad as we are. It's extremely disappointing but we need to start learning from those tight ones and start winning them."
Tigers not worried about the ladder
The Tigers' win made it two impressive performances on the trot, but for coach Taylor the most important part of the victory is the development the result will bring to his team.
"We're building a team here," Taylor said.
"It doesn't matter right now about where we are on the ladder, when I say that it does matter – we want to keep moving up the ladder – but the fact that we're not in contention is irrelevant.
"Finishing the season in the right fashion and playing some really good football is what we're about."
Tedesco magic continues
With 216 running metres, two line breaks and a try James Tedesco had another sublime game against the Raiders, a performance that continues his amazing and improving 2015 season.
"Everyone that was here previously knew how much potential he had and he just needed to get some games under his belt," Robbie Farah said of the dazzling fullback.
"He's been unlucky in the last couple of years and he's grown in confidence as the years gone on.
"To have a threat like that out the back for us is priceless."
Frustrations boil over in Shillo's 200th
It was an unfortunate ending to David Shillington's 200th match, as he became the first NRL player to be sent from the field in 716 days.
But the Tigers had no sympathy for the big prop, with Farah declaring he was surprised by his actions.
"It was pretty poor by Shillo," Farah said about the alleged headbutt on Tigers prop Aaron Woods late in the game.
"I know Shillo well and it was out of character from him but it was pretty blatant from what I saw.
"There were a few words exchanged but Woodsy did nothing other than a sledge here or there.
"What happened after that that's for the match review committee to look at and deal with."
