The Raiders have overcome a spirited Wests Tigers outfit to keep their top four hopes alive with a thrilling 22-18 victory at GIO Stadium on Sunday.
The visitors had one play to steal the lead after an 80th minute Jack Wighton try-saver was deemed dangerous contact but the home side dug deep and held on in front of the Raiders faithful after going down to the Knights last Saturday.
The victory lifts Canberra into fifth place on the ladder but with games against the Storm, Bulldogs, Broncos and Sharks to come, Ricky Stuart's side will need to address the errors (14) and penalties (7) which almost cost them victory.
Having completed just four from 12 sets 20 minutes into the match, the Raiders spoiled several opportunities to open the scoring while the Wests Tigers also struggled to capitalise on some early field possession.
Desperate Horsburgh saves a try
But come the 26th minute, the Green Machine broke the stalemate after a Wighton kick bounced back in goal for returning centre Sebastian Kris to score left of the up-rights.
Just three minutes later the home side were in again when Hudson Young crashed over from close range, holding off several Wests Tigers defenders to reach out and score. Jamal Fogarty's conversion made it a 10-point ball game.
Momentum swung when Wests Tigers flyer David Nofoaluma plucked the pass out of thin air and streamed downfield before finding Luke Brooks and Charlie Staines were in support to finish a great team try.
Charlie Staines try 35th minute
That effort put the Wests Tigers right back in the contest but it was short-lived when the Raiders struck first after the break thanks to a superb solo effort from Kris, who with the help of Young was able to weave his way through to the line.
The try came at a cost for the home side however with Kris taking himself off the field with a hamstring injury and the Wests Tigers capitalised 12 minutes later when Api Koroisau put the ball on a platter for Nofoaluma with kick.
Nofoaluma's effort got him his 100th try as a Wests Tigers player but more importantly put the visitors back within four points.
With 15 minutes to play it was the Raiders' right edge who got in on the action when Jordan Rapana put a surging Matt Timoko through a hole from close range to put the home side back to a 10-point lead.
Matthew Timoko try 63rd minute
It was left to Koroisau and Luke Brooks to take the game down to the wire when the Wests Tigers halfback collected a kick from his teammate to score under the posts for a four-point game.
With just seconds on the clock, the Wests Tigers looked sure to steal the lead when Nofoaluma passed inside to Starford To'a but Wighton's try-saving play - albeit placed on report for a high tackle - proved the difference in the end.
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Match Snapshot
- The Raiders completed just 13 of 23 sets in the first half at 56 per cent but still did enough to go to the break with a four-point lead.
- In his first game back at centre since this season, Kris was at his electric best, opening the scoring in both halves however left the field in the 52nd minute with a hamstring injury.
- Wests Tigers five-eighth Daine Laurie and Raiders forward Elliot Whitehead both left the field for a HIA after clashing heads in the 62nd minute of the match. Whitehead passed his HIA but Laurie failed his.
- Wests Tigers winger David Nofoaluma became the first player to score 100 tries for the joint venture club in the 56th minute of the match.
- The Round 23 clash was the first time Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens has coached a match in Canberra since 2012.
- The Raiders have won their past six games against Wests Tigers.
Plays of the Game
The Tigers had the chance to steal the win in the 80th minute but Wests Tigers winger David Nofoaluma couldn't quite reach the Luke Brooks kick on the full. While the veteran flyer kept the ball in play, offloading the ball inside to Starford To'a, it was Jack Wighton with the match-saving tackle after taking To'a into the touchline. While the Raiders five-eighth was placed on report for alleged dangerous contact, after the Raiders defused the extra play, the try-saver was the difference in the end.
Madness at the death in Canberra
Seb Kris' second try for the night and 10th for the season was another cleverly crafted effort from the Raiders' left edge. Jack Wighton once again linked up with backrower Hudson Young who then tipped on to Seb Kris. Streaming downfield, the star outside back looked for support infield but put the burners on and backed himself all the way to the tryline, leaving Wests Tigers defenders in his wake with some crafty footwork. The opening try of the second half extended the lead 16-6.
Sebastian Kris try 44th minute
What They Said
"It's handy to get the two points but that's about the only thing we got. Our biggest enemy is us. You're not going to get to the standard when you complete four out of 10. We were chasing the opportunity that was there for us and we just didn't execute it. It wasn't the drop balls, we just didn't nail the opportunity that was presented to us." - Raiders coach Ricky Stuart.
"We're competing. We've had one or two major hiccups but we're competing every week. Losing our five-eighth and a reshuffle of everyone didn't help so it didn't happen for us tonight but I'm still very very happy with the effort that was made. We scored some nice tries and suffered some bad luck as well." - Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens
NRL Press Conference: Raiders v Wests Tigers - Round 23, 2023
What's Next
The Raiders head south to re-ignite an old rivalry with the Storm at AAMI Park while the Wests Tigers head across the Tasman to meet with the Warriors in Hamilton.