NRL 2024, St George Illawarra Dragons, Canberra Raiders, round 27 match report, match highlights, injuries, coaches media conferences

Author: Martin Lenehan NRL Senior Journalist
Timestamp: Sat 7 Sep 2024, 04:56 PM

The Raiders still need a miracle to make the top eight but with Corey Horsburgh proving the unlikely hero they took care of the first part of the equation with a 26-24 win over the Dragons on Saturday.

The win puts the Raiders in eighth place but the only way they can stay there is if the Knights and Dolphins play out a draw in the final game of the regular season on Sunday afternoon.

The Red V made a blistering start when Zac Lomax soared high to bring down a Ben Hunt bomb and send the ball to Tom Eisenhuth for a 6-0 lead after 60 seconds.

Back in the team after missing last week's game for the birth of his child, Dragons hooker Jacob Liddle celebrated with a powerful effort from dummy half, carrying three defender s over the line to make it 12-0.

Jaydn Su'a Try

Come the 12th minute and the Dragons had a third when Hunt grubbered and Jaydn Su'A showed great desperation to win the race the ball and touch down for his ninth try of the season.

The Raiders returned serve in the 15th minute on the back of a Hudson Young line break when Jamal Fogarty kicked ahead for Danny Levi to follow through and score.

More clever play from Liddle in the 20th minute set up the Dragons' fourth try when he nudged a grubber through for Tyrell Sloan to chase, the fullback toeing ahead and five-eighth Lyhkan King-Togia trailing through to score for a 24-6 lead.

Jacob Liddle Try

The tries continued to flow when Xavier Savage broke through debutant Savelio Tamale to dot down in the right corner for his 15th try of the season.

Down by 14 at the break the Raiders struck first in the second half when Albert Hopoate crossed before Hudson Young poured into a hole and left Tyrell Sloan in his wake to claw Canberra back within four points with 17 minutes to play.

A penalty against Raymond Faitala-Mariner for a strip gave the Raiders a golden chance to draw level but Young put the ball down and the Dragons survived.

After hanging on for most of the second half the Dragons finally cracked when Horsburgh put in a grubber and got a rebound to plunge over for a try that tied things up at 24-24 before Kaeo Weekes converted to put the Raiders in front.

Round 27 - Round 27 - Saturday 7 Sep

Full Time

Dragons

Raiders

Venue: Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Sydney

Highlights Latest

Match Snapshot

Dragons prop Jack de Belin was placed on report in the 17th minute for a hip drop tackle.
The Dragons tally of 24 points at the halfway mark of the first half was the most they have scored in the first 20 minutes of a game since 2020.
Raiders back-rower Hudson Young was placed on report for a dangerous tackle in the 28th minute.
Raiders winger Xavier Savage has scored seven tries in his past eight games.
Dragons centre Moses Suli made 223 metres from 19 runs and had five tackle breaks.

Xavier Savage Try

Dragons hooker Jacob Liddle ran for 162 metres and broke 11 tackles.
Raiders winger Albert Hopoate ran for 264 metres and had four tackle breaks.
Hudson Young racked up 211 run metres for the Raiders and bagged a try in a powerful display.
The last time the Raiders beat the Dragons at Kogarah was 2004.