The Canberra Raiders have recorded a massive upset to keep their slim finals hopes alive, defeating the Penrith Panthers 22-18 at GIO Stadium in captain Elliot Whitehead’s final home game.
Raiders winger Xavier Savage was outstanding for the home side, handing in a try of the year nomination in the first half before scoring the game winner with nine minutes to play.
With the Panthers knocking on the door near Canberra’s line in an attempt to ice the game, Raiders centre Matt Timoko plucked a Jarome Luai pass and raced away.
MATCH CENTRE: Raiders v Panthers, teams, live scores, stats
IMAGINE WHAT YOU COULD BE BUYING INSTEAD. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.
Watch every game of every round this NRL Telstra Premiership Season LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >
While it looked as if he’d score, Timoko did the unselfish thing and passed it onto the much quicker Savage, who finished off to give Canberra a 22-18 lead.
The Raiders repelled the Panthers over the final stages to secure a famous win – and a stark turnaround from a 42-4 thrashing at the hands of the Cowboys last weekend.
Trailing 18-10 with just over 20 minutes left, it appeared a tall order for the Raiders to chase down the defending champs.
Albert Hopoate scored to trim the margin to two points and set up a grandstand finish, with Savage scoring his second – and the gamewinner – in the 71st minute.
Canberra started hot with Savage scoring one of the tries of the season in the sixth minute.
The Raiders winger jumped over Brian To’o to catch a Jamal Fogarty bomb, and then ran 30 metres to score. It was a terrific putdown as well, with Savage extending fully to ground it in the corner.
That try gave the Raiders an early lead, but the Panthers hit back through Luke Sommerton, who caught Canberra napping from dummy-half.
The Raiders were facing a 12-4 deficit but would lead 10-6 after 25 minutes when Kaeo Weekes crossed.
Canberra’s Seb Kris made an outstanding try saver on Daine Laurie and then in the ensuing set, Weekes scored underneath the posts, following a terrific offload from Joe Tapine.
Laurie would make up for the earlier missed opportunity with a try in the corner to tie it at 10.
Penrith would head into halftime with a 12-10 lead after a Dylan Edwards penalty goal.
The Raiders threw everything at the Panthers in the second half, but it would be the Panthers who hit the scoreboard next when outgoing prop James Fisher-Harris scored a rare try.
Panthers lock Isaah Yeo broke the line and found Fisher-Harris back on in the inside, who saw nothing but open space in front of him and ran 25 metres to score under the posts to give his side an 18-10 lead.
Whitehead played his final home game in front of the GIO Stadium faithful, with the second rower heading to the Super League next season.
The Raiders skipper has forged a storied career at the club, playing in over 200 games since arriving in Canberra in 2016.
WHAT WE LEARNED
AGAINST THE ODDS
Canberra fans would’ve naturally been happy leaving GIO Stadium on Saturday but also frustrated.
Where was that effort last week and for much of the season?
The Raiders were coming off a horrible 42-4 loss to the Cowboys last weekend but they decided to harden up this week.
Penrith had 57 per cent of the ball and a massive 66 per cent of the field territory but couldn’t put the home side away.
The Raiders just hung in and didn’t panic.
While they were struggling coming out of their own end all game, they completed at 89 per cent which was all that kept them in the match.
It was the only statistic they won on paper, but toughness isn’t measured.
The emotion packed farewell for SJ | 10:07
MORE NRL NEWS
‘WE’LL PLAY FINALS’: Kevvie’s bold Broncos declaration after win keeps season alive
‘CAN’T UNDERSTAND’: Webster fuming over ‘staggering’ Crichton bunker controversy
‘BUCKLED ME’: Warriors honour Johnson’s career with ‘special’ post-game haka
STRUGGLING PENRITH
Make no mistake, the champions, while mostly winning, have been playing poorly since the Origin period.
It looks to have coincided with Dylan Edwars being out injured after looking like a Dally M winner.
The Blues fullback has been back for two weeks but has looked very underdone after suffering a knee injury in a man of the match performance in the Origin decider.
James Fisher-Harris is also getting back to full fitness after being out with a groin issue.
Nathan Cleary has got Penrith out of trouble in four or five games of late but he wasn’t there to help on Saturday.
Isaah Yeo is carrying them a bit.
Ivan Cleary will also be wondering if dropping Sunia Turuva for Daine Laurie was the right move.
Laurie is a bit of a rocks and diamonds player and that’s not what Penrith has built its dynasty on.
They often let the opposition beat themselves and Lawrie, while scoring a try, did make three errors and missed a crucial tackle that led to a Raiders try.
SAVAGE STARS
Canberra winger Xavier Savage can often be accused of drifting in and out of games, but he’s put together his most consistent season since debuting in 2021.
He was outstanding against Penrith, handing in a match-winning performance.
Savage scored two tries, including the game winner, ran for 163 metres and had seven tackle busts.
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart says there have been some frustrating moments since Savage debuted, but credited the flyer and believes the best is yet to come.
“He’s really improving as a footy player. He’s really growing,” Stuart said in the post match press conference.
“It’s taken time and taken patience. I’m really happy for him.”
FOLLOW ALL THE ACTION IN OUR LIVE BLOG. CAN’T SEE? CLICK HERE
Discussion about this post