Canberra Raiders Snap Losing Streak with Narrow Win Over Warriors

The Toyota Forklifts Canberra Raiders secured a hard-fought victory against the Warriors, triumphing 20-18 in a thrilling encounter under the chilly night at GIO Stadium in Canberra.

As the crowd filled the stadium with anticipation, Raiders supporters were excited to see the return of Zac Hosking and Jamal Fogarty, both of whom had been sidelined due to injuries suffered in rounds six and seven.

The match began with the Raiders displaying a tenacious spirit as they took the lead early on, with second-rower Hudson Young managing to score just five minutes into the contest.

While the Warriors attempted to strike back, they faced a formidable Raiders defence that thwarted their efforts to penetrate the goal line. Following a penalty awarded to the Raiders, Jamal Fogarty capitalized on the opportunity, passing the ball back to Young for his second try, extending the Raiders’ lead to 12-nil with the successful conversion.

With both teams trading sets, the Warriors struggled to gain momentum, eventually losing their Captain’s Challenge when Wayde Egan was penalized for a ball strip. The Raiders further increased their advantage to 14-nil through a penalty shot by Fogarty.

As the first half neared its conclusion, the Warriors finally broke through the Raiders’ defence thanks to a try from winger Roger Tuivasa-Sheck. A successful conversion from Adam Pompey narrowed the score to 14-6, giving the visitors renewed hope heading into halftime.

In the second half, the Warriors started strong, quickly finding the end zone again as second-rower Kurt Capewell scored. Although Harris-Tavita’s conversion attempt was unsuccessful, the Warriors were within striking distance, trailing by just four points.

Despite moments of brilliance from the Raiders, such as an apparent try from winger Jordan Rapana that was deemed invalid due to a knock-on, the Warriors finally managed to tie the game with a try from prop Mitchell Barnett, although Te Maire Martin failed to convert.

As the intensity ramped up, the Raiders earned a much-needed penalty from a dangerous tackle by the Warriors, allowing them to regain possession. Seizing the moment, Xavier Savage made a timely chase of a grubber kick, scoring in the corner. Fogarty, displaying exceptional skills, added the conversion to put the Raiders ahead by six points.

The Warriors responded quickly, with Addin Fonua-Blake powering through to score. However, Harris-Tavita’s inability to convert meant that the Raiders still held a narrow two-point lead as the match approached its final moments.

The closing stages of the game were tense, with both teams giving their all, but the Raiders ultimately broke their losing streak with a hard-earned win, ending the match at 20-18.

The Raiders are set to build on this victory as they prepare to face the Rabbitohs next Sunday at 6:15 PM at their home ground, GIO Stadium in Canberra.