Match Report: Raiders too strong in Canberra

Author: Corey Rosser NRL Reporter
Timestamp: Sat 16 Mar 2024, 04:57 PM

The Raiders ran out comfortable 32-12 winners over the Wests Tigers on Saturday afternoon to give coach Ricky Stuart his 250th win as an NRL coach.

As Canberra achieved back-to-back wins for the first time since Round 19 last year, on the back of an opening-round win over the Knights last week, Stuart became one of just seven coaches to hit that milestone.

At the same time he handed Benji Marshall defeat in his first official game in charge of the Wests Tigers, who briefly looked like fighting back midway through the first half when they scored twice in quick succession after finding themselves down 14-0 after as many minutes.

Samuela Fainu Try

Rookie five-eighth Ethan Strange was among the Raiders' best on field, scoring a first half try and then saving one in the dying stages, in what was an intriguing battle against fellow teenage playmaker Lachlan Galvin, who enjoyed a strong performance himself.

Through an opening stanza in which they completed all but one of their sets with the ball, the Raiders scored four tries to 24-12 lead at the break,

A break and some crisp passing down the left – where the Raiders would end up finding success on a number more occasions later in the match – saw Danny Levi score the opener, before Strange powered over for his first try at NRL level.

Ethan Strange Try

Jordan Rapana was next, before some substandard defence from the Wests Tigers' right side saw Xavier Savage streak away, with Jamal Fogarty converting all but one of the tries to go with a seventh-minute penalty.

An 18-minute lull in the scoring was broken by another Fogarty penalty and a short time later Zac Hosking jumped high to grab a bomb and score his second try in as many games as a Raider.

Round 2 - Round 2 - Saturday 16 Mar

Full Time

Raiders

Wests Tigers

Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra

Highlights Latest

Match Snapshot

The Raiders made just one error and completed 24 of 25 sets through the opening 57 minutes and eventually finished with a 92 percent completion rate.
Seb Kris was sent for a HIA eight minutes into the second half which he failed, while Jordan Rapana's game ended due to a HIA in the final 15 minutes which didn't leave him enough time to return.
Star To'a left the game with an ankle injury early in the second half and didn't return.
Wests Tigers bench player Aidan Sezer was placed on report for a dangerous tackle in the 64th minute and Ethan Strange was cited for the same offence nine minutes from full-time.

Sezer placed on report

Wests Tigers prop Stefano Utoikamanu was sent to the sin bin with two minutes to play for verbal dissent.
A first-half try means Rapana has now scored 16 in 14 games v Wests Tigers.

Jordan Rapana Try

The Raiders have now won their past eight games against Wests Tigers
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart becomes only the seventh coach to notch 250 first-grade victories.

Play of the Game

A lovely left-side raid that ended in Danny Levi scoring his second try in as many weeks. It was part of a big day for rookie five-eighth Ethan Strange and one of many examples of Xavier Savage using his blistering speed to full effect.

Danny Levi Try

What They Said

"Being 14-0 down against Canberra at home, it's quite a tough ask to come back, but credit to the boys, that fought back. After that we went away from the things we spoke about doing this week, put in two chip kicks which we haven't practiced and off the back of it conceded two soft tries that are unacceptable." – Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall.

Wests Tigers: Round 2

"We always get out to a lead here [at GIO Stadium] and do really well, but something we've spoken about through the off-season and especially this week is that we have to be better once we get into a lead, and I thought we were. Sticking to the plan was great, it's easy to say but it's hard to do." – Raiders coach Ricky Stuart.

Raiders: Round 2

What's Next

The Raiders head across the ditch to face the Warriors in Christchurch and will likely run it back with a similar side to Round 2, with Elliott Whitehead likely still a week away and Corey Horsburgh not due back from suspension until Round 4. The Wests Tigers are back in action next Saturday against the Sharks at Leichhardt Oval.