Canberra Raiders inflict a sixth straight loss on Wests Tigers, pushing Mick Potter to the edge

MICK Potter has just one match left to save his coaching career after the Raiders sent the Tigers crashing to their sixth straight defeat.

NRL Rd 25 - Raiders v Tigers

MICK Potter has just one match left to save his coaching career after the Raiders sent the Tigers crashing to their sixth straight defeat.

On another embarrassing night for the troubled Tigers, Anthony Milford scored a 79th minute to seal a 27-12 win for the Raiders at GIO Stadium.

The Tigers never looked a hope of breaking their horror losing streak with a host of unforced errors further denting Potter’s hopes of coaching the side next year.

Potter’s fate will be decided by a new five man board, which will include there independent directors appointed by the NRL, following next week’s season ending match against Cronulla.

Paul Vaughan tries to find a way through the Tigers defence.

The Raiders peppered the Tigers line and a pinpoint cross field kick from Mitch Cornish saw Bill Tupou go over in the corner to start the scoring.

The former Roosters winger went over untouched in the third minute after Josh Papali caught a knock back before finding the unmarked winger.

Down 6-0 the Tigers struggled to contain the Raiders in the middle. Dane Tilse strolled threw three defenders after a poor defensive effort typical of the Tigers in the early exchanges.

The Tigers made their first break in the sixth minute when Mitchell Moses showed his class by skirting down the short side to Lawrence in the clear. But the veteran centre threw the ball back to nobody and ended the raid.

Edrick Lee gets some impressive air.

The Raiders continued to attack and only a bad bounce stopped Tupou from scoring his second. With Pat Richards nowhere to be seen, Milford kicked to his winger and Tupou looked certain of landing his double until the ball hit the turf and raced dead in goal.

A fifth tackle penalty deep on the attack gave the Tigers a scoring chance but another unforced error, this time from Bodene Thompson in the play-the-ball, saw them leave with nothing.

The Raiders almost extended their lead in the 23rd minute when Edrick Lee charged towards the line. A forward pass to unmarked centre Crocker denied them another four.

The Tigers continued the fumbles with Fine making the sides sixth error in the 24th minute and blowing another scoring chance following a Robbie Farah 40-20.

Blake Austin made a 40m bust to ignite their hopes once again but Sirronen grassed the ball with the line open on the following pay.

The Raiders finally made the Tigers pay for their horror handling when Jack Wighton charged through a hole from closer range and Croker kicked his second to give the Raiders a 12-0 lead at half-time.

Bill Tupou and Anthony Milford celebrate another try.

The Tigers troubles continued in the second half when Jack Wighton made a mockery of the NRL basket-case with a 40m charge through the middle while returning the kick-off. The fullback stepped and wove his way through the feeble chase and was only stopped by a desperate last line of defence tackle by fullback Jy Hitchcock.

The Raiders continued to attack the Tigers line but failed to extend their lead despite several opportunities.

Jack Wighton fends off the tackle of Bodene Thompson.

Black Austin turned the tide with an against the run of try that put the Tigers back in the game. The former Penrith half burst through a brittle Raiders line from close range to narrow the gap to six after Pat Richards converted mid way through the half.

Pat Richards produced the next Tigers error on his own line before a penalty straight in front saw Croker nail another to it out to an eight point ball game at 14-6 with 20 minutes left.

CANBERRA 27 (A Milford J Papalii B Tupou J Wighton tries J Croker 5 goals A Milford field goal) bt WESTS TIGERS 12 (B Austin M Taupau tries P Richards 2 goals) at GIO Stadium. Referee: Henry Perenara, Adam Gee. Crowd: 8,227.

Originally published as Canberra Raiders inflict a sixth straight loss on Wests Tigers, pushing Mick Potter to the edge