Canberra Raiders no match for a rampaging New Zealand Warriors in NRL round nine action
RICKY Stuart’s Canberra Raiders are in a world of trouble, having conceded 50 points in consecutive games, this time against the Warriors.
Raiders
Don't miss out on the headlines from Raiders. Followed categories will be added to My News.
RICKY Stuart’s Canberra Raiders are in a world of trouble, having conceded 50 points in consecutive games, this time against the Warriors.
Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson was the starr of the show in the 54-12 annihilation.
Johnson underlined his outstanding display by scoring two intercept tries, one from 90m, creating another with an underarm offload, and landing all nine shots at goal.
His 26 points equalled his haul in the Warriors’ 50-16 win over the Raiders last August, when he grabbed a hat-trick of tries.
Canberra coach Stuart apologised for what his side produced and said it showed the Manly defeat in round eight wasn’t a one-off.
“We have to get out of this rot very quickly,” he said.
“It’s unacceptable.”
Stuart said he didn’t have answers at the moment, but added that the Raiders’ predicament wasn’t the result of any lack of hard work.
“Our edge defence was absolutely diabolical as it has been for the last two weeks,” he said.
“That quality of skill was better in the first six weeks. I don’t know why it has all gone out the window.”
Centre Konrad Hurrell also impressed, responding in emphatic manner to the leaking of a personal sex tape that led to him being fined by the Warriors.
The Tonga international, who got a big cheer from the 18,165 crowd when his name was announced at the start of the match, scored off a scintillating 60m run.
He continued to prove a handful, creating a try for Jayson Bukuya and ending the match with over 200 metres run.
The Warriors had lost in their five previous appearances at Eden Park.
In breaking that hoodoo by scoring nine tries to two, they followed up their impressive victory away to Melbourne in the previous round.
For Canberra, who began the weekend equal on points with the Warriors near the bottom of the table, it was a second successive big defeat after their 54-18 thumping by Manly.
The Warriors, who had plenty of possession, dominated from the start.
They raced to 18-0 up in as many minutes through tries to Ben Matulino, Hurrell and Johnson.
The Raiders replied through the first of Jarrod Croker’s two touchdowns, after the centre pulled in a Terry Campese kick to dot down.
But the home side restored the margin with a slick scrum move that led to winger Ngani Laumape crossing in the corner.
The second half was virtually all the Warriors as Johnson again, Sam Tomkins, Manu Vatuvei twice and Bukuya all crossed.
With the score at 42-6 midway through the second half, English Super League-bound Kevin Locke came off the bench for his first NRL appearance of the season after coming back from a knee injury. Croker dotted down in the final minute to give the Raiders a late consolation.
WARRIORS 54 (S Johnson 2 M Vatuvei 2 J Bukuya K Hurrell N Laumape B Matulino S Tomkins tries S Johnson 9 goals) bt CANBERRA 12 (J Croker 2 tries J Croker 2 goals) at Eden Park. Referee: Gavin Morris, Henry Perenara.
Originally published as Canberra Raiders no match for a rampaging New Zealand Warriors in NRL round nine action
NRL ‘choke’ job leaves star in tears
The Dragons were in the box seat for finals two weeks ago but have crashed out of contention in the most brutal of ways.
NRL Casualty Ward: Koroisau to miss start of 2025
The Wests Tigers will begin 2025 with the wooden spoon but without Api Koroisau after he copped a massive ban, but the news is better for the Roosters with three players escaping suspension.