NRL 2020: Canberra Raiders flex premiership muscles in Titans win
Canberra Raiders confirmed they will be the masters of their own destiny in 2020 as Clive Churchill Medallist Jack Wighton showed he is the man to help the Green Machine go one better.
Raiders
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He was the Clive Churchill Medal winner as best on ground in the grand final despite playing in the losing team.
And big Jack Wighton wasted no time getting his season on the right track with an explosive two try performance as the Canberra Raiders stormed to an opening 24-6 victory over Gold Coast.
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While the Raiders were a little bit sloppy in the second half there was still enough positive signs to confirm Ricky Stuart’s men will be the masters of their own destiny in 2020.
The Titans had shocking start with Ash Taylor in particular exposed in defence.
BIG JACK’S BACK
Fresh from signing a new multi-million four-year contract extension that confirms Wighton’s arrival as one of the game’s genuine marquee stars, he blasted straight past a clutching Taylor for his first try after just three minutes.
Not content with that, Wighton scored again with his second touch where he again shrugged off Taylor with contempt.
In Fox Sports commentary, Raiders’ assistant coach Michael Ennis marvelled: “At the moment Wighton looks uncontainable. He is like a thoroughbred racehorse.
“He is so lean and fit and they just cannot hang onto him. He is so strong close to the line.”
Plenty were fearing the Raiders might struggle this year because of a grand final hangover.
But the first half performance led by Wighton was just so impressive.
Although they eased up in the second half, Wighton also came up with a classy 40/40 kick and his overall kicking game was outstanding.
Josh Papalii also picked up where he left off while Josh Hodgson was outstanding and new halfback George Williams looks like he is going to be a real threat running the ball.
TAYLOR A WORRY
After playing one of the final 11 games in 2019 before he was sidelined for personal reasons, Taylor’s return last night was a massive let down.
People are going to say he was a lot better in the second half after a terrible start and that’s true.
But his ineffective attempts at two tackles on Wighton just wasn’t NRL standard, and he let in another second half try when he wanted nothing to do with a rampaging Emre Guler.
A lot of the talk of late has been about how fit Taylor looks but the way Wighton ran past him was embarrassing.
Taylor didn’t offer much more resistance than a rubber band.
It’s unclear if he took a shoulder injury into the game but he was certainly clutching at his left shoulder after coming off second best in a tackle on Elliott Whitehead.
He looked a lot better after the break but it hardly made up for his defensive effort.
When you consider Taylor is probably on more money than Wighton, it’s a huge concern for the Titans.
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CNK COPS KNOCK
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad had a great start to the game but had his night cut short after he failed a concussion test and did not return for the second half.
Joe Tapine could be in strife for a clumsy shoulder charge-like tackle that forced Brian Kelly from the field.