Harold Matts Cup semi-final, Western Suburbs Magpies edge out Canberra Raiders

A moment of madness with barely seconds left of extra time could deny victorious Western Suburbs three players for next week’s Harold Matts Cup grand final. RELIVE all the action.

Western Suburbs were forced to suffer the way through to the Harold Matthews Cup grand final, with the minor premiers needing extra time to overcome a dogged Raiders side.

The Magpies were the first to find the line in the contest at Kogarah’s Netstrata Jubilee Stadium with halfback Luke Keppie finishing off a nice move under the posts.

Canberra hit back through back rower Noah Martin midway through the first period and a Sam Gash penalty kick after the half-time siren saw the Green Machine lead 8-6.

Players get involved in a scuffle at the end of the game. Picture: Damian Shaw

The sides went try for try at the start of the second half with Lachlan Galvin going over for Western Suburbs before Raiders’ skipper Owen Hromow barged over.

Western Suburbs were dealt a blow with 15 minutes to play when James Folaumoetui reeled away from a tackle before stumbling to the ground – the big prop forced from the field for a HIA.

The Magpies managed to level the match in the final stages with Galvin scoring his second try, but Tajh Colquhoun couldn’t convert, pushing the match into extra time.

Gash slotted a penalty kick in the first half of extra time, but with a minute left in added on time, Magpies hooker Tallyn Da Silva scored in the left corner to put them in front.

Colquhoun landed the tough conversion to put Western Suburbs up 20-16 and that’s how it would stay, but not before a bust up in the final seconds where three Magpies interchange players were sent down the tunnel.

The ref gives a Magpies player his marching orders.

Western Suburbs trio Thomas Pati, Jeremiah Leatigaga and Kohen Lewis all ran on the field before the full-time whistle as the two sides came together – they now face a nervous wait to see if they can take the field next weekend.

The Raiders were awarded a penalty, and one play, to save their season, but the Western Suburbs were able to defuse the hail-mary bomb to progress through the decider against the Sharks at Commbank Stadium.

Western Suburbs win after a fiery extra time!@westsmagpies 20 @RaidersCanberra 16

Magpies v Sharks in the Harry Matts grand final. pic.twitter.com/6HS1raQDZZ

— Dylan Arvela (@dylanarvela) April 23, 2022

Cronulla pulled off an upset to make the grand final, overcoming two sin bins, to beat the Roosters 14-12.

Magpies coach Robert Mears admitted his charges let the occasion get to them.

“Obviously we had a couple of weeks off, but I thought we prepared well,” he said.

Canberra were just minutes away from a big upset.

“In the first half we turned the ball over four times on the first tackle, [Canberra] had a fair bit of possession in the first half which took a bit of energy out of the boys.

“All year we have been really good with our skills and prep, but today we were not finding touch from kicks, running it out from scrums on the first tackle and it just contributed to us putting together probably our worst performance of the season.”

“What we’ve done in the season is now over, this is a whole new kettle of fish. We played Canberra in a trial game, they’ve been going along really well especially at the back end of the season, so we knew it was going to be a tough and hard game.”

GAME PREVIEW

Only rain could stop Western Suburbs from finishing the Harold Matthews Cup campaign with a perfect nine wins from nine, but now the Magpies have set their sights on grand final glory.

The Magpies’ under-17 forwards have dominated opposition packs and their inspirational skipper Kit Laulilii has locked it all together at the base of the scrum.

Western Suburbs will play Canberra on Saturday in a semi-final at Netstra Jubilee Oval in Kogarah. The winner will progress to the grand final.

The Raiders stunned Penrith 24-18 on Good Friday to set up the clash with the Magpies, which will be streamed live and exclusively on The Daily Telegraph website from 3.15pm.

Laulilii is southwest Sydney through and through and said his pride goes into overdrive when he pulls on the black and white jersey.

Magpies captain Kit Laulilii jusst loves pulling on the black and white jersey every week.

The Magpies skipper is one of seven children in a league-loving Samoan family and he told The Daily Telegraph he dreams of representing the Pacific Island nation.

“I’ve been in this area for basically my whole life,” the 17-year-old said.

“I started out with the Green Valley Vikings and now I am progressing through with Western Suburbs.

“I am proud to be able to stay local and stay close to home. Home is where the heart is and that’s Western Suburbs Magpies.

“My family is Samoan, my parents came here to make a better future for me and my siblings. I am proud to be Samoan and hopefully one day I will be able to play in the jersey.”

James Folaumoetui, Jordan Miller and Jeremiah Leatigaga are some of the other key figures in the Magpies pack who have bent defenders over backwards throughout 2022.

Laulilii said the bond between his fellow forwards has enabled them to win most midfield battles – with the side placing an emphasis on being there for their teammates.

But they face arguably their toughest task of the season in the Harold Matts semi-final this weekend against a Green Machine charging off the back of an upset win over the Panthers.

The Raiders have their own menacing forward pack led by the bullocking Mathias Tomuli-ah-kuoi.

There is a special bond between the Magpies forwards.

Laulilii was adamant, for his side, this weekend would be just another day in the office of pain.

“All through pre-season we were focused on making sure our forward pack is the engine room,” Laulilii said.

“We always have each other’s back in the pack. We work together to make sure we can get a quick roll on and make it easier for our backs to do their job.

“And whenever you’re tired, there’s someone there to pick you up.

“As a player, I want to run hard and tackle hard for as long as I can and, as a captain, I want to be the best teammate for them and have their back because I know they will have mine.”

Originally published as Harold Matts Cup semi-final, Western Suburbs Magpies edge out Canberra Raiders