Raiders star Matt Timoko cops it for ‘embarrassing’ brain fade

The Raiders came away big winners on Saturday afternoon but one star is still looking for a place to hide after he bombed a certain try.

Raiders winger Matt Timoko will be kept up all night tonight after bombing a certain try against the Eels.

Saturday afternoon’s win over Parramatta wasn’t pretty, but a powerful second-half surge helped see the Raiders maintain their spot at the top of the NRL ladder and edge closer to a first minor premiership since 1990.

FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.

Playing in front of a sold-out GIO Stadium on a stunning winter’s Saturday afternoon, the Raiders weren’t at their best, but were still way too good for a plucky Eels side, scoring 28 second-half points and running out 40-16 winners.

The victory was Canberra’s eighth straight and fittingly was played in the presence of a host of Raiders legends returning to honour the club’s history in their annual Forever Green celebration.

However, there was one moment in particular that wasn’t so pretty.

At 28-16 with 5 minutes left in the second half, Kaeo Weeks cut the Eels’ left edge to shreds before drawing in fullback Isaiah Iongi and passing to Timoko, who went to the line untouched.

But instead of putting the ball straight down, Timoko pulled up, sending Iongi flying past him.

With a smirk, Timoko then went to put the ball down.

But little did he know Josh Addo-Carr had chased back, tackling him and dislodging the ball.

You can watch the moment in the player at the top of the page.

Matt Timoko couldn't find a hole big enough after a howler on Saturday. Image: Kayo

“It’s an embarrassing moment for Matt that takes away from the brilliance of Kaeo,” Andrew Voss said in Fox Sports commentary.

“Just put the ball down son.”

As Timoko looked embarrassed, he was given a death stare from coach Ricky Stuart as his unnecessary act gave the Eels a sniff at a late comeback.

And NRL fans tore into the winger online.

“That’s what you get for being cocky hahahahah, just put the ball down, stop playing silly buggers,” one fan wrote on X. “Timoko wins goose of the day,” another added. “Go into hiding now Matty, there’s no coming back from that,” a third said.

In the end, it mattered not as the Raiders registered a strong 24-point win with two late tries.

The Raiders will take on the lowly Knights next week as they look to increase their lead in the race for the NRL minor premiership.

- with NewsWire

Originally published as Raiders star Matt Timoko cops it for ‘embarrassing’ brain fade