NRLW Round Two: Knights awarded late try to deny Raiders

Tamika Upton was awarded a final-minute penalty try to break Canberra hearts as the two-time defending premiers stormed home late to win one of the greatest games in NRLW history.

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 03: Rima Butler of the Knights is tackled during the round two NRLW match between Canberra Raiders and Newcastle Knights at GIO Stadium on August 03, 2024 in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)

The Knights have extended their incredible winning streak to 11 matches with Tamika Upton awarded a final-minute penalty try to break Canberra hearts as the two-time defending premiers stormed home late to win one of the greatest games in NRLW history.

It looked like the Raiders had done enough to pull off the upset at home when veteran winger Shakiah Tungai crashed over in the corner with nine minutes to play, but two late tries turned a four-point deficit into an epic 26-20 win.

The wild finish wasn’t without an element of controversy as halfback Jesse Southwell put in a perfect grubber for Upton to chase, only for rival fullback Apii Nicholls to tackle her without the ball in the in-goal.

The referee sent it upstairs as a no try, but the Bunker was left with no choice but to award the penalty try given the Dally M Medal winner was leading the chase and was likely to score had there been no interference.

“That’s a hard one (because) Apii can’t disappear,” Raiders coach Darrin Borthwick said.

“I thought she was contesting the footy and probably the bounce of the ball and where it ended up bouncing to (meant) it was probably a tough one.”

The Knights extend their winning streak to 11 matches as Tamika Upton was awarded a final-minute penalty try to break Canberra hearts in one of the greatest NRLW games you'll ever see! 🔥

📺 Watch #NRLWRaidersKnights on ch.502 or stream on Kayo:https://t.co/BwSSxtllI7pic.twitter.com/JCSbSVcoKh

— Fox League (@FOXNRL) August 3, 2024

CAUSE FOR CONCERN

Southwell faces a nervous wait after the Knights halfback was placed on report for lashing out with her boot, while she was also penalised for a hip drop in her side’s thrilling win.

The superstar No.7 could attract the ire of the match review committee for a couple of second-half incidents, with Southwell penalised for a hip-drop tackle on Grace Kemp but avoiding a stint in the sin bin.

She was then placed on report a few minutes later for accidentally kicking Simaima Taufa in the head as she tried to free herself from a tackle on the ground.

Southwell was immediately apologetic and tended to Taufa who was in some discomfort but was able to continue as Newcastle overturned a 10-0 deficit to extend their incredible winning streak to 11 matches.

“She’s a naughty girl,” Hannah Southwell said.

“I think we’ll just look back at it and see what the committee comes up with.”

Hannah Southwell crashes over 💪 #NRLWRaidersKnightspic.twitter.com/QLhouE5gex

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DREAM DEBUT

The decision to play the Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership alongside the NRLW is clearly working after Knights rookie Lilly-Ann White made the most of her promotion to show she can handle the top grade.

The teen sensation celebrated her first game in the NRLW with a try after 25 minutes when she finished off some nice work from Upton, but she saved her best for the crunch when she caught a kick and returned it 75 metres, before Sheridan Gallagher crashed over on the next play to make it 20-all, only for Southwell to miss the conversion.

Rima Butler of the Knights is tackled during the round two NRLW match between Canberra Raiders and Newcastle Knights. Picture: Getty Images

GREEN AND BOLD

The Raiders lost no admirers on Saturday and showed the rest of the competition that they are legitimate title contenders.

After blitzing the Tigers last week, the Raiders started strongly again with two tries in the opening six minutes including a beauty through the middle which started with a Taufa offload and finished with Zahara Temara scoring under the sticks.

Taufa was immense with a game-high 178 metres, but the hosts are sweating on the fitness of Origin star Sophie Holyman who came off in the first half and did not return.

Originally published as NRLW Round Two: Knights awarded late try to deny Raiders