Fairytale debut for Jed Stuart as the Raiders hang on to beat the Tigers

Jed Stuart has provided one of the fairytale moments of Canberra’s high-flying NRL season before the Raiders held on to beat Wests Tigers 16-12 at Campbelltown.

After they led 16-0 at halftime and looked in complete control, the Raiders were forced to sweat through a nervy final 25 minutes as the Tigers fought back to within four points.

Jed Stuart and Ricky Stuart embrace after the Raiders beat the Tigers.Credit: Getty Images

The win ensures Canberra will finish the round in second spot, with five straight victories and nine from their past 10 games.

Stuart was the story of the night with a try on debut. After a week of build-up around the 23-year-old’s debut, he finished the Raiders’ second try when Seb Kris put him over in the left corner.

While Stuart provided the headline moment, it was Joe Tapine and Canberra’s goal-line defence that were the real heroes.

The Tigers spent large parts of the match camped on the Raiders’ line, but were only able to break through twice in a five-minute period in the second half.

Tapine was crucial in much of that. He somehow held up Jarome Luai as the Tigers five-eighth looked certain to get the ball down in the first half, pulling his arm back up as it went towards the turf.

Then moments later it was Tapine who gave the Raiders their first try, running on to a Josh Papalii try and through a gaping hole to score.

As resolute as the Raiders were, the Tigers were at times their own worst enemies, but they were better in the second half, with Luai coming to life after being well contained before the break.

Backing up just two days after Origin II, he sparked the Tigers to life when he grubbered for a chasing Alex Seyfarth to score.

Luai had it at 16-12 moments later when he first put Adam Doueihi into space, before backing up on the next play and combining with Latu Fainu to send Starford To’a.

The Tigers had a chance to go ahead when Samuela Fainu crossed with 13 minutes to play, only for a Terrell May pass to be called forward. Tapine’s strip and another overturned late penalty for a Skelton hair-pull meant the joint-venture were consigned to their fifth straight loss.

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That was an entertaining game of footy.

I was concerned it would turn into a blowout after Canberra’s hot start, but the Tigers showed plenty of ticker to come back hard in the second half.

What a night for Jed Stuart. A debut under dad, a try and a win. How’s that for starters?

The Raiders just hung on.Credit: Getty Images

The Raiders move into outright second, at least for the time being, after getting the job done.

Is there are team that uses a captain’s challenge more judiciously? The Green Machine went upstairs and got the decision in their favour.

The Tigers certainly had their chances tonight.

All up, they had 35 tackles in the opposition quarter (the Raiders had 18).

When Benji Marshall does his video review of the game, that will be the big takeaway.

The Raiders goal-line defence proved the difference.Credit: Getty Images

Due credit must go to the Canberra defence, they were hard to breach when defending their tryline.

The Raiders have just hung on here.

The Tigers tightened up their defence - Canberra didn’t score a point in the second half - and asked plenty of questions with the Steeden.

However, they have come up just short. But not before giving us a thrilling finish.

Ethan Strange in action.Credit: Getty Images

It wasn’t over until the final hooter, but the Green Machine have done just enough.

Full-time: Raiders 16 bt Tigers 12

I’ve just seen two things that defy comprehension.

Firstly, the Tigers have given away possession with the football, the eighth deadly sin. Jeral Skelton gave away a penalty for a hair pull. Now Benji Marshall is pulling his hair out.

The Raiders had a chance to go six points ahead with a penalty goal - it wasn’t the easiest attempt - but they tapped instead.

Jeral Skelton.Credit: Getty Images

Is it a full moon out there?

It’s now been about 50 minutes since the Raiders last scored. Next try wins.

What is is with Jarome Luai and second halves?

He was out of sorts during th opening stanza in Origin I, and then caught fire in the second.

The same thing is happening here.

Jarome Luai.Credit: Getty Images

Luai is having multiple touches in every attacking set and he has the Raiders defence second guessing. This is good to watch.

Can Batman save the day?

The Raiders can feel the tide turning against them.

Owen Pattie and Joseph Tapine have just been injected off the bench in a bid to change the momentum.

Strap yourselves in folks, the Tigers are coming.

The Campbelltown crowd has come alive with two tries in five minutes.

For a moment it looked like big Alex Twal would cross, only for the big fella to be chopped down short of the line. From the ensuing play, the Tigers have gone right and caught Canberra short.

Jarome Luai has been very involved in the second half, he’s really stepping up here.

Raiders 16, Tigers 12

They pay Jarome Luai the big bucks, and he’s just come up with a big play.

Lovely grubber in behind the line from the Blues No.6, with Alex Seyfarth touching down.

The Tigers have plenty of creative players on the field, with young Latu Fainu also looking likely.

This could be the start of a comeback. Still 30 minutes to play, more than enough to get the job done.

Raiders 16, Tigers 6

The opening 15 minutes of this half will be crucial.

It’s hard to believe that the possession rate in the opening stanza was 50-50, with the Tigers actually completing more sets (20 to 18).

Jarome Luai.Credit: Getty Images

We’ve seen some incredible comebacks so far this year and it will all come down to whether the Tigers are able to convert all their opportunities.