Ricky’s rage rises but Raiders keep top-four hopes alive

An irate Ricky Stuart has blasted inconsistent officiating after the Raiders kept their top four hopes alive against the Warriors.

Raiders fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad makes a break against the Warriors at GIO Stadium in Canberra

An irate Ricky Stuart has blasted inconsistent officiating after the Raiders kept their top four hopes alive having survived one of the craziest first halves of the season to eventually claim a 26-14 win over the Warriors.

The teams combined for five tries in the first 40, with Stuart throwing a bottle of water out of the coach’s box after five-eighth Jack Wighton was sent to the sin bin for repeated infringements.

The Canberra coach was furious with the 7-1 penalty count at the time, questioning why his side did not receive similar calls when they had the ball. He likened the stop-start affair to a game of rugby union before turning his attention to NRL Head of Football, Graham Annesley, who will deliver his weekly briefing on Monday.

“I wasn’t happy with too much. It was a shocking game of football,” he said.

“Would that have been the same decision if it was a semi-final? I hope not because he (Wighton) wasn’t offside. You can’t make that error.

“Graham Annesley is a really nice man. He’s been in the game a long time, but in regards to rugby league, we are planets apart. Thank God Covid is in because we won’t get any more than 6000 (fans) to these games.

“I’ll be doing my review, they’ll do their review and then go into hiding with their results and it’ll be game on next week.”

Canberra’s Hudson Young celebrates a try at GIO Stadium

Tensions were already high following some niggle between John Bateman and Isaiah Papali’i, while Josh Papalii was penalised for a scrum scuffle and then for pulling Tohu Harris’ hair in a fiery opening to the game.

A couple of Peta Hiku tries had the Warriors dreaming of a stunning upset, but the game turned on a Semi Valemei long-range intercept and then a piece of Elliott Whitehead magic to set up Hudson Young just before halftime.

With George Williams off the field after failing an HIA, his fellow Englishman produced two perfect kicks to set up Young and then conjured another four-pointer with an interception early in the second half.

Stuart spent the second half closer to the action and would have liked the improved effort. He may not have found his Mount Franklin, but he’ll be hoping his troops can bottle his passion when the big games roll around.

Any hopes of a soft run to the finals were quashed inside the opening minutes, and the Raiders could feel the effects of Sunday’s clash in the coming weeks. Williams lasted just eight minutes before he was ruled out due to a head knock, Valemei was forced off late after being hit high, while Jarrod Croker was also forced off for an HIA but returned.

Papalii needed strapping on a thigh and will most likely face some scrutiny for his hair pull, while Bateman bravely played on after hyperextending his right elbow after some friendly fire from teammate Jordan Rapana. Stuart may have been angry but Whitehead was spewing after he was belted in the ribs late in the game.

This was a game the Warriors could have lost by 50. Playing for nothing but pride after last week’s heartbreaking loss to the Sharks, there were fears they would simply go through the motions in the nation’s capital. But that’s the Warriors of old. Interim coach Todd Payten lightened the mood at training during the week and they played with the same intensity that has turned around their fortunes in 2020.

“Our consistent message is about representing everyone back home,” Payten said.

“I’m really proud of this group of men. They’ve changed my life and I owe them a whole debt of gratitude.”

Sadly, inspirational captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck’s season is over after coming off with a hamstring injury.

“I’d like to put him on a plane, but it’s just not going to happen. I know he’s counting down the days … his wife was relieved we got beaten (last week).”

Sunday’s win sets up an intriguing super Saturday next week, with fourth spot still up for grabs. Canberra get first opportunity at 5.30pm when they host the undermanned Sharks. It’ll be a moot point if they lose, with the sides set to square off again the following week in an elimination final.

But a win would put the pressure on the Eels who are clinging onto fourth and take on the Wests Tigers at Bankwest Stadium later that night. The blue and gold army have the wobbly boots on and will face a determined Tigers side keen to farewell legends Benji Marshall and Chris Lawrence with a win. Should they lose, they will slip to fifth due to their inferior points differential.

The Daily Telegraph