NRL round nine: Canberra Raiders defeat Manly Sea Eagles 26-24
The Sea Eagles were left without an answer as they let a 20-0 lead slip to the Raiders at 4 Pines Park following a valiant second half showing from the Green Machine.
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Down 20-0 after 28 minutes just five days after suffering a 40-0 humiliation by Cronulla, Canberra coach Ricky Stuart could have been forgiven for wanting to jump in the car and head back down the Federal Highway.
If he had, he would have missed one of the great Canberra victories, the Raiders storming into the lead for the first time in the 76th minute before hanging on to defeat Manly 26-24.
Early on things looked like they’d be different. For the first time this season 4 Pines Park wasn’t sold out and most of the 10,210 hardy souls who showed up were patting themselves on the back midway through the opening stanza. An hour later almost all would have questioned their decision to brave the cold and wet night.
The win was some turn around from last week’s nightmare against the Sharks and the previous week’s loss to Brisbane. It was also the ninth consecutive time the Raiders have chalked up a victory after being beaten to nil the previous week. Hopefully not a stat that Stuart will want to rely on.
The Raiders’ win came on the back of an inspirational two-try knock from skipper Elliott Whitehead and some freakish attacking kicks for tries from rookies Kaeo Weekes and Ethan Strange.
Whitehead’s double was his first two-try effort since 2018 – 133 matches ago. Both Weekes and Strange set up tries to seal the win with brilliant kicks for Nick Cotric and Hudson Young respectively.
Cotric not only pounced on the ball close to the touchline but then tiptoed his way to the tryline with the precision of a ballerina – all 100kgs of him.
Stuart was predictably proud of his troops, imploring his team at halftime to keep their heads up and believe they could win.
“That’s the Raiders DNA. How we performed last week wasn’t us and we had a choice to make this week to show what our real DNA is and that was one hell of a win.
“When I walked out of that shed at halftime I knew we were still a chance to be in this game at the back end.
“I thought so much went against us in the first half and when I explained that to the players, what went against us, you know, I think I drew a picture to say ‘you guys, if you have the same application in regards to your effort and energy in the second half as you did in the first half we will be in this in the back end of the game’.”
He was right.
HOMECOMING HERO
Kaeo Weekes left Manly this off season for Canberra with his eyes on the Raiders’ vacant five eighth jersey. Instead, he spent the first seven rounds of the competition in reserve grade before making his debut last week as a halfback.
Tonight, returning to Brookvale and a ground he had become very familiar with, Weekes overcame a rough start to show his class with a try, three goals and a try assist.
Fellow Manly junior Albert Hopoate started the match with the number one on his back but alternated with Seb Kris at fullback. Hopoate spent ten minutes in the sin bin for deliberate offside when Manly were attacking the line midway through the first half. Fortunately, his absence didn’t cost his side too dearly, the score 6-6 during the time he was off the field.
REUBEN RAINS POINTS
Reuben Garrick followed up his 20 point haul in last week’s win over Parramatta with another 12 to rocket to the top of the competition’s point scorer list with 82 from eight matches.
The Manly centre could have had more too, struggling with the boot in the challenging conditions, kicking just two from five.
It was a roller coaster ride of a night for Garrick who scored two tries but bombed a couple more, the first of which came after he cleverly fielded a deft Cherry-Evans kick from inside his own half only to run straight into Sebastian Kris with both Tom Trbojevic and Jason Saab looming unmarked on the inside.
WOUNDED EAGLES
While there was joy for Stuart and the Raiders, things weren’t so bright for Manly, the loss coming with further pain.
Hooker Lachlan Croker failed his HIA late in the game and will miss next week’s clash with the Dolphins in Brisbane, while Nathan Brown and Tof Sipley are both in doubt with leg injuries.
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Originally published as NRL round nine: Canberra Raiders defeat Manly Sea Eagles 26-24
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