Raiders historic comeback overcomes windy Wests Tigers

On a windy and chilly day in Sydney, the Canberra Raiders have posted their biggest ever comeback to down the Wests Tigers 30-22 in an entertaining and sometimes controversial match at Leichhardt Oval.

The Wests Tigers started the game in the best possible way, following a terrible dummy half knock-on from the Raiders' Jordan Rapana. Luke Brooks swung out to the left and threw a beautiful cut-out ball to Tim Simona who strolled around under the sticks to score.

The Raiders defence was again found wanting just three minutes later as the big Keith Galloway barged his way over. The Raiders were in disarray early as the Tigers lead 12-0 and were making metres with ease.

Frank Paul Nuuausala almost got pinged for a double-handed slap to Martin Taupau, but got away with it. It will be interesting to see how often players resort to slapping in this modern game! Josh Papalii almost scored after some promising Raiders attacking movement, but the final pass was ruled forward from Sam Williams.

The Tigers scored the try of the game after a fantastic bit of speed from James Tedesco saw him run around the right hand defence of the Raiders and perform a miraculous flick pass to Simona who then passed inside to Brooks who strolled over for an exciting try. The score was 18-0 after 20 minutes and there was worse to come for the Raiders after Richards strolled over in the left corner again to make it 22-0.

The score of 40 was not impossible as the Raiders were providing very little in attack, until Rapana, redeeming himself after a shocking start to the game, grabbed a nifty 40 metres down the right-hand side after a Tigers attacking kick and it lead to a much needed Shannon Boyd try, the big man just getting the ball down after checking with the video referee.

Despite costly unforced errors from the Raiders, the momentum had shifted. A quick tap after a ruck penalty saw Nuuausala make an easy 30 metres and Austin floated a kick to the in-goal which saw Croker soar above to grab the ball and plant it down. The successful conversion made it 22-12 and it was back to anyone's game.

Pat Richards started the 2nd half with a soaring kick-off into the blustery wind, which saw Ava Seumanufaga take the catch and put the Tigers straight back onto the attack. It was a clever trick that he tried on every kick-off in the half.

The wind would turn out to be a big factor in this game. Towering bombs, drop-outs, 40/20 attempts and goal-kicks were all affected, but it was the Raiders who would benefit the most. Following a fumble from Tedesco. Baptiste, replacing Hodgson at hooker, was proving to be a handful as Frank Paul Nuuausala ran onto a short flat ball to score under the posts and the Raiders were within four points!

When the Raider's Blake Austin bombed a certain try by not passing to his winger and Paul Vaughan was held up over the line, the Wests Tigers might have thought they could hold them out, but then the Raiders tied it up 22-22 via a Jack Wighton try and the Raiders had the ascendancy. A 43 metre penalty kick from Jarrod Croker after just fluffing the previous conversion gave the Raiders the lead and they didn't give it up.

The Tigers had one last throw of the dice after a dubious knock-on decision went against the Raiders' Jordan Rapana. Farah, after returning from what appeared to be an ankle injury, proceeded to put Luke Brooks into a hole after running behind a Keith Galloway run. Brooks looked to have scored, but the video referee quickly decided that Galloway's run was an obstruction. It was a line-ball decision, but correct by the letter of the law, which prevents ball runners from running behind dummy runners.

The Wests Tigers may have been handed a harsh decision a few minutes later though when it appeared they were forced to handover the ball on the 4th tackle. The Raiders scored through Jordan Rapana from the subsequent set and that was the ball game and the biggest ever comeback victory for the Canberra Raiders!

The game will be remembered for the decisions made at the death, but it was the Raiders that gave themselves every chance in this game after a poor start. The Wests Tigers gave up a 22 point lead which can only be declared as their own failure.

The Wests Tigers remain outside the eight, whilst the Raiders move to 3 wins and attempt to claw their way back into this season. The Wests Tigers take on the Bulldogs in Friday Night Football next week and the Raiders take on the Rabbitohs in Cairns the following Sunday.

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:
3 points - Frank Paul Nuuausala
2 points - Paul Vaughan
1 point - Kurt Baptiste

WESTS TIGERS (22)
Tries: Tim Simona, Pat Richards, Keith Galloway, Luke Brooks
Conversions: Pat Richards (3/4)

CANBERRA RAIDERS (30)
Tries: Shannon Boyd, Jarrod Croker, Frank Paul Nuuausala, Jack Wighton, Jordan Rapana
Conversions: Jarrod Croker (4/5)
Penalty Goals: Jarrod Croker (1/1)

Good afternoon and welcome to one of the old local grounds, Leichhardt Oval for today's Round 7 clash between the Wests Tigers and the Canberra Raiders!
Both teams are out of the top eight currently, with the Raiders only managing 2 wins, whilst the Tigers have 3. It is an important game for both teams!
The weather has turned a little nasty this arvo. Autumn has really hit with a chilly wind and possible rain on the horizon.

The Wests Tigers are as per program for this afternoon's match.

Canberra have made a series of changes to their named side with Shaun Fensom ruled out. Jordan Rapana replaces Jeremy Hawkins on the wing, while Frank-Paul Nuuausala comes into the starting side at prop, shifting Josh Papalii to the second row, and Jarrad Kennedy to the bench. Fensom's omission sees Paul Vaughan come in at lock. Shannon Boyd, Kurt Baptiste and Luke Bateman are the new benchies, with Glen Buttriss and Mark Nicholls the men left out.

Looks to be a great crowd in at Leichhardt Oval though. Kick-off in just over 10 minutes!

The players are making their way onto the field here. We're not far away from kick-off!

Game on! The Tigers start with the ball!

1: Tidy first set for the Tigres finishes with a tricky kick from Brooks for Tedesco, but he can't quite gather it up.

1: UNFORCED ERROR CANBERRA RAIDERS
Jordan Rapana makes an unforced error.
From dummy half, Rapana drops the ball cold! Tigers with a great chance to post first points!

3: TRY WESTS TIGERS
Scored by Tim Simona. Kick to come.
Great try to the Tigers! They put the pressure on the line repeatedly and a brilliant cut-out ball from Brooks finds Simona and he runs around under the posts. First blood!

3: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION WESTS TIGERS
Conversion attempt by Pat Richards successful.
Easily slots it from in front

4: PENALTY Tigers - Looked to be a knock-on from dummy half, but rules a penalty with too much attention in the play of the ball.

7: TRY WESTS TIGERS
Scored by Keith Galloway. Kick to come.
The big man barges through some flimsy defence and the Tigers are in again!

7: The Raiders will really need to improve their defence and discipline here early. The Tigers could run rampant!

8: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION WESTS TIGERS
Conversion attempt by Pat Richards successful.
Easy conversion for Richards again. 12-0!

9: Another big set from the Tigers, making metres with ease here. The Raiders look rattled.

11: Naiqama almost scores down the right!

11: WOW. The Raiders are sabotaging themselves here. They get the ball back after a Tigers attack on their line and then throw it away almost straight away!

11: Jordan Rapana is having a shocker to start this game, it has to be said.

12: Galloway has gone off the field with an arm injury. Sue comes on for him. Big loss if he's gone for the day.

13: Frank Paul Nuuausala with a bit of push and shove after a tackle. A double hand slap? He gets away with it though!

14: Frantic start to this game from both teams. Tigers with a settler finishes with a towering bomb that Jack Wighton takes well.

14: PENALTY Raiders - A relieving penalty for them.

15: Raiders on the attack and a little kick from Hodgson is knocked on my Brooks. They'll get the ball back from the scrum, 10 metres out.

16: An ALMOST try. Papalii would have scored but the ball from Sam Williams is ruled forward. He was over!

18: Wighton has handled two high balls very well so far. He's a good kid.

18: Settling set from the Raiders as well as both teams complete a couple of sets.

19: TRY WESTS TIGERS
Scored by Luke Brooks. Kick to come.
WHAT A TRY! After a Tedesco break down the left he manages to pass inside to Simona who gives it to Brooks to finish off. Great stuff!

20: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION WESTS TIGERS
Conversion attempt by Pat Richards successful.
Kicks it easily from 20 in from left touch line.

21: News from the sheds is that Galloways injury is his hip. Doubts surround him returning today.

21: Tedesco almost breaks the line again! Big metres today!

22: What a hit! Brooks is SMASHED by Soliola. Look for that in the highlight reel!

22: PENALTY Raiders - High shot from Sironen, but nothing to answer for there.

23: Hodgson made a good run, forces the pass after the tackle and the Tigers get it back! Brooks sprints down the field and they're on the attack 25 metres out!

23: Uh oh. Robbie Farah with a potential injury here. He's a-limping!

24: TRY WESTS TIGERS
Scored by Pat Richards. Kick to come.
Too easy for the Tigers. Through the hands to the left and he scores in the corner without being touched. The left-side is causing massive issues for the Raiders!

25: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION WESTS TIGERS
Conversion attempt by Pat Richards unsuccessful.
Missed it from the left-hand touch line. Bit too much hook!

26: Rapana with a nice break after a Tigers kick and the Raiders on the attack!

28: VIDEO REF - Possible try to Shannon Boyd here. Just a question on the grounding. Ref has said TRY.

28: TRY CANBERRA RAIDERS
Scored by Shannon Boyd. Kick to come.
After a sloppy pass, Boyd picked up the ball and powered over the line to score. The Raiders needed that! Good strength.

28: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANBERRA RAIDERS
Conversion attempt by Jarrod Croker successful.
Croker slots it from just left of the posts.

30: UNFORCED ERROR CANBERRA RAIDERS
Edrick Lee makes an unforced error.
Raiders put up a midfield bomb and Croker catches it, but then passes to Lee who just drops it cold!

31: Vaughn OFF.
Nuuausala ON.

32: UNFORCED ERROR CANBERRA RAIDERS
Sam Williams makes an unforced error.
Another big error for the Raiders as they looked to attack. It's not that cold!

32: SUBSTITUTION Raiders.
Hodgson OFF.
Baptiste ON.

33: PENALTY Raiders - Too much attention in the ruck from the Tigers.

34: The Raiders take the tap and Nuuausala makes a great run!

34: TRY CANBERRA RAIDERS
Scored by Jarrod Croker. Kick to come.
Raiders are right back in it! Excellent set from the penalty and Austin floats a kick into the in-goal for Croker who soars, grabs the ball and just plants it down!

36: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANBERRA RAIDERS
Conversion attempt by Jarrod Croker successful.
Croker converts his try from 20 in from the left and we have an interesting game here!

37: UNFORCED ERROR CANBERRA RAIDERS
Kurt Baptiste makes an unforced error.
FORWARD pass. Bad mistake at a critical time from the Raiders.

38: Tigers on the attack, 30 metres out, with two minutes remaining in the half!

40: A Raiders touch finder will round out the first half and we have the Tigers up by 22-12 at the half. An entertaining, albeit sloppy, game so far!
A bit of a break and we'll be back with the second half!

40: What a restart to the game! Richards puts up a rocket of a kick-off and Ava Seumanufagai runs through to catch it on the full!

40: Farah has NOT returned in the second half. Tigers' fans hearts skip a beat.

43: Tedesco fumbles a big Raiders bomb and we will have a line drop-out here. Tedesco is having a mixed game at the back!

44: TRY CANBERRA RAIDERS
Scored by Frank Paul Nuuausala. Kick to come.
Powerful try from Frank Paul! He's been having a big game and this time he runs onto a short pass from Baptiste to score under the posts!

45: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANBERRA RAIDERS
Conversion attempt by Jarrod Croker successful.
Easily converts from in front.

46: CROWD: 13,198 at Leichhardt Oval for this afternoon's clash.

47: Papalii with a kick! It results in nothing though.

47: It's all good, Aaron Woods has put the head-band back on.

48: Austin BOMBS a try for the Raiders! A great run through the middle with some excellent passing, but Austin doesn't give it to Rapana to score!

49: PENALTY Raiders - They get a chance to hit the lead here...

50: A clever kick from Baptiste into the in-goal, but the Tigers knock it over the in-goal line. Drop-out.

50: PENALTY Raiders - 5-2 for the Raiders now. Another infringement in the ruck.

52: VIDEO REF - Paul Vaughan looks to have gone over here, but the on-field ref has declared NO TRY.

52: Lots of hands involved, but I don't think the video ref can overturn this one...

52: NO TRY. Held up. Raiders still have three tackles in this set.

52: Tedesco picks up the ball expertly after an attacking Raiders grubber. He can do some freaky things!

55: Robbie Farah, back on!

57: Back to a grinding game now. The Raiders seem to be on top, but Kurt Baptiste, who has been having a storming game, has been replaced by Josh Hodgson.

56: PENALTY Tigers - Aaron Woods hit his head on the ground after a solid tackle from Papalii. It's on REPORT, but nothing to answer for there.

58: Clever grubber in-goal from Brooks, but it's cleaned up by Edrick Lee who is tackled in-goal. Drop-out.

59: A grubber from Farah is cleaned up by Austin, but he's ruled to have knocked it on. Tigers scrum feed, 10 metres out.

60: Williams with a try-saver on the Raiders left edge. Naiqama almost in!

61: UNFORCED ERROR WESTS TIGERS
Martin Taupau makes an unforced error.
Poor pass from Farah, but Taupau knocks it on. Tigers attack, stopped.

63: Galloway about to make his way back on the field after the earlier injury scare. Seumanufagai OFF.

64: TRY CANBERRA RAIDERS
Scored by Jack Wighton. Kick to come.
Raiders are in! Wighton barges past Luke Brooks and scores on the right. That ties up the game!

65: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANBERRA RAIDERS
Conversion attempt by Jarrod Croker unsuccessful.
Croker with a shocker from 20 metres in from the right touch line. Skews it across the face.

65: Richards tries for another high kick-off, but this time the Raiders take care of it.

66: PENALTY Raiders - They're on the Tigers 40 metre line and they've chosen to go for goal with the wind behind them!

66: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL CANBERRA RAIDERS
Penalty goal attempt by Jarrod Croker successful.
From 43 metres out, Croker nails the kick! Raiders in the lead!

69: Richards with ANOTHER high kick-off and this time Wighton knocks it on!
Another knock-on from the Tigers on the 3rd tackle sees them run it over though.

70: Ten minutes to go here! It's still anyone's game!

71: Brooks has lost the ball after a promising play down the left and he had Simona on his left! Raiders work it out of their 20 metres.

71: 40/20 attempt from Hodgson, but it doesn't take that right-hand turn.

72: Sisa Waqa is down in back-play. Looks in real pain. Play is continuing.

73: Maybe it was cramp, but he's back in the line now and take the tackle!

75: VIDEO REFEREE - Exciting play here! The Tigers for the ball from a dodgy knock-on decision and have been attacking the line.
We are now going to the video for a possible try to Brooks...

75: NO TRY - Penalty for obstruction after just one look at the video. A interesting decision there. Galloway had run through, touched no-one, but it's ruled an obstruction!

77: Another crushing run from Frank Paul and the Raiders with a big set to get out of their area.
Just three minutes to go!

77: HANDOVER Tigers - Poor last tackle option and they turn it over on halfway!

78: VIDEO REFEREE - A possible try to Jordan Rapana on the right wing! Just checking the touch line and grounding

78: TRY CANBERRA RAIDERS
Scored by Jordan Rapana. Kick to come.
Another quick decision and the Raiders seal the victory! Just kept control of the ball as it was grounded.

79: What a game. It's the biggest comeback victory for the Raiders in their history!

79: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANBERRA RAIDERS
Conversion attempt by Jarrod Croker successful.
Great conversion from the right touch line and he gives a shout after it soars through!

80: That's full-time here at Leichhardt Oval. What an entertaining game that was!
Lots of talking points and excellent performances from individuals in the Raiders.
The Tigers had their chances, but just couldn't make them count.