The Raiders have bounced back with a huge road win, defeating the Manly Sea Eagles by 29-16 at the Lavington Sports Ground.
After a terrible start for the Green Machine, dropping the ball and conceding a try in the first two minutes of the game, the Raiders managed to fight back take control of the rest of the game. Canberra went on an impressive run of four unanswered tries in the first half and Manly was never looking as if they were able to get back into the game.
Even a late comeback scare from the Sea Eagles wasn’t enough to deny the Green Machine their second hard fought victory in tough conditions.
The first half seemed like a repeat of Canberra’s poor effort against the Sydney Roosters last weekend. After knocking the ball on and conceding a try in the first two minutes of the game, the Raiders managed to go into half time with a strong 19 point lead.
After Jack Wighton knocked on from a high bomb, the Sea Eagles opened the scoring early after the ball went through the hands to the right seeing Tom Trbojevic score an easy try. Manly up 4-0.
Sisa Waqa then showed how integral he is to the Green Machine’s attack.
A wicked right foot step left his defender Cheyse Blair on the floor and Waqa opened the scoring for Canberra. Jarrod Croker missed the conversion leaving the game tied 4-4.
A 14th minute penalty to Canberra allowed them an easy way out of their half and they went right on the attack.
Blake Austin carrying his offensive form from last week cut through flimsy Manly defence and scored his first try right next to the uprights. An easy conversion from Croker saw Canberra take the lead 10-4.
Manly knocked the ball on in the 23rd minute and Blake Austin showed his attacking prowess again. Holding the ball up at the line, opening up a gap and a try for Jarrad Kennedy. Canberra found themselves leading 16-4
The first half was firmly in the hands of Canberra as they scored their fourth unanswered try.
From a high bomb sent up from Sam Williams, high flyer Sisa Waqa jumped above everyone and tapped the ball backwards. The Green Machine recovered and passed the ball to Jordan Rapana who extended their lead 20-4. Croker again stepped up for the conversion and slotted it from the far right hand side, Canberra winning 22-4.
With the Sea Eagles again conceding another penalty as the Raiders run the ball out of their half, Canberra went on one last attack for the half.
Sam Williams surprised everyone as they went on the attack across the face of goal and decided to take a drop goal just on the stroke of half time. Canberra head into the break 23-4.
The Raiders came out in the second half determined to not let their lead slip, as they did against the Dragons two weeks ago.
In the 53rd minute Josh Hodgson put Canberra into perfect offensive position, booting a massive 40/20 kick.
The Raiders then scored their 5th try of the match with a grubber kick put behind Manly’s defence by Sam Williams, and Captain Jarrod Croker diving on the ball for his first of the evening. With Croker converting his own try the Raiders took a commanding 29-4 lead.
The Raiders weren’t helping themselves as errors began creeping into their game. Josh Papalii lost the ball only five metres out from his try line.
Manly then made them pay as Tom Trbojevic scored his second try on debut, cutting the lead to 29-8. Peta Hiku converted the tough kick and Canberra was again leading by 19 points 29-10.
The Sea Eagles started making their comeback, Keiran Foran kicked perfectly for Blair to run onto the ball and score an easy try right under the posts. Raiders now leading 29-16.
Manly’s efforts proved too little too late and the Raiders came away with the tough 29-16 point win.
The Raiders improved out of sight from last weekend against the Roosters. Their offence was running riot and their scrambling defence was on show from the Green Machine.
It looks like positive signs for Raiders fans who should be looking forward to next week’s tough home game against the Melbourne Storm.
Canberra 29 (Tries: Sisa Waqa, Blake Austin, Jarrad Kennedy, Jordan Rapana, Jarrod Croker). def. Manly Sea Eagles 16 (Tries: Tom Trbojevic 2, Cheyse Blair).
