Gah! Another golden point loss, say it ain’t so!
Have to say I’m well and truly over those. While they may be exciting for the neutral fan, I, along with plenty of other Raiders supporters, will probably live a shorter life thanks to them.
Let’s hope we’re done with them for a while. Not to say there wasn’t plenty to take out of the Manly heartbreaker.
The character our boys showed was massive. Down 20-6, one could be forgiven for putting the cue in the rack.
But the Green Machine didn’t. There’s far too much strike power and talent in the side to submit to that score line.
Enter the number 1 winger in the game – Jordan Rapana! Never satisfied with a solitary try, his work for the second try was magnificent.
As if they’d rehearsed it, commentators were just saying the Raiders could score from anywhere on the field.
Off Rapana scooted from dummy half and the man was away! Many fullback Wright may as well have been a traffic cone as Rapana essentially ran around him for a brilliant try.
Hearts in mouths, Croker nailed the conversion and a penalty goal minutes later to tie the scores, despite a chirpy Cherry-Evans.
Sure, it didn’t end the way Raiders fans would have drawn up but there was plenty to be proud of in that.
The issue? The slow start. It can’t happen in Bathurst this Saturday against the resurgent Panthers.
Perhaps the ultimate ‘confidence team’, the Panthers roll on when they get some momentum.
Crush or prevent any of that momentum and the story is quite the opposite. In their shell they go and the Raiders can take advantage.
It’s important the entire Raiders line-up is fired up and ready to go from the outset.
The Panthers like to put themselves in the same category as the Raiders. That free flowing, unpredictable attacking football is something they pride themselves on.
Let’s be honest though. No one does it better than the mighty Green Machine. It’s time to show the boys from Penrith who does is best.
Raiders forwards, it’s time to get your aggro on, particularly being minus a couple of troops. Raiders backs, it’s time to turn on that flare.
Fans, strap yourselves in for some entertainment. This one promises to be a fantastic game of Rugby League.
Go Raiders!
