The Canberra Raiders have defeated the West Tigers for the second time this season, winning 20 - 12 in front of 15,656 fans at GIO Stadium on Saturday night.
Despite a late surge from the Tigers, early tries from Dunamis Lui and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad allowed the Raiders to secure their 11th victory of the season on a cold Canberra night.
The win comes on the 30th anniversary of the Canberra Raiders 1989 grand final victory over the then named Balmain Tigers.
The Raiders kicked off the scoring early as front rower Dunamis Lui ploughed over the try line to score his first try since 2014.
A perfect grubber kick from Aidan Sezer just minutes later gave Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad the chance to dive on top of it, grounding the ball just short of the dead ball line.
A short drop out attempt from the Green Machine went just short of 10 metres awarding the Tigers a fourth set in a row eventually tiring out the Raiders goal-line defence.
Tigers forward Josh Aloiai ran through a gap in the Raiders defence to put his side on the board.
A cut out ball from Sezer straight out to the wing allowed for a diving finish in the corner from Jordan Rapana to score his 11th try in just eight appearances against the Tigers.
The Green Machine were close to getting another on the board before half time, however, Bailey Simonsson’s pass was ruled forward meaning the Raiders went to the sheds holding a 14-point lead.
The Raiders started the second half on the back foot after tricky footwork from the Tigers allowed winger David Nofoaluma to score in the corner.
The Raiders defence was tested throughout the second half but it was a try saving tackle from Aidan Sezer on Michael Chee-Kam that kept the eight-point margin alive in the dying stages.
Only minutes later Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad also made a try saving tackle meaning the raiders finished the game 20 – 12 winners at GIO stadium.
Canberra Raiders 20 (Tries: D Lui, C Nicoll-Klokstad, J Rapana; Goals: J Croker 3; Penalty goals: J Croker 1) d
Wests Tigers 12 (Tries: J Aloiai, D Nofoaluma; Goals: M Mbye 2)
