Raiders fall to Storm at AAMI Park

The Raiders battled the Storm on Sunday afternoon in a high-stakes match. The stage was set for milestone performances on both sides, with Raiders coach Ricky Stuart celebrating his 800th game as a player and coach, and Storm five-eighth Cameron Munster making his 250th NRL appearance. 

Only a minute into play, and the Raiders were already gifted an early scrum feed following a loose carry by the Storm. The ball was sent left to Savelio Tamale, who had plenty of open space to fly through and land the first try of the game. Ethan Sanders failed to convert, and the Raiders were four points up and filled with confidence.

The Green Machine kept the energy up and the ball moving. Sanders delivered a high kick on the right, and the Raiders saw an opportunity to keep their set alive. After sending the ball left, Origin star Hudson Young kicked a grubber, which Owen Pattie chased down and dove on the ball to score the second try of the game.

Shortly after, the Storm were in a dangerous attacking position, however, their efforts were crushed when Xavier Savage intercepted the ball on his own line. The Raiders winger was no match for the Melbourne side as he legged it down the field and dove under the post for Canberra’s third try. Sanders had an easy conversion to make it a 16-0 lead.

Unfortunately, Canberra’s momentum ended there. The Raiders gave away a penalty for a dangerous tackle, which allowed the Storm to travel down the field and in range of a try. Will Warbrick found the line for the Storm’s first try of the game. Sua Fa’alogo converted the try, and the Raiders remained 16-6 in front.

The Storm continued this momentum with back-to-back tries. A long kick by Jahrome Hughes was chased down by Warbrick, and a catch and pass to Ativalu Lisati resulted in a second try under the post. Fa’alogo closed the gap with a successful conversion.

Another unlucky penalty to the Storm left the Raiders defending a third set on their line. Eventually, Cameron Munster pushed through the Raiders' defence for a try in his 250th game. Fa’alogo failed to convert, and the score was balanced at 16-all with 10 minutes left of the first half.

Minutes before halftime, the Raiders set their sights on a final try. Targeting the Storm’s right edge once again, the ball was sent down to Matthew Timoko, who weaved around the Storm defenders and grounded the ball for another four-pointer. Sanders missed the conversion, and the Raiders were back in front 20-16.

Kaeo Weekes showed up with a try-saving tackle on Moses Leo after he broke through the Raiders’ defence. As the Raiders scrambled to get into position, the Storm found empty space on the right, and Warbrick was in for another try to keep the score even going into halftime drawn at 20-all.

The Raiders kicked off the second half, and the intensity of the tight competition was felt instantly. The two sides fought with hard-hitting tackles and heavy defence to hold each other at 20 points.

With 20 minutes remaining, two unlucky mistakes in a row from the Raiders reopened the game in the home side's favour. Warbrick took the ball from the kick and grounded it in the corner for the first try of the second half. Fa’alogo failed to convert, and the Storm led 24-20 for the first time in the game.

Daine Laurie was forced to show off his versatility once again, moving to the right wing to replace Savage when he was sent off for a HIA. Unfortunately, the Storm’s attack was too quick, and Leo dove for the corner to score a try. Fa’alogo won the crossbar in a successful conversion and gifted the Storm a 10-point lead.

Building on momentum, Fa’alogo was next to score for the Storm and converted his own try. A Storm intercept by Trent Toelau was completed with a final try under the post. Cameron Munster finished off his 250th game with a successful conversion in front for the Storm to claim a 42-20 victory.