The Canberra Raiders have kept their season alive and escaped with a 20-18 win over the Warriors at GIO Stadium, with the visitors’ goalkicking woes proving extremely costly.
The Warriors scored more tries than the Raiders (4-3) but Chanel Harris-Tavita missed three conversions, including one from right next to the posts which would have levelled the scores with six minutes left.
Harris-Tavita was kicking in place of Adam Pompey, who was ruled out for the game after picking up a knee injury in the first half.
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The Canberra win broke a streak of five straight home losses at GIO Stadium.
Raiders halfback Jamal Fogarty was first up after more than three months on the sideline, and his creativity and leadership was crucial for the home side.
“The inclusion of Jamal Fogarty is clear to see. The spark and the creativity,” Dan Ginnane said on Fox League.
The Raiders started like a bull out of a gate, scoring two tries in the first 11 minutes.
Stud second rower Hudson Young scored both, proving hard to stop close to the line.
The second of his tries came thanks to a lovely short ball from Fogarty, who had missed the last 13 weeks with a bicep injury.
Down 14-0 with three minutes left in the first half, the Warriors hit back when veteran Roger Tuivasa-Sheck scored after beating Ethan Strange with a vicious right foot step.
The Warriors would score their second consecutive try when Kurt Capewell, backing up from Origin on Wednesday, crashed over in the left corner.
Another
The Warriors have lost two players for the game in centre Adam Pompey (knee) and Taine Tuaupiki (HIA).
Another Origin back up in Mitch Barnett barged over to tie the score up at 14, setting up a grandstand finish.
With the game in the balance at 14-14 with 10 to play, Raiders flyer Xavier Savage put his side in front when he chased down a lovely Kaeo Weekes kick to score.
The Warriors quickly hit back when Addin Fonua-Blake beat several Raiders close to the line to score next to the post, setting up Harris-Tavita’s brutal miss.
CANBERRA BOOSTED BY FOGARTY’S STEADY PRESENCE
Canberra began 2024 flying, winning four of their first six to sit second after Round 6. At the heart of this fast start was halfback Jamal Fogarty.
In Round 7 Fogarty suffered a ruptured bicep and the Raiders won just three of their next 10 games. His return in Round 20 against the Warriors was both timely and welcome for Ricky’s Raiders.
Surrounded by X-factor footballers, like Hudson Young, Kaeo Weekes and Xavier Savage, Fogarty provides something different and necessary, control and poise.
Speaking early in the game, Fox League’s Cooper Cronk alluded to this, stating Fogarty “brings a bit of calm (and) leadership.”
One of Fogarty’s most important assets, and perhaps the part of his game Canberra missed most, is his kicking game.
Throughout the first half his expertise off the boot was on show, twice forcing errors from the Warriors back five with towering bombs, and more often than not finding the right kick.
With ball in hand, Fogarty had his say on the contest as well, providing the assist for Hudson Young’s second try of the night in the 11th minute.
“Welcome back to Jamal Fogarty. What a start to the contest,” Cronk said.
“This is beautiful ball playing.
It appeared to be a seamless return from injury for Fogarty, with his first error of the contest coming in the 30th minute, when his kick went out on the full.
However, that was his only error of a strong first 40 from both halfback and club, who led 14-6 at half-time and appeared in cruise control.
Speaking on Fox League’s halftime coverage, Greg Alexander remarked the Raiders appeared a much improved side in Round 20.
“It was all off the back of Jamal’s kicking game,” he said.
“Very noticeable difference in the Raiders performance in that opening half with Jamal at No.7.”
James Graham agreed: “He makes such a difference, doesn’t he? It’s all down to that kicking game, forced two errors.
“Outstanding, just smart kicking game. (He) plays the long game.”
However, Fogarty’s starring injury return would end at half-time. Early in the second half, he spilled a Warriors crossfield kick and on the next set Kurt Capewell scored.
And yet, it didn’t matter in the end as the Raiders hung on to beat the Warriors, snapping their four-game losing streak.
It’s a result they’d not have achieved were it not for their halfback’s excellent opening 40 minutes, even if he had a second half to forget.
TUAUPIKI’S TIME TO SHINE GOES BEGGING
In recent weeks the NRL has been littered with deputy fullbacks excelling when given the opportunity.
Think of Trai Fuller, Jye Gray, Lehi Hopoate and Sua Faalogo, all of whom sit behind some of the game’s finest fullbacks, and all of whom have shown the rugby league world what they’re capable of at various points over the last few months.
With Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad out injured and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck named on the win, tonight was meant to be Taine Tuaupiki’s chance to follow suit. Until it wasn’t.
On Fox League’s pre-match coverage, former Sharks hooker Michael Ennis said as much.
“The young fullbacks in our game… what we’ve seen from some of these young, brash guys that have played with no fear. They’re smaller in stature but their explosive speed and willingness to take the line one and break it has been so impressive to watch,” he said.
Ennis praised Tuaupiki for his “work through the middle,” complementing “the way he carries the ball with his speed and his willingness to take the line on.”
Greg Alexander agreed the 24-year-old is a supremely talented player who’s “too good” for NSW Cup.
Evidently, so much was expected of the youngster against a Canberra outfit who’ve struggled at home this season and lost four on the trot.
Star here and who knows what the future may hold?
Except it wasn’t meant to be. Unlike Fuller, Gray, Hopoate and Faalogo, Tuaupiki was unable to capitalise on his first grade chance.
He spilled a Jamal Fogarty bomb in the fifth minute and on the next set Hudson Young opened the scoring. Four minutes later Tuaupiki was taken from the field for a HIA, and not long after that he was ruled out for the match.
It was a cruel blow from a highly touted fullback presented with a rare NRL opportunity.
IS THIS THE END OF THE WARRIORS’ SEASON?
The Warriors entered Round 20 sitting 12th, four points outside the top eight, with their season well and truly on the line.
The Fox Sports Lab predicted the side had a 15.4% chance of finishing in the top eight at the end of the season. Slim chances, but not completely impossible.
After 40 minutes, it appeared as if Andrew Webster’s side’s season was well and truly over. Canberra had all the ascendancy and didn’t look like letting off.
Yet they did, with the Warriors clawing their way back into the contest during the second half, scoring three of their four tries during the second 40.
Goal kicking would be the difference. First choice goalkicker Adam Pompey left the field at half-time, with Chanel Harris-Tavita missing each of his three attempts, including one from just about right in front in the 73rd minute.
It’s left their season all but certainly over, with their chances of qualifying for the finals undoubtedly lower than 15.4% as the dust settles on yet another bitterly disappointing loss.
Fox League commentator Dan Ginnane summed the state of the Warriors season up perfectly at full-time.
Speaking on Fox League’s post-match coverage, James Graham remarked “there was a lot of pressure on both teams going into tonight because like we said going into the game, I think both teams realised that both these teams can’t play finals.”
“So, the winner now goes and takes the opportunity to go on a little bit of a run and perhaps play in September.
“I think the Warriors are staring down the barrel of not playing in September.”
Greg Alexander agreed the Warriors finals hopes are slim.
“They’re on 19 points. They would have to win five of their next six games, and then pick up the points in Round 27 (when they have a bye). That would get them to 31 points,” he said.
Michael Ennis believes the Warriors run home is “not an awful run (but) it’s not easy. It’s a challenge given the personnel they’ve got out.”
“They basically need to be perfect now,” Graham added.
“It’s going to be very difficult now for the Warriors to reduce their season.”