Canberra Raiders held off the fast-finishing Wests Tigers on a sunny afternoon in the nation’s capital to claim a 28-22 victory at GIO Stadium.
The victory meant it was back-to-back wins for the first time in Canberra's history in the competition and the first loss for Wests Tigers in the NRLW despite a gallant performance by Leianne Tufuga, who crossed for a hat-trick in a beaten side.
Losing star fullback Botille Vette-Welsh with a head knock in the 27th minute and Kezie Apps to the sin-bin in the second half, the Wests Tigers scored late to take the game down to the final minute but couldn't catch the Raiders in the end.
Raiders halfback Ashleigh Quinlan had a scintillating start to the contest with a charge down on her opposite number providing field position for the home side to claim first points.
Cheyelle Robins-Reti try 56th minute
The Raiders' fast start continued with a beautiful short pass from Temera putting England International Hollie-Mae Dodd over untouched for her first NRLW try.
Tufuga crossed for her first when Apii Nicholls failed to defuse a Pauline Piliae-Rasabale kick which they quickly took advantage of with a slick backline movement to the left-hand side which was finished off by the centre.
After consecutive sets on the Raiders try-line, Wests Tigers would capitalise on the field position with Kezie Apps beating two defenders and carrying another over the line to score her second try in as many weeks.
Apps chases down Tungai then gets binned
Both teams would struggle to break the deadlock with an error riddled end to the first half as they entered the sheds but a frantic start to the second half saw both teams have opportunities to put their noses in front.
The deadlock would be broken after Temara would supply a crisp pass for Shakiah Tungai on the right edge, who would dive over in the corner securing her first NRLW try since 2019.
Similar to the first half the Raiders would put on consecutive tries with Monalisa Soliola running an impressive line to score in back-to-back games.
The visitors would be reduced to 12 after Kezie Apps was sent to the sin bin for a second effort after an impressive cover tackle on Tungai, who intercepted a ball from her own half.
Canberra only needed one set to take advantage of the extra number with a sharp run against the grain from Cheyelle Robins-Reti, beating multiple defenders on her way to the try line.
Tufuga would complete her hat trick after scoring two tries in the space of five minutes setting up a grandstand finish in the process but a final set by the Wests Tigers wasn't enough as the Raiders held on for a win.
Match: Raiders v Wests Tigers
Round 3 -
home Team
Raiders
5th Position
away Team
Wests Tigers
4th Position
Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra
Match snapshot
- The Raiders secured back-to-back victories in the NRLW for the first time in club history while Wests Tigers suffered their first defeat in the competition.
- Wests Tigers fullback Botille Vette-Welsh left the field in the 29th minute and didn't return after failing her HIA. The visitors activated their 18th player Rebecca Pollard when Vette-Welsh was ruled out.
- Wests Tigers forward Folau Vaki was also a late withdrawal after failing to finish the warm-up due to a knee injury. Jessica Kennedy was added to the bench as Vaki's replacement to make her NRLW debut.
- Raiders hooker Emma Barnes left the field in the 42nd minute for a HIA which she passed however was ruled out for a jaw injury.
- Zahara Temara's second conversion of the afternoon saw her bring up her 50th in the NRLW.
- Leianne Tufuga has now scored five tries in three appearances for the Wests Tigers
- Shakai Tungai failed to finish the game with a leg injury.
- Despite the clear conditions in the capital both sides would struggle with their competitions with both sides completing under 80 percent.
- The Wests Tigers continue their reputation as a team who promote the ball with another 11 offloads to the Raiders' two.
Play of the game
With the scores levelled and neither side able to take advantage of their opportunities it was the Raiders halfback who would stand up and take control, demanding the ball down the short side and supplying a fifteen metre cut out pass for Shakiah Tungai to go over for her first NRLW try since 2019 and break the deadlock which provided Canberra the platform to establish a healthy second half lead.
Shakiah Tungai try 47th minute
What they said
"We speak highly within our group that this our house, we don't lose here and that's something we will try and keep. It's critical you win at home." - Raiders coach Darrin Borthwick.
"I thought our discipline hurt us at the start of the game both in attack and defence and at the start of the second half them scoring points came off the back of our failure to complete our sets. - Wests Tigers coach Brett Kimmorley.
NRLW Press Conference: Raiders v Wests Tigers - Round 3, 2023
What's Next
The Raiders head to Wollongong to take on the St George Illawarra Dragons while the Wests Tigers travel to Brisbane to take on the North Queensland Cowboys.
