The Dragons fell to the Raiders 24-16 in a tight affair at GIO Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Canberra’s first-half handling proved the difference in the opening forty with Ricky Stuart’s men completing just 12 of their 21 sets to help hand the visitors a four-point advantage.
Setu Tu’s kick chase effort produced several results for the Dragons, prompting Stuart to make an unplanned interchange sending Sebastian Kris onto the field in place of Savelio Tamale.
The tide turned courtesy of back-to-back, length-of-the-field Xavier Savage efforts – the second of which coming off a contentious ruling.
Dean Young lamented the side’s poor execution with the ball whilst also questioning several decisions which were made including the call to award Savage’s second try.
“That’s two tough losses in a row,” Young said.
“I’m disappointed for the boys with all the effort they’ve put in. Our preparation the last month’s been really good… I’m very disappointed in a couple of the Bunker calls.”
Captain Damien Cook echoed Young’s view whilst also acknowledging the effort which the side put in.
“If I can sum it up, even the Canberra Raiders team were pretty shocked with the decision,” Cook said.
“They didn’t even have a kicker down there.”
Match: Raiders v Dragons
Round 17 -
home Team
Raiders
14th Position
away Team
Dragons
17th Position
Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra
Helped by a set restart, the Dragons fired an early shot with an aerial Tu knocking the ball to Dylan Egan to go over only for video officials to rule a mid-air drop.
Egan again went close the Dragons’ next time down off a Daniel Atkinson grubber but fumbled the ball in the pick-up attempt.
The visitors’ bold but luckless run of attack persisted on their next set with Clint Gutherson streaking into space down the left touchline and crafting a kick inside to a chasing Valentine Holmes only for the latter to be unable to reel it in.
The Dragons did manage first points 10 minutes in with Tyrell Sloan picking up a Zac Hosking drop and racing off 60 metres-plus to dive over untouched under the sticks.
Ethan Strange looked to have come up with a response for the Raiders but a last-ditch Toby Couchman cover effort forced a knock-on in his grounding attempt.
The Raiders took advantage of a dubious six-again call to nab their first points with Hudson Young winning the race to an Ethan Sanders grubber to lock things up.
Tu’s impactful opening stanza persisted with the Dragons winger again going aerial to take in an Atkinson kick and get the ball to the turf to wrestle the lead back for his side.
The Dragons were dealt a frustrating blow early in the second period with an error whilst on the attack gifting Xavier Savage an opportunity to race the length of the field and earn the hosts their first lead of the afternoon.
Shortly after, Savage took in a Dragons pass which had been tipped forward by a teammate and again raced off untouched.
NRL Match Highlights: Round 17 vs. Raiders
Despite the hosts opting against celebrating and both sides failing to cross half-way in preparation of video officials picking up the knock-on, the on-field call bizarrely stood and the Raiders’ lead pushed out beyond a converted try.
With nine minutes remaining, the Dragons kept their chances alive as Valentine Holmes shot off the left foot into the backfield, drawing the fullback, and finding Sloan for his second.
Any hopes of a fightback were quashed however in the final stages with Tom Starling picking up a pass which had been batted down to dive over and seal it for the hosts.
NRL Press Conference: Round 17 vs. Raiders
