CANBERRA RAIDERS 28 MANLY SEA EAGLES 12
CALLUM WALKER, GIO Stadium, Friday
CANBERRA kept up the heat on NRL leaders Melbourne with a comprehensive victory, led by the ever-impressive Ethan Strange, over Manly.
Strange registered a hat-trick and had a hand in everything the Raiders did well as the Sea Eagles simply couldn’t live with the power and pace of their opponents in the second half.
Tom Trbojevic broke the deadlock inside four minutes, backing up a superb break from Tolutau Koula before Strange grabbed his first moments later, dummying his way to the line.
The Raiders turned the game on its head three minutes later with slick passing ending with Xavier Savage flying in at the corner.
Though Kaeo Weekes was sinbinned for the Raiders for a professional foul, the visitors couldn’t take advantage with Canberra leading 10-6 at half-time.
Koula, who was brilliant all evening, restored Manly’s lead on 47 minutes after a powerful run, but that was as good as it got for the visitors.
Strange notched his second in identical fashion to his first before earning his hat-trick try just four minutes later as Canberra led 22-12.
And the Raiders had enough time for Sebastian Kris to intercept and run home from 40 metres out with Manly’s top eight hopes drifting by.
RAIDERS: 1 Kaeo Weekes, 2 Jed Stuart, 3 Matt Timoko, 4 Sebastian Kris, 5 Xavier Savage, 6 Ethan Strange, 7 Jamal Fogarty, 8 Josh Papalii, 9 Tom Starling, 10 Joseph Tapine, 11 Hudson Young, 12 Zac Hosking, 13 Corey Horsburgh. Subs (all used): 14 Owen Pattie, 15 Simi Sasagi, 16 Morgan Smithies, 17 Ata Mariota
Tries: Strange (11, 51, 55), Savage (14), Kris (64); Goals: Fogarty 4/5; Sin bin: Weekes (19) – professional foul
SEA EAGLES: 1 Tom Trbojevic, 2 Jason Saab, 3 Tolutau Koula, 4 Tommy Talau, 5 Reuben Garrick, 6 Luke Brooks, 7 Daly Cherry-Evans, 8 Matt Lodge, 14 Jake Simpkin, 10 Siosiua Taukeiaho, 11 Corey Waddell, 12 Michael Chee Kam, 13 Jake Trbojevic. Subs (all used): 9 Jazz Tevaga, 15 Aaron Schoupp, 16 Ethan Bullemor, 17 Toafofoa Sipley
Tries: T Trbojevic (4), Koula (47); Goals: Garrick 2/2
SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 6-6, 10-6; 10-12, 16-12, 22-12, 28-12
Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Raiders: Ethan Strange; Sea Eagles: Tolutau Koula
Penalty count: 6-4; Half-time: 10-6; Referee: Peter Gough; Attendance: 14,527