CANBERRA RAIDERS 20 CANTERBURY BULLDOGS 32
STEPHEN IBBETSON, GIO Stadium, Saturday
STEPHEN CRICHTON inspired leaders Canterbury to a comeback for the ages as they recovered a 20-0 half-time deficit to stun Canberra.
A record regular-season GIO crowd this century came for a second-versus-first clash and were delighted by the Raiders’ near-perfect display in the first half.
Their margin at the break was big enough to overtake the Bulldogs at the top of the NRL table – yet by the hour mark they were trailing as star centre Crichton tore them to shreds.
In total there were 32 unanswered points in the second period as Canterbury equalled the biggest comeback in their history.
And their turnaround also made NRL history, with this the first round ever to feature two wins from deficits of 20 points or more, following a Gold Coast recovery from the same scoreline at Newcastle on Friday.
Rarely can there have been two more contrasting halves than this, with one team so utterly dominant in each.
In the first, Canberra’s forwards caused havoc and their defence constantly suffocated the Bulldogs.
They led after barely three minutes as Zac Hosking crashed through from close range and Jamal Fogarty goaled.
They arguably should have had another try when Tom Starling darted over, but he was harshly judged to have been tackled when picking up a Joseph Tapine offload.
It looked like it wouldn’t matter as the shell-shocked Bulldogs struggled to complete a set and get out of their own half.
Fullback Kaeo Weekes accelerated through a small gap in their defence for a clinical try that made it 10-0 and then Xavier Savage finished a devastating right-edge break involving Fogarty – who converted – Matty Nicholson and Matthew Timoko.
Another thrilling team try, this time down the left, saw Hudson Young score his eighth of the season and forged that 20-point half-time advantage.
It might have been an entirely different story had Ata Mariota touched down for them instead of knocking-on a kick in-goal at the start of the second period.
As it was, Canterbury immediately marched forward and Crichton led the response by charging down the right with the ball out in one hand the whole way to the try-line.
Crichton also converted, as he did three minutes later when putting in Jaeman Salmon after being released by Connor Tracey.
The Samoa star then led another break, setting up Tracey who was prevented from grounding only by a remarkable Ethan Strange effort – but a couple of plays later Matt Burton and Viliame Kikau set up Marcelo Montoya and the turnaround suddenly looked inevitable.
Canberra simply couldn’t stop the onslaught, falling off tackle after tackle, and their lead was gone when Max King went over following a Bronson Xerri break from deep.
Crichton kicked Canterbury in front and they simply never looked like losing it from there, with a Kikau try created by Bailey Hayward and Burton soon putting them six points ahead.
The game-clinching try also, inevitably, had Crichton’s hands over it, as a quick pass to Jacob Kiraz allowed the winger to power his way to the line.
As if things weren’t bad enough for the Raiders, England international Nicholson limped off in the final minute with a leg injury.
GAMESTAR: Canberra could not handle Stephen Crichton in the second half, with the centre at his rampaging best.
GAMEBREAKER: The half-time break – two entirely different games were played out either side of it.
MATCHFACTS
RAIDERS
1 Kaeo Weekes
2 Savelio Tamale
3 Matthew Timoko
4 Sebastian Kris
5 Xavier Savage
6 Ethan Strange
7 Jamal Fogarty
8 Joseph Tapine
9 Tom Starling
10 Zac Hosking
11 Hudson Young
12 Matty Nicholson
13 Morgan Smithies
Subs (all used)
14 Owen Pattie
15 Josh Papalii
16 Ata Mariota
19 Simi Sasagi
Tries: Hosking (4), Weekes (18), Savage (23), Young (38)
Goals: Fogarty 2/4
BULLDOGS
1 Connor Tracey
2 Jacob Kiraz
3 Bronson Xerri
4 Stephen Crichton
5 Marcelo Montoya
6 Matt Burton
7 Toby Sexton
8 Max King
9 Reed Mahoney
10 Daniel Suluka-Fifita
11 Viliame Kikau
12 Jaeman Salmon
14 Kurt Mann
Subs (all used)
15 Harry Hayes
16 Kurtis Morrin
17 Bailey Hayward
21 Lipoi Hopoi
Tries: Crichton (45), Salmon (48), Montoya (52), King (58), Kikau (65), Kiraz (72)
Goals: Crichton 4/6
SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 10-0, 16-0, 20-0; 20-6, 20-12, 20-16, 20-22, 20-26, 20-32
Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Raiders: Zac Hosking; Bulldogs: Stephen Crichton
Penalty count: 4-4
Half-time: 20-0
Referee: Adam Gee
Attendance: 23,827