Round 23
Canberra Raiders 38 d. Newcastle Knights 18

2008 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: Aus_NZ > National > First Grade Competition: NRL Telstra Premiership

Raiders edge closer to finals
Mon August 18, 2008
Source: www.raiders.com.au

The CFMEU Canberra Raiders continued their dazzling form on Sunday afternoon, this time thumping the Newcastle Knights 38-18 at Canberra stadium.

The star-studded Newcastle Knights were blown away by the confident Raiders in the first half, with the home side running in four tries to one in the first term to set up a 22-6 half time lead.

Resurgent five-eighth Terry Campese once again orchestrated the victory, with three line breaks and four try assists to go with 14 points of his own, while fullback David Milne bagged two tries.

Raiders' coach Neil Henry was pleased by the result and the 20-point boost to his side's points differential, while Knights coach Brian Smith was disappointed in the manner the game was officiated by referee Ben Cummins.

The win ? the Raiders' fifth in six weeks - takes them inside the top eight, after being squeezed out by wins to the Dragons, Warriors and Panthers already this round. The Raiders now sit in sixth spot, but need continue their winning way in order to be assured of a semi-final birth.

The Raiders will now play South Sydney and the Cowboys away, before returning to Canberra stadium to line up against the Bulldogs in the final round.

CANBERRA RAIDERS 38 (D Milne 2, C Best, T Campese, J Picker, T Thurling, N Costigan tries; T Campese 5 goals) d. NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS 18 (C Paterson, C Vuna, J Royal tries; K Gidley 3 goals) at Canberra Stadium.
Referee: Ben Cummins
Crowd: 12,206
Halftime: Raiders 22-6

BY THE CLOCK
5min In-form Terry Campese slips past Knights' forward Jesse Royal, and offloads to Colin Best who opens the scoring. Campese converts. Raiders 6-0.

11min Rookie half Marc Herbert puts Joel Monaghan over the line, but Monaghan spills the ball and blows a golden opportunity.

16min The Raiders get back to back sets at the Knights' line courtesy of a Campese grubber. The Raiders then pile the pressure on the Knights and the Novocastrians finally crack, with man-of-the-moment Campese bursting through some paper-thin defence to score home side's second try. Raiders 10-0.

19min The Knights didn't take long to hit back, with Corey Paterson running between Herbert and Thurling to score. Gidley Converts. Raiders 10-6.

36min On the back of a bullocking run from Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, the Raiders finally turn possession into points, with Joe Picker scoring next to the uprights. Campese converts. Raiders 16-6.

40min Reminiscent of last week, the Raiders score on the stroke of half time. Magnificent Campese gives an inside ball to Milne, who goes over untouched. Campese converts. Raiders 22-6.

46min Video ref Paul Simpkins called upon to adjudicate on a possible Raiders' try. Campese kicks on the last tackle, the ball bounces around and eventually into the path of Trevor Thurling. Thurling dives on it. Simpkins awards Thurling his fourth try in two weeks. Campese converts. Raiders 28-6.

61min Video ref Paul Simpkins shows his green side, with two big calls going the way of the Raiders. An alleged knock-on by prop Troy Thompson became a Raiders' penalty (strip). The Raiders attacked from 20-metres out and on the last tackle Simpkins was again called into the game, this time to judge on another Raiders' try. Herbert grubbered into the Knights in-goal on the last tackle and Milne out-dived a Knights defender to plant the ball. Simpkins finds nothing wrong with it. Campese converts. Raiders 34-6.

65min Knights winger Cooper Vuna scores the Knights' second try. Gidley converts. Raiders 34-12.

72min Knights' prop Jesse Royal continues his side's comeback, scoring next to the uprights. Raiders' fans have cause to feel a little disappointed after their team has come up short on a number of 50/50 calls in the second half.

78min Neville Costigan sends the Raiders' fans home on a high note, finishing another long range effort by the Raiders. Campese ? once again ? spotted a gap in the Knights' line and ran straight through it. The Raiders then spread the ball and born-again winger Costigan finished off the movement with a swan dive in the corner. Raiders 38-18.

WHAT THEY SAID

RAIDERS' COACH NEIL HENRY
"The plus 20 [differential] points was the highlight in an otherwise pretty scrappy game. It was a pressure game for us, fairly physical and a good hit out."

"The sides that needed to win so far this round have ? including us now."

"It's not like we are playing Fijian touch out there ? most of our passes were thrown because they were on."

KNIGHTS' COACH BRIAN SMITH
"I'm not 100% sure why we started the game so poorly. We seemed to be on the back-pedal from the very beginning."

"The last time we played with that ref, we had four penalties ? today we had the same side, same team, same coach and a whole lot more penalties. How do you work that out?"

"In no way underestimating the Raiders, we never really got on the front foot ? the whole game was muddled."


WORTH NOTING
* Raiders' interchange forward Tom Learoyd-Lahrs was placed on report for a dangerous throw

* David Milne scored two tries

* Joe Picker was named man of the match

* The Raiders take on South Sydney at ANZ Stadium on Sunday at 2.00pm

News Source: www.raiders.com.au


Knights NRL and NYC teams for Raiders clash
Tue August 12, 2008
Newcastle Knights NRL and NYC teams for Sunday's important clash against Canberra in the Nations Capital.

Also includes Central Newcastle team for Saturday's game against Balmain Ryde-Eastwood in the VB NSW Cup.

KNIGHTS v RAIDERS
Canberra Stadium
NRL
Sunday, 17 August 2008

Coach: Brian Smith

1. Kurt Gidley
2. James McManus
3. Junior Sau
4. Adam MacDougall
5. Akuila Uate
6. Jarrod Mullen
7. Scott Dureau
8. Daniel Tolar
9. Danny Buderus (c)
10. Matthew White
11. Steve Simpson
12. Cory Paterson
13. Chris Houston

14. Matt Hilder
15. Cameron Ciraldo
16. Richard Fa'aoso
17. Mark Taufua

KNIGHTS v RAIDERS
Canberra Stadium
NYC
Sunday, 17 August 2008

Coach: Trent Robinson

1. Marty Paulson
2. Kevin Naiqama
3. Daniel Isaac
4. Simon Williams
5. Kieran English
6. Ryan Stig
7. Joel Burraston
8. Scott Dobbins
9. Joel Brown
10. Joel Edwards
11. Callan Richardson
12. Byron Fruean
13. Jason Schirnack

14. Zane Tetevano
15. Sione Tovo
16. Blake Gallen
17. Todd Hurrell
18. Shane Gray
(one to be omitted)

CENTRAL NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS v BALMAIN RYDE
Leichardt Oval
NSW Cup
Saturday, 16 August 2008

Coach: Rick Stone

1. Johnathon Ford
2. Teason Faavele-Eli
3. Joseph Iosefo
4. Keith Lulia
5. Jacob Jenkinson
6. Con Mika
7. Luke Walsh
8. Tim Natusch
9. Michael Young (c)
10. Sione Finefuaiki
11. Tanu Wulf
12. Lui Toimoana
13. Jacob Ling

14. Faitotoa Asa
15. Hanan Laban
16. Jon Tupou
17. Tyne Owen

Tue August 12, 2008
• Plum in for Buttriss, Tongue at hooker
  

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