Raiders winger Xavier Savage has handed in a nomination for try of the year after a stunning individual effort put his side on the board against the Panthers.
In an entertaining game, the Panthers lead 18-16 after 65 minutes.
Savage jumped over Brian To’o to catch a Jamal Fogarty bomb, and then ran 30 metres to score. It was a terrific putdown as well, with Savage extending fully to ground it in the corner.
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MATCH CENTRE: Raiders v Panthers, teams, live scores, stats
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That try gave the Raiders an early lead, but the Panthers hit back through Luke Sommerton, who caught Canberra napping from dummy-half.
The Raiders were facing a 12-4 deficit but would lead 10-6 after 25 minutes when Kaeo Weekes crossed.
Canberra’s Seb Kris made an outstanding try saver on Daine Laurie and then in the ensuing set, Weekes scored underneath the posts, following a terrific offload from Joe Tapine.
Laurie would make up for the earlier missed opportunity with a try in the corner to tie it at 10.
Penrith would head into halftime with a 12-10 lead after a Dylan Edwards penalty goal.
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MATCH PREVIEW
The Canberra Raiders will be looking to keep their season alive when they host the Penrith Panthers in Round 25 at GIO Stadium.
Canberra currently sit 12th on the NRL ladder, four points outside the top eight, with a win today ensuring their slim finals dreams will remain alive at the end of the round.
Ricky Stuart’s side have lost three on the trot, conceding more than 40 points in each of their last two weeks, but have seen the task ahead of them today made slightly easier with the absence of Nathan Cleary.
Cleary re-aggravated a shoulder injury in Penrith’s loss to the Storm last week and will miss an extended spell on the sidelines as his side chase the minor premiership.
2024 has not been kind to the No.7 on the injury front, though his sustained injury issues haven’t hindered Penrith this season.
Instead they’ve arguably strengthened the three-time premiers, who have been able to lead on Jarome Luai’s brilliance on countless occasions this season.
Luai will once again don the No.7 for Ivan Cleary’s side this game, with another strong performance not only setting Penrith up for a late minor premiership push but also delighting fans of the Wests Tigers, who he joins next season.
TEAMS
RAIDERS: 1. Jordan Rapana 2. Albert Hopoate 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Kaeo Weekes 7. Jamal Fogarty 10. Joseph Tapine 14. Danny Levi 22. Corey Horsburgh 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Morgan Smithies 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Tom Starling 16. Ata Mariota 17. Simi Sasagi 21. Jed Stuart
PENRITH: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Daine Laurie 3. Izack Tago 4. Casey McLean 5. Brian To’o 6. Brad Schneider 7. Jarome Luai 8. Moses Leota 9. Luke Sommerton 10. James Fisher-Harris 20. Luke Garner 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 11. Mavrik Geyer 14. Trent Toelau 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Liam Henry 22. Sunia Turuva
Source Agencies
