Raiders v Wests *spoilers*

[Timbo]

What the hell is going on? Who the hell are the blokes wearing green? I thought play like this walked out the door with Wolfgramm, Manuel and Bulgarelli.

Defence is poor, discipline is non-existant, direction is woeful. If we don't pick it up we'll get done by 50. The fact we're getting caned by Hampstead isn't helping.

Oh, and we've been slapped with a breach notice for changing the team after it was named.

 

[Balmain_Boy]

How good is Benji though? How about that chip? He has UNBELIEVABLE skills. Hope we can keep this up!

 

[Raider_69]

I hope the tigers pump us by 70
these people in green jeseys needed to have a long hard look at themselves. Pathetic.

 

[Timbo]

Smithy's off injured. There goes the ballgame.

 

[Timbo]

Smithy's done his medial ligament.

 

[raidereski]

4-6 weeks they're saying.

We're done for.

 

[Balmain_Boy]

It's a bit of a worry for the Raiders long term future. The best man on the park has been the ancient Adamson, whilst everyone knows what the equally ancient Smith means to the team. I recognise you have some other injuries, but most of those are older blokes too, apart from Schif + Thompson.

Anyway, i'm not going to put the boot in. I'm too happy, had 5 on Rhino Heignington to be first try scorer paying 34/1. Great day so far.

 

[Timbo]

Good try by Chalky. He's very much a Billy Slater style fullback, in that he's defencively ordinary but great in attack.

Although someone needs to direct him away from Todd Payten's barber.

 

[Timbo]

Linc in!

Match on here!

 

[Mal Meninga]

Chalk, Graham, Adamson and Miller are the only guys who can walk off the field with any pride.
Kahler shows once again his size is a disadvantage to the raiders, Tyran Smith should be looking at a different profession that doesn't involve the use of his hands, and our wingers continue to run at 100km/h cross field before even bothering to come infield.
Even with Jason Smith today, the raiders had nothing. Withers, Carney, or whoever else cannot lead the raiders to anywhere. Withers provides the raiders with no direction in attack which was a huge criticism of Mclinden, while Carney is still light years away from being ready for first grade.
However, Hampstead made it awfully difficult to get anything going. How many 50/50 decisions went to the Tigers? Full credit to the Tigpies though, they punished us early and once you get that much of a buffer it's hard to lose.

 

[thickos]

4-6 weeks they're saying.

We're done for.

Well this has made a bad loss an absolute total disaster hasn't it

 

[thickos]

Campbelltown curse continues
May 23, 2005

WESTS TIGERS 28 (Chris Heighington, Benji Marshall, Robbie Farah, Paul Whatuira 2 tries; Brett Hodgson 4 goals)

Defeated

CANBERRA RAIDERS 16 (Marshall Chalk, Lincoln Withers, Phil Graham tries; Matt Gafa 2 goals)

BY THE CLOCK

2m: Raiders fullback Marshall Chalk spills a kick from Tigers halfback Scott Prince, the Tigers spreading it wide immediately for Chris Heighington to crash over. The video referee rules ref’s call, and Sean Hampstead awards a try. Tigers 4-0.

8m: Tigers whiz-kid Benji Marshall puts on his trademark left step, standing up Chalk and Raiders centre Adam Mogg for a 40m try. Brett Hodgson converts. Tigers 10-0.

22m: The Tigers make a big bust out wide, hooker Robbie Farah able to take advantage of the field position with a try beside the posts. Hodgson converts. Tigers 16-0.

26m: Chalk is penalised in possession for a play-the-ball infringement. From the next set, Chalk tries to watch a Robbie Farah grubber kick over the deadball line but centre Paul Whatuira gets a hand to it for a try. Hodgson converts. Tigers 22-0.

49m: Michael Hodgson shows good footwork to make a bust through the middle of the ruck. The next play, Matt Gafa throws an inside ball for Chalk, who crashes over with brute strength. Gafa converts. Tigers 22-6.

51m: Canberra’s little men Lincoln Withers and Alan Tongue combine, Withers touching twice as he finishes off a 55m try. Gafa converts. Tigers 22-12.

57m: Adam Mogg makes a big break, giving the Raiders good field position. A few plays later, Mogg throws the final pass for centre Phil Graham to score out wide. Tigers 22-16.

63m: Brett Hodgson makes a half-break out wide, throwing a great one-handed pass for Whatuira’s second try. Tigers 26-16.

74m: Tiger Bryce Gibbs and Raider Ben Cross are sin-binned for a scuffle. The Tigers are awarded the penalty and Hodgson kicks a penalty goal. Tigers 28-16.

WHAT THEY SAID

MATT ELLIOTT – RAIDERS COACH
“There was some encouraging stuff in the second half, but really when you play with the mentality that was displayed by us across the game, you’re going to expect us to make uncharacteristic errors. It was a disappointing day at the office … Coaching staff to players, we need to try to get an understanding of why we didn’t show up to play the way we needed to in such an important game for us.”

MATT ADAMSON – RAIDERS FORWARD
“Even in the second half when we got back into the game, blokes were making breaks and turning the ball over. No one turns the ball over on purpose, but you just can’t do those things, particularly when you’ve been under the pump for the first half.”

TIM SHEENS – TIGERS COACH
“They had us on the rack a bit, we had a few injuries and we had a few boys watching the clock, not deliberately, but it just happens. I’ve played in those games, coached in plenty of them. You get a good lead and try to do enough to win and hold on, then find yourself stop playing football … They [Canberra] had a belief in themselves because they did [came back] it against Penrith. I’m just glad Jason Smith wasn’t out there at the time. With that amount of ball, Jason would have put us under the blowtorch.”

SCOTT PRINCE – TIGERS HALFBACK
“I think [the win] is very important. It got us up into the top eight [sic]. We needed to win against the Raiders to get back on track. We’re not quite there yet. We need to finish teams off when we get into a position to do that.”

WORTH NOTING

* Canberra’s bench ignited the Raiders. In particular, Josh Miller, Michael Hodgson and Alan Tongue played superbly.
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* The Raiders had three withdrawals in the week leading up to the game – Troy Thompson (hamstring), Jason Croker (throat) and Craig Frawley (knee).
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* Raiders five-eighth Jason Smith was taken off in the 26th minute with a medial ligament injury to his right knee. He is expected to miss a month of football.
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* Raiders centre Adam Mogg put on report for a lifting tackle on Liam Fulton in the 45th minute.
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* The Raiders’ next game is against the Wests Tigers at Campbelltown on Sunday, May 22, at 2.30pm.