The Raiders have survived a second half comeback from a spirited Dragons aspect to seal a 26-36 win — their third straight and largest of the season.
In true Raiders style it was an actual thriller with the Dragons scoring three tries in seven minutes to offer Ricky Stuart a scare. But a attempt to just lately re-signed Seb Kris within the 71st minute obtained them over the road.
MATCH CENTRE: Dragons vs Raiders dwell rating, stats, video
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The Raiders had complete management of the primary half, operating in 4 tries to 1 with Matt Timoko starring.
But they opened the door to their opposition when a expensive Jarrod Croker error put a attempt on a platter for Zac Lomax.
Lomax and Mikaele Ravalawa led the Dragons’ fightback within the second half with the pair crossing for a respective double and hat-trick.
But it wasn’t sufficient to steal the win and the Raiders held on.
While the Dragons confirmed loads of ticker, they’ve come out of it battered and bruised with Jayden Sullivan (hamstring) and Paul Turner (again) failing to complete the sport.
All eyes have been on Jack Wighton within the opening minutes of the sport after the star five-eighth shifted to lock with Matt Frawley enjoying within the halves as an alternative. But the jury is out on the experiment.
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THE TIMOKO SHOW
Raiders teenager Matt Timoko had arguably his career-best sport, inflicting the Dragons’ left edge complications all evening lengthy.
Timoko threatened each time he touched the ball, ending the primary half with a attempt, 9 deal with busts, three linebreaks and 169 operating metres.
He suffered an harm scare on the finish of the primary half as he hobbled off clutching at his knee. But Stuart would’ve breathed a sigh of reduction when he overcame it to take the sector within the second half as a result of he bagged one other attempt.
The 23-year-old completed the sport with 229 operating metres, 9 deal with busts, three linebreaks and 13 tackles — no misses — to go together with his double.
“The left edge of the Dragons simply can’t get anywhere near him because he has been outstanding. Big run metres, his ability to break through tackles and get to the back field — he’s been outstanding,” Fox League skilled Cooper Cronk declared.
“It’s not just tonight,” Greg Alexander added.
“Matt Timoko has been outstanding for them — a real powerhouse.
“Timoko has terrorised left side defence of the Dragons.
“He’s very powerful and he’s shown in a number of games this year that he’s a weapon for the Raiders.”
WIGHTON EXPERIMENT A NO-GO
Jack Wighton performed a shock new function for the Raiders on Friday — lock.
With Corey Horsrbugh out on Origin duties, coach Ricky Stuart wanted to discover a new lock. He named rising ahead Ata Mariota within the No.13 jersey on Tuesday, however an hour earlier than kick-off the staff was finalised with Matt Frawley as an alternative shifting to lock.
However as the sport kicked off it was clear that Wighton was enjoying lock with Frawley at five-eighth.
Fox League’s sideline reporter Matt Russell spoke to Stuart earlier than kick-off and revealed the coach felt just like the staff was “lacking a bit of experience through the middle” and wished Wighton to assist that — however to nonetheless play his “normal game” simply at lock, not five-eighth.
The plan labored out properly for Frawley with the 28-year-old scoring a attempt and in addition setting one up. But it was a a lot quieter evening for Wighton, who completed with 54 metres and 20 tackles — two misses.
“I don’t know if the experiment worked. I didn’t notice him that much, but I did notice Matt Frawley – I thought he did some good things,” Greg Alexander stated.
The Fox League panel had predicted earlier than the sport that Wighton would transfer to lock after seeing Frawley named there, however Cronk thought he’d be used otherwise.
“We spoke about it (pre-game) being more like the Isaah Yeo, Cam Murray move and I thought that’s what it would’ve been. But it came about having more experience in the middle, so if that’s the reason why you move Wighton there I don’t think it’s a permanent move because they’ll get players back in the coming weeks,” he stated.
“It wasn’t that big of a performance that you say ‘this is the key to success’… I think Jack is a five-eighth.”
The 30-year-old has began in lots of positions over his 12 years within the high grade however that was his first at lock.
SPIRITED DRAGONS SHOW SIGNS OF LIFE
It’s been a rocky season for the Dragons however their spirited second half proved they received’t be throwing the towel in simply but.
The Raiders shot out to a 24-6 lead at half time in a worrying signal for the Dragons. But a Zac Lomax attempt within the first minute of the second half sparked a exceptional struggle that gave their opposition a critical scare.
“Thank god the Dragons turned up in the second half… Great fight from them,” Greg Alexander stated.
“I was thinking after what the Dragons have shown in recent weeks, they could’ve given up 40 points tonight comfortably and not be in the game. But they did show plenty and it was the right side — Lomax and Ravalawa.”
The pair have been accountable for the Dragons’ 5 tries and whereas Lomax confirmed a few of his greatest footy, it was Ravalawa that stole the present, bagging a hat-trick for the Red V and in addition organising a attempt.
“Ravalawa is a hell of a player. Apart from being powerful and strong, he’s very skilful. I love watching him… You’d love to have Ravalawa in your team,” Alexander stated.
Talatau Amone was additionally a breath of recent air after coming into the halves whereas Ben Hunt is on Origin duties. Amone arrange three tries and obtained 4 linebreak assists in a efficiency that can make it very exhausting for interim coach Ryan Carr to drop him after.
“He had some great moments throughout the game, he was very dangerous when he ran the ball. I was impressed with him, I don’t think he could’ve done much more,” Alexander stated.
Re-live the motion dwell in our weblog beneath. If you’ll be able to’t see it, click on right here.
TEAMS
Dragons: 1. Paul Turner 2. Mathew Feagai 3. Moses Suli 4. Zac Lomax 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Talatau Amone 7. Jayden Sullivan 8. Francis Molo 9. Jacob Liddle 10. Blake Lawrie 11. Ben Murdoch-Masila 22. Billy Burns 13. Jack de Belin 14. Moses Mbye 15. Michael Molo 16. Toby Couchman 17. Dan Russell. 18th man: 19. Ryan Couchman
Raiders: 1. Sebastian Kris 2. Albert Hopoate 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Matthew Timoko 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Jack Wighton 7. Jamal Fogarty 13. Ata Mariota 9. Zac Woolford 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 18. Matt Frawley 8. Emre Guler 14. Tom Starling 15. Trey Mooney 17. Peter Hola. 18th man: 16. Nick Cotric
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
