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Canberra have withstood a Junior Amone-inspired comeback from spirited St George Illawarra, scoring a 36-26 victory and sustaining their status because the NRL’s most chaotic winners.
The Raiders cruised to a 24-6 halftime lead on Friday evening by exploiting the Dragons’ notoriously leaky left edge, Matt Timoko starring for Canberra in Wollongong.
However simply as Canberra regarded able to kick their behavior of solely triumphing by single digits, Amone helped the Dragons pile on three tries in seven minutes, defying the absence of disgruntled State of Origin consultant Ben Hunt.
The Dragons needed to take care of accidents to stand-in fullback Paul Turner (again), extremely touted playmaker Jayden Sullivan (hamstring), and hooker Jacob Liddle (head knock) of their pursuit of an upset.
However within the 71st minute, a attempt to fullback Seb Kris returned the momentum to the Raiders, who squeaked dwelling to carry onto fifth spot.
Extremely, the 10-point margin marked Canberra’s greatest victory from 11 wins this 12 months.
The sport additionally featured one of many nice strive celebrations of latest reminiscence.
After winger Jordan Rapana crossed for the primary strive of the evening, the Raiders positioned themselves across the corner-post to recreate Australia’s infamous dismissal of England’s Jonny Bairstow in final week’s second Ashes Check.
Born in Bradford, the identical English metropolis as Bairstow, Raiders captain Elliott Whitehead assumed the function of the wandering batter, whereas State of Origin consultant Hudson Younger stood in as umpire and Zac Woolford performed Alex Carey behind the ‘stumps’.
It was Timoko’s line break down the suitable edge that put the Raiders in place to attain that strive.
He prolonged the result in 18-0 when the ball went by fingers and located him on the suitable.
He grabbed a second strive after the break when Matt Frawley’s kick to the wing caught Saints’ edge infield.
However Amone appeared intent on difficult Timoko for man-of-the-match honours and hoisting the Dragons again to the winner’s circle after two hefty back-to-back defeats.
Amone pounced on a Blake Lawrie offload to ship the Dragons on the best way to Mikaele Ravalawa’s strive within the 56th minute, put up the kick that despatched Zac Lomax over within the 61st and threw the cut-out go that confirmed Ravalawa’s hat-trick two minutes after that.
Abruptly, the Dragons had clawed again from 30-10 to 30-26.
However when Kris dummied to the suitable and reduce by the defence, the Raiders spoiled the fairytale and consigned the Dragons to a third-straight loss.
With center forwards Corey Horsburgh (State of Origin), Pasami Saulo (head knock) and Josh Papalii (hamstring harm) all unavailable, Raiders five-eighth Jack Wighton switched to lock for the primary time in his profession and completed with 21 tackles and 60 run metres.
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