Canberra have clinched their first NRL minor premiership in 35 years with a 24-10 win over Wests Tigers in front of a sold-out home crowd.
The Raiders weren’t at their electrifying best at GIO Stadium on Saturday afternoon, but managed to overcome a fierce Tigers side who had already seen their top-eight hopes evaporate.
Tries to Jed Stuart, Corey Horsburgh, Simi Sasagi and Ethan Strange proved enough for the home side.
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But coach Ricky Stuart would have hoped for a more clinical performance as the Raiders geared up for the finals series.
Canberra were unable to find fifth gear against last year’s wooden spooners, who threatened a nervy finish until Joe Tapine sent Strange through in the dying minutes to score a 13th try of his breakout NRL season.
Melbourne’s shock 40-10 loss to the Sydney Roosters on Friday night left the Canberrans needing only one win from the final two rounds to seal the J. J. Giltinan Shield.
But the Raiders were unable to assert their dominance over the visitors as the two sides went try-for-try in the first half.
After a scrappy start, halfback Jamal Fogarty launched a towering bomb towards the wing patrolled by the diminutive Sunia Turuva.
Struggling to read the flight of the ball in the swirling wind, Turuva was left clutching for air, allowing Stuart to steal in behind the Tigers winger and pounce on the bouncing ball to claim his fifth NRL try.
Jahream Bula hit back for the Tigers, before Horsburgh dived under the crossbar from a close-range Fogarty pass to put the hosts back in the lead.
Jeral Skelton then pegged a try back for the visitors, slipping past a weak one-on-one defensive effort by Raiders winger Savelio Tamale, who was playing his first NRL game since dislocating his kneecap in round 14.
Api Koroisau pushed his sideline conversion attempt to the right of the uprights, giving the hosts a two-point lead at the break.
The Raiders came out of the sheds the stronger of the sides in the second half.
Firebrand Tigers prop Royce Hunt gave away a needless penalty on his defensive 20m line, pinning down Young with an elbow to the face after a regulation tackle.
A few tackles later, the Raiders capitalised on their field position, with Sasagi poking through to extend the lead.
Fonua Pole looked to have pegged another try back but bounced the ball as he was attempting to ground it over the line.
There were serious concerns for Skelton late on after a sickening head-on collision with Strange left the Tigers winger unconscious.
After a nervous wait he managed to walk off the field on his own steam but will be ruled out of the Tigers’ final-round clash with Gold Coast.
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