​Raiders Take the Spoils in Messy Match

The Cronulla Sharks and Canberra Raiders were looking to restore pride in their performances in 2015, after finishing last and second last respectively in 2014. Tonight's game was a chance for each side to show what they've got in store for fans this season, in the hope that it would be better than last season. In a sloppy, but entertaining performance from both teams, the Raiders claimed the spoils, 24-20, in a match that both teams will want to forget, but also learn from.

The first half started with the Sharks letting in an easy try to Jack Wighton after the Raiders had the better of the early stages. It was a back and forth game after that with both teams feeling the other out.

Following a penalty goal to the Raiders after a  Heighington shoulder charge, the Sharks headed straight down the other end and Tupou, having just stepped onto the field, scored a lovely try under the posts.

The Sharks would have felt like they were warming into the game at this point, but in the following set, and after having watched Barba fail to find touch from a penalty earlier in the match, we saw another failed kick from the star signing. Barba kicked a ball in goal that was easily taken by Wighton, who then took the quick tap and scored an 80 metre try.

The Sharks were their own worst enemies in the majority of the match with fundamental errors and silly decisions giving the Raiders multiple opportunities which ultimately they did not capitalise now.

The second half was a frantic affair with the Sharks picking up their passion and showing their intentions. Feki scored in the corner after some nice work from their halves and all of a sudden the Sharks were back in it, down 14-12.

Again, the poor ball control of the Sharks, this time Andrew Fifita, lead to Rapana scoring from the first set after the restart, but it was the same man, Rapana, that spilt the ball up the other end that lead to the Sharks hitting right back via Ricky Leutele.

It was that sort of game where a mistake out of nowhere would turn the tables in the blink of an eye.

At the 60th minute we saw the first punch thrown in a game of Rugby League for a long, long time. During a messy play of the ball, Jack Wighton grabbed Sosaia Feki and threw a right. Feki retaliated and it was on! Wighton, obviously had to be sinbinned for 10 minutes, but in a surprising move, Feki was also binned for his retaliation.

This turned out to be very lucky for Wighton who, until this point, was favourite to be Man of the Match.

It was the Raiders that took advantage in the end, however, as a potential injury to Jayson Bukuya and yet another Sharks error from an innocuous Cornish kick saw Sisa Waqa score with 13 minutes to go, giving them the 24-20 scoreline which remained the final score.

Shane Flanagan's Sharks have a lot to work on if they are to avoid the bottom rungs of the ladder this year as a lack of discipline and terrible errors lead to the Raiders clinging on for a 4 point victory. Two unforced errors in the later stages of the match saw the Sharks fail to claim what could have been a surprise victory and the Raiders will be pleased to have hung on for a rare victory away from home.

Paul Gallen and Andrew Fifita were dominant for the Sharks, as usual, whilst new recruit, Sia Soliola had a barnstorming game for the Raiders. Ennis was his usual aggressive self at a new club and for the Raiders, Cornish had a solid game, whilst Wighton was impressive with a double but his brainsnap could have been costly.

On the fringes, Rapana certainly had the better of the wing battles, whilst Mitch Brown, who was included in the side at the expense of youngster Valentine Holmes had a game to forget. Barba has a lot to prove in a Sharks jersey with only small glimpses of his talent on show.

Barba and the Sharks will attempt to bounce back at home against the Broncos next week, whilst the Raiders play their first game at Canberra Stadium this season against the Warriors.

CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS (20)
Tries: Anthony Tupou, Sosaia Feki, Ricky Leutele
Field Goals:
Conversions: Michael Gordon (2/3)
Penalty Goals: Michael Gordon (2/2)

CANBERRA RAIDERS (24)
Tries: Jack Wighton (2), Jordan Rapana, Sisa Waqa
Field Goals:
Conversions: Jarrod Croker (2/3)
Penalty Goals: Jarrod Croker (2/2)

Good evening and welcome to the second game of the afternoon as League Unlimited brings you the Cronulla Sharks v Canberra Raiders at Remondis Stadium!
Kick-off is scheduled for 6:30, around 10 minutes away.

1: The Raiders' Shillington has dropped out of the team with Iosia Soliola moving from the backrow to the front. Jarrad Kennedy comes in to the second row in jersey No. 18 and Luke Bateman debuts on the bench in place of Shannon Boyd.

The Sharks are 1-17, with Jack Bird & Valentine Holmes dropping off the extended bench

1: Both teams will be hoping to turn out their form around after claiming the bottom two positions in 2014.
Ben Barba plays his first NRL game for the Sharks, whilst the young Raiders team attempt to show what they are made of for this year.

1: KICK-OFF! Raiders get the ball to start the game.

2: Good first set from the Raiders and great kick-chase. Sharks with the ball for the first time...

3: Fifita makes a mess of playing the ball and turns the ball over in his own half. Raiders have the feed and will attack from 40 out.

4: The Sharks hold them out! They will work their way off their goal line..

6: Great set from the Raiders finishes with a pinpoint kick in front o the goal line and Feki is pushed in goal. Drop-out!

7: UNFORCED ERROR CANBERRA RAIDERS
Iosia Soliola makes an unforced error.
Clean drop as the Raiders attack from 20 out. Sharks get the ball and a life.

8: Relieving penalty for the Sharks as Barba kicks for the sideline and doesn't make touch! Raiders back with the ball!

8: ..and now a penalty against the Sharks for hand on the ball. What a mess of a minute for them!

8: TRY CANBERRA RAIDERS
Scored by Jack Wighton. Kick to come.
Jack Wighton runs onto a great ball from Croker and just grounds the ball in a Video Ref decision. Flimsy defence from the Sharks, but a crafty play from the Raiders!

9: The Sharks pay for a terrible run of play where Barba's first penalty kick for the sideline fails to make it!

9: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL CANBERRA RAIDERS
Penalty goal attempt by Jarrod Croker successful.
Nails it from just off centre.

12: A series of completed sets from both teams here as the game settles into a groove.

13: UNFORCED ERROR CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Ben Barba makes an unforced error.
Barba kicks out on the full! Wow. Two major errors from the star five-eighth to start the game!

14: Tilse fumbles the ball in a solid tackle and the Sharks are on the attack in the Raiders half. Can they score here?

15: A sloppy period of play as the Sharks force offload after offload ends with Ennis dropping the ball due to a dangerous tackle from Papalii. Penalty Sharks.

16: Beale almost scores in the corner, but loses the ball! An unconvincing set on the Raiders line from the Sharks.

19: Sharks play out the set and turn it over. No-one seemed to have realised that was the last tackle!
Raiders have the ball on halfway.

19: Rapana runs 20 metres and the Raiders are right on the attack now!

20: Six more for the Raiders. A whole set here to attack the Sharks line!

20: Penalty to the Raiders after a shoulder charge from Heighington on Austin after the kick. The Raiders will take a shot at goal.

22: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL CANBERRA RAIDERS
Penalty goal attempt by Jarrod Croker successful.
Croker pops it over from just to the right of goal.

23: Penalty for the Sharks and the bronx cheer goes up as Barba finds touch!

25: TRY CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Scored by Anthony Tupou. Kick to come.
Tupou comes on to the field and scores almost immediately!
Heighington with a clever offload and Tupou is in under the post!

25: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Conversion attempt by Michael Gordon successful.
Easily slots it over from in front

27: TRY CANBERRA RAIDERS
Scored by Jack Wighton. Kick to come.
WOW! After catching it on the full in goal, Jack Wighton just runs straight through the whole team to score an 80 metre try from the tap restart!
The crowd is silent!

29: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANBERRA RAIDERS
Conversion attempt by Jarrod Croker successful.
From right in front. The Raiders extend the lead.

30: Barba is having a shocker! Two of his terrible kicks have lead to tries. Should he be hooked?

32: UNFORCED ERROR CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Michael Ennis makes an unforced error.
Sharks on the attack and the other new recruit fumbles it without any pressure! Heads are dropping.

34: HUGE bomb from Robson. Waqa went up for up super high for it, but Beale got him in mid air and it's a penalty to the Raiders.
Aussie Rules time?

36: This time Gordon catches it in-goal on the full and there's a quick 20 metre tap and the Raiders are off-side! Sharks back on the attack!

36: We're going to the video for a possible try to Feki here! Ref has given it a try....

36: Feki's foot has just gone over the line and it's NO TRY. Rapana with a try saver!

38: The Sharks don't really seem to have their heads in this game. Some fundamental errors! Gordon lets a bomb bounce for some reason...

40: Big run from Fifita. Showing his team how it's done, but now he appears to have hurt himself...

39: Fensom seems to have pulled Fifita's arm back in an unintentional 'chicken wing'. Fensom is getting called out and it's a penalty against the Raiders.

40: Frantic end to the half here! Sharks still on the Raiders line!

40: The Raiders hold out the Sharks right on full-time and we go in to the sheds with the Raiders up 14-6.

40: Phew. What a crazy half of football! We'll be back in 10 minutes with all of the second half action.
I wonder what Flanagan will have to say to his troops after that!

40: 78% completion rate for the Raiders compared to the Sharks 59%.
It's a telling stat at half-time.

41: The second half is under way! Andrew Fifita is ok and starts the second half for the Sharks

43: Sharks making some nice metres to start the second half finished by a decent kick.
They force the error and the Raiders lose it on their line!

44: TRY CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Scored by Sosaia Feki. Kick to come.
This time Feki plants it down in the corner!
Robson to Barba who puts a nice cut-out pass to the winger. Better play from the Sharks!

46: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Conversion attempt by Michael Gordon successful.
From the touchline Gordon hooks it around beautifully!
It's a 2 point game!

47: From the restart Andrew Fifita has lost the ball and the Raiders are on the attack 25 metres out!

47: TRY CANBERRA RAIDERS
Scored by Jordan Rapana. Kick to come.
From the scrum, the Raiders have pushed it wide and Rapana is in the corner!

49: The Sharks are their own worst enemies today. Simple mistakes from experienced players are really costing them!

49: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANBERRA RAIDERS
Conversion attempt by Jarrod Croker unsuccessful.
Croker from the sideline is across the face. He's angry with himself for missing that one.

51: Anyone else pick the Sharks in a Last Man Standing comp?

52: After a solid set from the Sharks, Rapana has then spilt the ball from the kick and the Sharks will have a set of six from 10 metres out!

54: We're going to the video for a possible Leutele try! Was it a double movement?

54: TRY CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Scored by Ricky Leutele. Kick to come.
Great movement from the Sharks there as they attacked the line and then spread it wide to Ricky Leutele who stretches out and scores!
The Sharks are staying in this!

54: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Conversion attempt by Michael Gordon unsuccessful.
Gordon again from sideline, but can't hook this one at all! First miss of the evening.

58: Raiders lose it on their 10. Ennis with a big shot on Wighton and he coughs it up!
Sharks get a penalty for a messy play of ball afterwards and Gordon will go for goal!

58: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Penalty goal attempt by Michael Gordon successful.
Gordon nails the penalty from 20 metres out and we have a tied ball-game people!

61: FIGHT! Was there a punch??

60: Wighton definitely threw one there! Will be see the sin bin? Man, it's been a while since we saw a punch like that!

60: In all of the excitement, Rapana has gone off injured and Arona has come on for the Sharks.

60: SIN BIN
Sosaia Feki is sent to the sin bin.
Feki has been sent for his involvement in the melee.

60: SIN BIN
Jack Wighton is sent to the sin bin.
Wighton gets 10 for the punch.

60: Both Feki and Wighton threw punches in that one, but Feki could have been hard done by after Wighton started flinging them.
What is he supposed to do?

62: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Penalty goal attempt by Michael Gordon successful.
The Sharks take the kick and the lead after all over that!

63: Both teams with 12 men for 10 minutes! This game has really kicked up a gear and the Sharks are playing with some passion.
Can the Raiders bounce back?

63: Bukuya down in back play...

64: TRY CANBERRA RAIDERS
Scored by Sisa Waqa. Kick to come.
After a solid set from the Raiders and Bukuya down in back play, a dodgy kick from the Raiders saw Graham knock it on and Waqa reaches out for a try!
Things are happening all over the place!

67: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANBERRA RAIDERS
Conversion attempt by Jarrod Croker successful.
From 10 metres to the right, Croker nails the conversion and we're back to a 4 point game!

67: Luke Bateman debuts and is on the field for Shaun Fensom.

68: Crowd announced as 11,096 here at Remondis Stadium

68: Are we in for an exciting finish here?
I think the odds are in our favour!

68: Enterprising set from the Sharks finished with a dodgy kick from Arona.
Note to coach: Don't let Arona kick.

71: Lots of niggle in this game now. The Raiders are on the attack and McCrone is held up over the line after a repeat set!

71: Lots of niggle in this game now. The Raiders are on the attack and McCrone is held up over the line after a repeat set!

74: Big set from the Sharks but they finish with a penalty for a flop after the last tackle bomb.
Raiders 30 out from their own line. 7 minutes to go.

75: Lack of discipline from the Sharks sees another penalty as Graham has a late shot on McCrone.
Raiders could seal the game here.

76: Croker may have scored here and is claiming it, but the ref has indicated that he thinks it's no try.
We're going to the video!

76: NO TRY. Knock on in goal from Croker and the Sharks cling on!

77: A magic tackle from Wighton on the sideline has saved a certain try for Mitch Brown and then Gordon has his foot on the line as he takes the ball from dummy half! What a spectacle here!

78: UNFORCED ERROR CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Mitch Brown makes an unforced error.
A mid-field bomb from the Raiders and Mitch Brown had all day to catch it and he drops it cold!
Could that be the ball game right there??

80: Raiders knock on on the last tackle and the Sharks have one more throw of the dice!

80: UNFORCED ERROR CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Jeff Robson makes an unforced error.
After a mess of a set the Sharks were losing metres and throwing it around all over the place, but it ends with Robson dropping the ball and the siren sounds.
Raiders claim the win here in a messy but entertaining game!

80: The Raiders claim the victory and extend their streak to 4 wins after winning the last 3 of 2014.
The Sharks had their chances today, but simple errors have cost them.

80: That's a wrap here at Remondis Stadium.
Two exciting games for the first Sunday afternoon of NRL in 2015!
Join us tomorrow for the Monday night footy match between the Dragons and Storm!