Raiders robbed
as Broncos forge ahead

Fulltime score: Round 21 Brisbane Broncos 24 Canberra Raiders 18

Match summary: The Brisbane Broncos have ?defeated? the Canberra Raiders 24-18 at Suncorp Stadium this evening.

The match was a ripper in front of over 27,000 fans but filled with controversy when Craig Frawley was robbed of a try with under two minutes remaining due to the video ref tossing out the rule book, especially the part that states benefit of the doubt must go to the attacking team, not that there was much doubt in the first place.

I?m not sure of the video ref had a dinner engagement and thought extra time would encroach on his plans but I guess we?ll never know and that decision could be the one that costs the Raiders a spot in the finals.

A contentious forward pass call against the Raiders about five minutes earlier gave the Broncos the breathing space but Brad Thorn, ex All Black thought better of it and decided to drop the forearm into Matt Adamson while he was on the ground so the video ref was left with no decision, something I find difficult to swallow and actually penalised the Broncos.

However, some Raiders contributed to their own demise with Queenslanders Craig Frawley and Adam Mogg overcome with a sense of pride and state loyalty, decide to give the ball away to the Broncos in their own half, with both mistakes leading to Broncos tries.

The Raiders now have a much tougher job of making the finals but if they can compete with seventeen Broncos and a few more "impartial" fans disguised as officials, then they are still a chance in this competition.

I am a Raiders fan but I have reported on many a Raiders match with impartiality and am prepared to call a spade a spade and admit defeat when we lose to the better team but when it?s a ?dubious? officiating decision in favour of the home crowd in a game refereed by a local referee, then there is cause to question why the decision was ever made in the first place.

Clinton Schifcofske may have missed the kick at goal and all this would be a moot point but the decision needs to be questioned, however, like most things, heads will be firmly planted in the sand.

There?s nothing I can do now as the result is in the books but it sure does leave a bitter taste in your mouth and questioning the integrity of the officials leaves the game open to ridicule but in tonight?s game, even non-Raiders fans are in agreeance that we were robbed so I?ll leave it to you to decide what was right and wrong but one thing is sure, the Raiders are not done yet in 2005.

Broncos v Raiders match photos: Click here to see the photo gallery for this game

Scorers: BRISBANE BRONCOS 24 Tries: Bott, Minto, Lockyer x 2 Goals: Seymour 4/5

CANBERRA RAIDERS 18 Tries: Mogg, Graham, Withers Goals: Schifcofske 3/3

Venue: Suncorp Stadium Crowd: 27,478 Referee: Tim Mander Half time: Broncos 10-6

Live commentary: 1st min: We are underway at Suncorp Stadium this evening.

3rd min: Schifcofske diffuses a massive Lockyer bomb but a goal line drop out sees the Broncos get the ball back and apply the pressure.

10th min: The Broncos have had all the ball but the Raiders are holding for the moment and if they play like they did against the Warriors last weekend, the Broncos will make them pay. Still no score.

16th min: TRY - Raiders. David Howell juggles a Jason Smith bomb and offloads the ball to Adam Mogg as he(Howell) was going to ground for a great try against the run of play for the Raiders. Conversion successful. Raiders 6-0.

19th min: TRY - Broncos. Leon Bott scores for the Broncos as Darren Lockyer was taken out late by Ben Cross and looks to be struggling. Conversion successful. 6 all.

25th min: Both sides playing the middle of the field well but the Raiders forwards are starting to make yards against the Broncos forwards.

32nd min: TRY - Broncos. Scott Minto scores in the corner after a long break was made by Brent Tate with Lockyer covered beautifully by Jason Smith. From the play the ball Scott Minto crossed untouched in the corner. Conversion unsuccessful. Broncos 10-6.

HALF TIME: The Broncos hold a four point advantage at half time but the Raiders are well and truly in this match. If the possession evens itself out in the second half, the Raiders are every chance to go on and win the match. The Broncos have been solid but are still playing below their best.

41st min: The second half is underway and the Raiders have everything to play for and a win would see them right back in the mix with the other teams fighting it out for a place in the top eight. A Broncos win would all but wrap up the minor premiership but a loss could see the Broncos waver in confidence.

44th min: TRY - Raiders. Phil Graham pulls out one of his patented intercepts to put the Raiders back in the lead early in the second half. Conversion successful. Raiders 12-10.

47th min: TRY - Raiders. Lincoln Wither swoops on a Croker cross field kick to score adjacent to the posts and open up an eight point lead against the Broncos. Conversion successful. Raiders 18-10.

58th min: No try to Shaun Berrigan, losing the ball inches from the try line. The Raiders breathe a sigh of relief.

61st min: TRY - Broncos. Darren Lockyer scores under the posts after ex Bronco Craig Frawley coughs up the ball to give the Broncos a huge chance of coming back to claim the points in this match. Conversion successful. Raiders 18-16.

64th min: No try to Phil Graham who puts a foot into touch to deny the Raiders a chance to extend their lead.

66th min: PENALTY GOAL - Broncos. Brett Seymour ties it all up with under fifteen minutes remaining. 18 all.

72nd min: TRY - Broncos. Darren Lockyer catches the Raiders defence out and makes them pay. It's all over folks and the Raiders have blown another game with stupid errors. Conversion successful. Broncos 24-18.

78th min: The Raiders are robbed by a disgusting decision with Craig Frawley ruled to have knocked the ball on on the line when the replay showed he clearly grounded it.

FULL TIME: A biased performance from all the official this evening ensures the Broncos remain outright favourites although the Raiders were the better team. Brisbane were helped at crucial times and it proved to be the difference. ----------------------------------------- Leagueunlimited.com players of the match: 3 - J Miller (Raiders) 2 - A Tongue (Raiders) 1 - D Lockyer (Broncos) -----------------------------------------