Raiders leave it late to douse spicy Roosters

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Sydney Roosters v Canberra Raiders

A Jamal Fogarty-less Raiders side has scored three tries in the final 20 minutes to overturn a halftime deficit and emerge 26-24 victors over the Roosters.

It didn't take the Roosters long to cross the stripe, with Mark Nawaqanitawase soaring above Savelio Tamale to grab the first try of the night after just four minutes. But some sloppy ball handling would give the Raiders early chances, although their efficient sets were not enough to crack the Roosters line for over half an hour.

Finally after 33 minutes the Raiders crossed through Xavier Savage. Right on half time it appeared they crossed again after an impromptu Simi Sasagi grubber triggered a chain reaction which saw the bench forward stroll over, but it was ruled Owen Pattie, one of several Raiders to touch the ball, was in front of the kicker and subsequently penalised. Just a minute later, James Tedesco strolled over at the other end, and what would have been an 8 or 10-6 lead for the Raiders at halftime instead became a 12-4 deficit.

But Canberra steeled early, and a Pattie 40/20 set up a try through an Ethan Strange grubber for Sasagi. But the Roosters pushed the lead even further minutes later when a James Tedesco line break resulted in Daniel Tupou streaking down the sideline, surrendering in the tackle, confirming with the referee he wasn't actually tackled and then putting the ball down for an 18-8 Roosters lead.

But the Raiders soon clicked into gear, first when a looping Savelio Tamale offload found Hudson Young to trim the lead to 4. Minutes later the Green Machine took the lead when a Pattie grubber ricochet perfectly for Joseph Tapine to plant it down. And with less than 10 minutes remaining, the game appeared to be sealed when Kaeo Weekes split the Roosters on a kick return before finding Strange in support to push the lead to 26-18.

A Rob Toia converted try minutes out from full time gave the potential for a grandstand finish, but the Roosters struggled for momentum in the final set before a Victor Radley error wrapped up a much needed win for Canberra.