The Raiders obliterated the Tigers in the second half by 38-0, with Ivan Cleary's men missing a stunning 60 tackles on the way to an embarrassing defeat at home. Could this be the start of a Canberra revival? Full wrap to come. Thanks for joining me!
FULL TIME - TIGERS 12 RAIDERS 48
No worries for Croker who sends it through.
Sezer to Knight who spins around the tackle of Elijah Taylor to charge over. This is simply embarrassing. The Raiders have ran in seven tries in the second half!
Joseph Leilua loses it over the sideline just over halfway and the Tigers get a chance to earn some respect back. Luke Brooks goes short to Josh Aloiai who then offloads back to the halfback who is just pulled up short. The Tigers spread it back right but drop it as Nick Cotric surges towards the 30.
Croker slots it.
That is only fair. Leilua crosses after snatching the fifth-tackle grubber!
The Bunker is going to get a hiding! Shannon Boyd crashes over after an interchange of passes but somehow it is overturned with the Bunker ruling he didn't get the ball down. That is an awful call.
This is amazing! Shannon Boyd is now over! Checking with the Bunker - you guessed it - for an obstruction!
Croker sends it wide.
Great team try by the Raiders! Elliot Whitehead has been fantastic tonight and breaks through after stepping past Elijah Taylor. He flicks to Jarrod Croker who finds Jack Wighton in support. Wighton passes it back for Liam Knight who throws a speculator that is picked up by Oldfield and the winger crosses in the corner!
Luke Brooks goes short to Alex Twal and it is called back for a forward pass and Canberra survive.
Come on now... Elliot Whitehead had broken through after taking the kick-off and linked with Jack Wighton who raced away to score but it was all pulled back with Josh Hodgson ruled to have obstructed Elijah Taylor. Hodgson was just getting back in the line - he didn't even have a clue Taylor was there!
The Raiders look to have scored off the kick-off! Checking with the Bunker!
No problems from right in front.
Luke Brooks sends it high on the last but it is a floating shocker and Malakai Watene-Zelezniak drops it. Michael Oldfield scoops it up. Joseph Leilua now surges up field and the Raiders are already in the Tigers' half. Blake Austin dummies and runs straight through the middle and scores! Far too easy! This could get ugly quick.
Josh Hodgson looks to find touch close to the Tigers' try line but it goes out on the full instead. Here is the chances the Tigers needed. They are 10 out on the last. Tyson Gamble bombs for Kevin Naiqama on the last but Jarrod Croker flies above to take it.
Croker hits it wide.
Hodgson takes it out of dummy-half and sends Tapine over for his second. Way too easy.
Michael Oldfield loses the ball bringing it up towards the 40 but the referee calls a strip and Canberra begin their set 40 out from the Tigers' line.
The Tigers are storming up field after Luke Brooks went short to Mahe Fonua who surged towards the Canberra 20. The pass out of dummy-half to Brooks is a tough one to handle and the halfback drops it.
Aidan Sezer's kick on the last almost finds touch just short of the try line but takes a turn and trickles dead. Seven-tackle set Tigers.
Croker shaves the right post but sends it through.
SPECIAL! Josh Hodgson spreads it to Elliot Whitehead who gives it to Jarrod Croker and the centre somehow links with Cotric who stops and spins over in the corner!
Gamble makes up for his previous mistake after showing excellent hands to pick up a deft grubber by Aidan Sezer. Tigers working it out from their own end. Luke Brooks looks to send it on the last but it holds up in the breeze and Jack Wighton brings it up past the 30. Michael Oldfield and Joseph Leilua help out their big men with solid runs to begin the set before Josh Papalii works it into the Tigers' half on the third.
Josh Aloiai and Alex Twal take the opening runs to begin the Tigers' set before Chris Lawrence takes three defenders with him on the way to the 40 metre line. Tim Grant works it towards the halfway mark before Tyson Gamble comes up with a error as he looks to spread it right and the Raiders will pack the scrum for a full set 40 out from the Tigers' line.
The Bunker confirms a knock-on against the Canberra centre.
BUNKER - Aidan Sezer bombs high and Jarrod Croker has a play at it but appears to have dropped it.
Joseph Leilua offloads bringing it towards halfway and the Tigers dive on it and are just 20 out on the second tackle. Wests nab the penalty and Alex Twal taps and brings it up to the 10 metre mark. Mahe Fonua almost surges over off the next play but is pulled up just short. Tyson Gamble grubbers on the third to try force a repeat set and chases it, attempting to bat it back in field but he has stepped out. Seven tackle set Canberra.
Joseph Leilua quickly plays the ball and Josh Hodgson rushes in a last tackle kick which Corey Thompson takes before bringing it up to the 30. The Tigers still aren't over halfway on the third. Tyson Gamble sends it high on the last from just over halfway but Jack Wighton makes a simple catch and Canberra survive.
Croker sends it through the uprights and the Raiders lead 16-12.
Hodgson dummies and shifts it right to Joseph Tapine who surges over the line to score!
Josh Papalii surges towards the 20 before a right side spread sees Blake Austin link with Jack Wighton who quickly tries to shift it to his outside men and Mahe Fonua knocks the ball down. Another full set to come 15 out from the Tigers line.
Second half back underway. Tigers running into the breeze and they concede an early penalty. Blake Austin finds touch 40 out from the Wests line.
HALF TIME - Tigers 12 lead Raiders 10. Josh Hodgson looking very good for Canberra - getting their forward rolling up field well. Meanwhile, Chris Lawrence has looked the most dangerous for Wests. Full second half to come. This game is definitely still in the balance.
Josh Hodgson is looking very sharp here - almost sending both Jack Wighton and Josh Papalii over off short balls. The Tigers will hold on though and draw a penalty deep within their own end. They are just 25 out on the last. Luke Brooks to Chris Lawrence who sends it inside to Corey Thompson who looks to link with his outside men but the pass goes into touch. Great stuff but just couldn't execute it in the end.
Tim Grant hits Blake Austin without the ball and the Raiders nab a penalty 20 out, 5 metres out from the right sideline. They kick for touch.
Tyson Gamble sends it high on the last. Nick Cotric lets it go and it trickles over the sideline five metres from the try line.
Massive runs from Canberra's big men to begin this set. Josh Papalii and Iosia Soliola both make 15 metres off the first two plays. Blake Austin dummies and almost bursts through the line but is pulled up 20 short of the Tigers' line. Aidan Sezer puts in a deft bomb on the last and Austin tries to bat it back but Corey Thompson flies above to take it before drawing a penalty and the Tigers begin their set on their own 30.
NO TRY! Knock-on ruled against Twal.
Chris Lawrence again threatens to break straight through and race away but slips over! Luke Brooks sends it high from halfway but Nick Cotric takes it! He has had the ball stripped by Alex Twal who takes it and then runs off to score! Going to the Bunker.
Jarrod Croker with a one-on-one strip on Corey Thompson and the Raiders are just 20 metres out! Josh Hodgson goes short to Croker on the last who is well and truly over the line but he can't get to the ground and flings it back to Hodgson who surrenders with it. Handover but a big scare for the home side.
Josh Papalii and Elliot Whitehead bring it up off the first couple of plays before a strong run by Luke Bateman sees Canberra surge towards the 40. Josh Hodgson kicks out of dummy-half and traps the Tigers 10 out from their own line. Luke Brooks bombs on the last but Nick Cotric gets back in time to take it.
He sends it through.
Hodgson with a perfect short ball to Papalii who crashes over! Raiders looking much better with 12 men...
Luke Brooks goes short to a charging Chris Lawrence who is almost through but Canberra hold on well. Tyson Gamble grubbers early on the fourth but the Raiders clean it up and regain possession. Aidan Sezer clears it on the last and Corey Thompson takes it before offloading for Malakai Watene-Zelezniak who brings it up to the 20. A great run by Mahe Fonua sees the Tigers surge towards halfway before Luke Brooks takes on the line and drops it trying to offload. Josh Hodgson darts out of dummy-half and draws a penalty on halfway. Raiders begin their set 30 out from the Tigers line.
Corey Thompson draws a penalty and takes the quick tap and catches Blake Austin offside! Sin bin!
Luke Brooks puts in a deft grubber on the fourth and traps Michael Oldfield in-goal.
A dangerous set in attack from the Tigers with Mahe Fonua charging down the left side before offloading for Luke Brooks who explored the middle of the field before being taken 30 out. Esan Marsters takes on the line on the last and grubbers but Jack Wighton is back there to take it. The Raiders work it out from their own end but the kick on the last sees the Tigers begin their set on their own 40 and Kevin Naiqama now draws a penalty for a second effort. Wests will all the momentum and running at the moment. They begin their new set 35 out from the Canberra line.
Jarrod Croker drops an offload from Siliva Havili and it all comes undone for the Raiders.
Tyson Gamble kicks early on the fourth and traps Jack Wighton 10 out from his own line but the fullback bizarrely tries to run around the Tigers' defence and is forced back towards his try line. Fortunately for him he stays in the field of play and now Canberra receive a relieving penalty and are just 20 out.
The kick-off holds up in the air and Elliot Whitehead has a grab at it but drops it. Tigers scrum fee 30 out from their own line.
Marsters sends it over.
The Raiders are looking very fragile in defence early. Thompson takes the line on after the pass out of dummy-half from Matt McIlwrick and he beats the attempted tackle of Blake Austin and Dunamis Lui to score!
Corey Thompson is over! Up to the Bunker!
Strong set after points from the Tigers with a slicing run from Chris Lawrence seeing Wests just 30 out from the Canberra line on the third. The kick on the last is batted back by Kevin Naiqama and dived on by the Raiders but an accidental offside is ruled with a Canberra player ruled to have dropped it first. Tigers just 10 out with a full set.
Marsters nails it from in front.
Matt McIlwrick passes out of dummy-half for Lawrence who runs a great line and goes straight through the Canberra defence!
Luke Brooks goes short to Ben Matulino who is almost straight through but great defence sees him just pulled up. Brooks grubbers on the last and forces Jack Wighton is trapped in-goal.
Matt McIlwrick darts out of dummy-half and catches Joseph Tapine offside. Tigers with a full set 30 out and an immediate chance to strike back.
Dunamis Lui brings it up off the first before Josh Papalii surges towards the 30. Shannon Boyd and Elliot Whitehead make solid runs off the following plays before Boyd takes his second run of the set and works it into the Tigers' 40. Aidan Sezer sends it high on the last for Corey Thompson who rises above to take it.
Croker can't strike it from the sideline in the wind.
Blake Austin to Jack Wighton to Joseph Leilua and he crashes over Mahe Fonua off the scrum to score! Way too easy!
Jack Wighton looks to link with Nick Cotric on the last but Kevin Naiqama knocks it down. Full set Canberra 10 out.
Aidan Sezer sends it high on the last but Kevin Naiqama takes it and the Tigers work it out from their own end. A nice offload in the middle from Esan Marsters to Luke Brooks who threatened to break through but he drops it and the Raiders have it on halfway.
Canberra get us underway here with the kick-off holding up in the wind before being taken by Corey Thompson who brings it up to the 20. Ben Matulino and Chris Lawrence make strong runs off the following play before Mahe Fonua powers towards halfway. Tyson Gamble puts in his first kick in the top grade and it goes well over the dead ball line. Tigers with a massive breeze behind them.
Both sides coming out now...
Tyson Gamble makes his NRL debut for the injured Josh Reynolds while Matt McIlwrick starts for Elijah Taylor who goes back to the interchange.
Wests Tigers 1. Corey Thompson 2. Malakai Watene-Zelezniak 3. Esan Marsters 4. Mahe Fonua 5. Kevin Naiqama 19. Tyson Gamble 7. Luke Brooks 8. Russell Packer 15. Matt McIlwrick 10. Ben Matulino 11. Chris Lawrence 12. Robert Rochow 13. Matt Eisenhuth 9. Elijah Taylor 14. Alex Twal 16. Josh Aloiai 17. Tim Grant
Siliva Havili starts at hooker for Josh Hodgson while Dunamis Lui starts in the front row with Iosia Soliola going back to the bench.
FINAL TEAMS: Canberra Raiders 1. Jack Wighton 2. Nick Cotric 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Joseph Leilua 5. Michael Oldfield 6. Blake Austin 7. Aidan Sezer 16. Dunamis Lui 14. Siliva Havili 10. Shannon Boyd 11. Joseph Tapine 12. Elliot Whitehead 13. Josh Papalii 8. Iosia Soliola 9. Josh Hodgson 15. Luke Bateman 17. Liam Knight
Good afternoon and welcome to League Unlimited's Live Update of today's Tigers versus Raiders clash. There is a lot writing on this one - if the Raiders lose they fall four points adrift of the 9th placed Tigers while a loss for Ivan Cleary's men will see them fall four points outside of the eight. All makes for a very interesting contest...
Referees & scorers:
Referee: Grant Atkins, Gavin Badger
Touch Judges: Phil Henderson, Belinda Sleeman
Video Referee: Ashley Klein, Luke Patten
WESTS TIGERS (12)
Tries: Chris Lawrence, Corey Thompson
Field Goals:
Conversions: Esan Marsters (2/2)
Penalty Goals:
CANBERRA RAIDERS (48)
Tries: Joseph Leilua (2), Blake Austin, Josh Papalii, Joseph Tapine (2), Nick Cotric, Michael Oldfield, Liam Knight
Field Goals:
Conversions: Jarrod Croker (6/9)
Penalty Goals: