Match Centre

McManus takes the final run and the Raiders record only their second home win of 2015.

Canberra Raiders 36-22

Forward pass from Newcastle.

Canberra Raiders 36-22

Sisa Waqa knocks on.

Canberra Raiders 36-22

The Raiders will have a chance to score the final try.

Canberra Raiders 36-22

50-13 tackles in the opposition 20 to Newcastle.

Canberra Raiders 36-22

Hopefully the Knights can take some confidence out of this game towards next week.

Canberra Raiders 36-22

Great tackle Sisa Waqa cuts Gidley down.

Canberra Raiders 36-22

The Raiders could have won this by 50, defensively they've been strong but they haven't had a great deal of attacking chances.

Canberra Raiders 36-16

Canberra make an error close to the line.

Canberra Raiders 36-16

Tyler Randell is taken short of the line on the last.

Canberra Raiders 36-16

Tariq Sims and David Shillington have a heated exchange but it comes to nothing.

Canberra Raiders 36-16

Penalty to Newcastle.

Canberra Raiders 36-16

Edrick Lee bats the ball dead with Uate storming downfield.

Canberra Raiders 36-16

16-2 offloads for Newcastle.

Canberra Raiders 36-16

If the Knights had been able to defend better earlier on, this may have been a contest. It's been the story of their year; they've been capable of good footy but it just hasn't happened.

Canberra Raiders 36-14

Austin bombs the ball dead and the Knights get a 7-tackle set.

Canberra Raiders 36-10

The Knights pass the ball into touch.

Canberra Raiders 36-10

40-13 tackled in opposition 20 in favour of Newcastle.

Canberra Raiders 36-10

Line drop out after a strong bomb from Mullen.

Canberra Raiders 36-10

Penalty to Newcastle.

Canberra Raiders 36-10

Sione Mata'utia off with concussion.

Canberra Raiders 36-10

Uate almost breaks through.

Canberra Raiders 36-10

Whenever the Knights have the ball they actually haven't played too badly. But their defence has been atrocious which has cost them this season.

Canberra Raiders 36-10

A great set ends in a poor finish as the Raiders clean up a Roberts grubber.

Canberra Raiders 36-10

Dane Gagai makes a good run from the kickoff.

Canberra Raiders 36-10

Newcastle get a penalty.

Canberra Raiders 36-4

Iosia Soliola loses the ball trying to play it quickly.

Canberra Raiders 36-4

Sam Williams puts in another great grubber kick and Josh Papalii appears to have scored his second.

Canberra Raiders 30-4

Newcastle drop the ball on their own goal line.

Canberra Raiders 30-4

Gidley stops Blake Austin close to the line.

Canberra Raiders 30-4

Another Raiders penalty.

Canberra Raiders 30-4

Tyrone Roberts almost traps Jack Wighton in-goal.

Canberra Raiders 30-4

Tapine makes a nice run for the Knights.

Canberra Raiders 30-4

Canberra get a penalty.

Canberra Raiders 24-4

Wighton knocks back and is collected 10m out.

Canberra Raiders 24-4

Gidley collects Austin's bomb and is taken on his 30 metre line.

Canberra Raiders 24-4

Both sides back on the field.

Canberra Raiders 24-4

Statistically the Knights have dominated the first half: 57% possession, 26 tackles in the Raiders 20, 17/19 completions.

Canberra Raiders 24-4

What a waste of a tackle! The Knights had an overlap and decided to take the tackle as the halftime siren sounds.

Canberra Raiders 24-4

A forward pass stops the Raiders from posting a try before the break.

Canberra Raiders 24-4

Tyrone Roberts and Tariq Sims on report for a crusher tackle on Blake Austin.

Canberra Raiders 24-4

Newcastle have had 26 tackles to Canberra's 5 in the opposition 20. It's frightening to think how far the Raiders could be ahead if the stats were reversed.

Canberra Raiders 24-4

Tyrone Roberts kicks for himself but the ball goes dead.

Canberra Raiders 24-4

Newcastle have dominated attacking chances but the Raiders defence has stuck firmly.

Canberra Raiders 24-4

Mullen forces a line drop out.

Canberra Raiders 24-4

Great defence from the Raiders cuts McManus down a metre out.

Canberra Raiders 24-4

Danny Levi and Kurt Baptiste on for their respective sides at hooker.

Canberra Raiders 24-4

Mullen looks for a 40/20 but Jordan Rapana is on the spot to clean up.

Canberra Raiders 24-4

James McManus has gone over, but Jeremy Smith looked to lose the ball trying to pass.

Canberra Raiders 24-0

The Knights replace both their props - Fa'alogo and Mataora on for Newcastle.

Canberra Raiders 24-0

Sione Mata'utia kicks for the in-goal but it ends up over the sideline.

Canberra Raiders 24-0

Jack Wighton kicks the ball dead and the Knights force a drop out.

Canberra Raiders 24-0

Tyrone Roberts takes on the line and almost gets to the line.

Canberra Raiders 24-0

Newcastle get a penalty. They've had plenty of chances, but they just can't keep up with the Raiders.

Canberra Raiders 24-0

The highest scoring game in NRL history was Round 2, 2006 - 102 points scored. At the rate the Raiders are going that record may be in doubt.

Canberra Raiders 24-0

Josh Hodgson kicks from dummy half, Jarrod Croker pounces. The video ref will check but things have gone from bad to worse for the Knights,

Canberra Raiders 18-0

Canberra get a penalty coming out of their own end.

Canberra Raiders 18-0

Dane Gagai has been ruled to go into touch after making a strong run almost resulting in a try.

Canberra Raiders 18-0

Newcastle get another penalty as Shannon Boyd comes on for the Raiders.

Canberra Raiders 18-0

Rick Stone appears to have responded to Sione Mata'utia's defensive problems in recent weeks by moving James McManus to centre.

Canberra Raiders 18-0

The Knights have a chance to attack, Jack Wighton knocks on inside his own half.

Canberra Raiders 18-0

Jack Wighton catches Mullen's bomb with ease.

Canberra Raiders 18-0

Jeremy Smith on for Newcastle, but the damage has been done. It will take a miracle for the Knights to get out of this.

Canberra Raiders 18-0

Sam Williams has grubbered in-goal and Blake Austin pounces.

Canberra Raiders 12-0

Canberra get a penalty.

Canberra Raiders 12-0

Mullen's kick goes straight to Jack Wighton.

Canberra Raiders 12-0

Sione Mata'utia is down after a hit from Iosia Soliola.

Canberra Raiders 12-0

The Raiders come up with the ball after Jarrod Mullen's chip bomb was batted back by Tyrone Roberts.

Canberra Raiders 12-0

Newcastle get a penalty inside their own half.

Canberra Raiders 12-0

The Raiders look set for a big win if the opening minutes are any indication.

Canberra Raiders 10-0

Roberts kicks for the in-goal but Croker is able to beat the Newcastle chasers resulting in a 20 metre re-start.

Canberra Raiders 6-0

A penalty sees the Knights start a set 40 metres out from the Raiders line.

Canberra Raiders 6-0

Sam Williams bombs and the Knights come up with the ball close to halfway.

Canberra Raiders 6-0

Roberts kicks deep and the Knights trap Wighton 10 metres out.

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On the first tackle, the Knights shift the ball in their own 10. They look to have come out with an attacking mentality.

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Canberra on the field and will kick off.

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Kurt Gidley leads the Newcastle Knights onto the field.

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Both teams will be desperate to come away with the two points if they have finals ambitions. It may be cold in the nations capital, but there's no better place to be on a Friday night.

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With Origin now over we head into the final third of the regular season, teams have made successful runs to the finals from this point, while others have squandered their good starts to crash and burn.

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Kick-off only minutes away.

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Newcastle have been boosted by the returns of Jarrod Mullen, Tyrone Roberts, Kade Snowden and Jeremy Smith. Beau Scott is out due to suspension meaning Joe Tapine will start in the second row, while Pat Vaivai starts at lock with Jeremy Smith on the bench.

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Canberra are 1-17 with Joseph Leilua missing from the Raiders line-up following a clause in his release from the Knights last month.

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Welcome to League Unlimited's coverage of Round 18 Friday Night Football between Canberra Raiders and Newcastle Knights at GIO Stadium.

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