Croker steals it.. one last chance.. Kick goes out! Sharks win.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 16-14
Wighton tackled. That will be that. Sharks win.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 16-14
Maloney pushes the pass forward.. last chance saloon for the home side.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 16-14
Jack Wighton tries to curve it across.. but out on the full.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 16-14
SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS: Penalty goal attempt by James Maloney successful.
Maloney lines up.. to give Sharks the lead for the first time tonight. It's right in front, 20 metres out.. slams it through.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 16-14
PENALTY SHARKS! Papalii with a high shot. Oh dear..
14 all
UNSUCCESSFUL FIELD GOAL CANBERRA RAIDERS: Field goal attempt by Aidan Sezer unsuccessful.
Sezer has the first shot and is wide.. Ennis with the pressure.
14 all
We're in a battle for field position here.. both sides trying to get down the field for the drop goal.
14 all
UNFORCED ERROR CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS: Michael Ennis makes an unforced error.
Ennis tried to scoop it from half but Bapstite hits the arm.
14 all
SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS: Penalty goal attempt by James Maloney successful.
The Raiders fans start the viking clap to put off Maloney.. the premiership half walks in and locks us up.
14 all
PENALTY SHARKS! Fifita was almost alligator rolled there. They point to the sticks.
Canberra Raiders 14-12
SIX MORE again.. Prior tried to offload and it was shunted out by the home side.
Canberra Raiders 14-12
Sharks try the early kick and Wighton is there.. to cover.
Canberra Raiders 14-12
SIX MORE.. Raiders try to intercept again.
Canberra Raiders 14-12
What was Shannon Boyd doing there. Sharks had the numbers down the left.. and Feki could have strolled in but the big front rower is there to swoop on the pass and take it out.
Canberra Raiders 14-12
Papalii bursts down the middle and finds Croker who is wrapped up. Last and Baptiste goes himself and is trapped.
Canberra Raiders 14-12
Raiders survive.. just. Baptiste just fell on the ball.
Canberra Raiders 14-12
UNFORCED ERROR CANBERRA RAIDERS: Josh Papalii makes an unforced error.
Papalii tries to steam onto the ball and drops it.
Canberra Raiders 14-12
Ennis tries to force the offload and Barba toes it into touch.
Canberra Raiders 14-12
Sloppy set from the Raiders and pressure from Ennis gets Sharks a seven tackle set.
Canberra Raiders 14-12
SIX MORE Canberra as Barba spilled the bomb.
Canberra Raiders 14-12
UNFORCED ERROR CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS: Chad Townsend makes an unforced error.
Townsend with a juggle trying to set up the play.
Canberra Raiders 14-12
PENALTY SHARKS! Ball comes out in the tackle, but called strip.
Canberra Raiders 14-12
SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS: Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
Maloney from inside the touchline.. swings it over.
Canberra Raiders 14-12
TRY CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS: Scored by Valentine Holmes. Kick to come.
Sharks are well in this now! Prior drew in the defense, offloaded to Prior who shuttered the kick to Holmes to touch down.
Canberra Raiders 14-10
Picture perfect kick from Maloney and Lee is forced in-goal.
Canberra Raiders 14-6
SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL CANBERRA RAIDERS: Penalty goal attempt by Jarrod Croker successful.
Raiders opt for the sticks.. Croker to put them eight up.. and does so.
Canberra Raiders 14-6
Another PENALTY for the home side. Prior just clung on.
Canberra Raiders 12-6
PENALTY RAIDERS! Lee is put on the clothes line and earns the penalty.
Canberra Raiders 12-6
Sharks try to sweep left, but Barba is tossed over the sideline. The big news is over the right though, Josh Hodgson is down.. and looks no good.
Canberra Raiders 12-6
Raiders KICK-OFF and here we go again!
Canberra Raiders 12-6
We're back for the second forty of this absorbing contest.
Canberra Raiders 12-6
HALFTIME :: It was a dynamic start from the hosts with Josh Hodgson and Jordan Rapana crossing but the Sharks worked themselves back into it, Prior's try before the break is huge.
Canberra Raiders 12-6
SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS: Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
Maloney puts it through to reduce it to six.
Canberra Raiders 12-6
TRY CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS: Scored by Matt Prior. Kick to come.
Sharks are back into it. Michael Ennis with the flat ball to the forward who spied the line and went!
Canberra Raiders 12-4
Capewell has provided some spark since he came on.. smashed Wighton for the dropout.
Canberra Raiders 12-0
UNFORCED ERROR CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS: Ben Barba makes an unforced error.
Sharks trying to get Barba involved but the pass was infront of the fullback.
Canberra Raiders 12-0
UNFORCED ERROR CANBERRA RAIDERS: Joseph Leilua makes an unforced error.
Leilua tries to outdo his flick from last week but no go.
Canberra Raiders 12-0
Feki now trapped.. Sezer with the soft hands to trap it and roll it in.
Canberra Raiders 12-0
Sezer puts in a delightful kick that traps Bird. Six more, and the Sharks are on the ropes.
Canberra Raiders 12-0
PENALTY RAIDERS! Sharks just can't hold down the Raiders long enough to stop the quick play the ball.
Canberra Raiders 12-0
UNFORCED ERROR CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS: Luke Lewis makes an unforced error.
Sharks try to give it to Lewis but he spills it.
Canberra Raiders 12-0
Dropout incoming for the Raiders.. Townsend forced it.
Canberra Raiders 12-0
Raiders must have a four leaf clover in their boots atm. A kick thunders into a Shark and it is back to the Raiders..
Canberra Raiders 12-0
More bad news for the Sharks: Graham is OUT after his collision with Papalii. Sharks down to 16 men.
Canberra Raiders 12-0
SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANBERRA RAIDERS: Conversion attempt by Jarrod Croker successful.
Croker slams it over for a dozen lead.
Canberra Raiders 12-0
TRY CANBERRA RAIDERS: Scored by Jordan Rapana. Kick to come.
GREEN LIGHTS.. TRY! The contact was incidental and Rapana keeps the try.
Canberra Raiders 10-0
BUNKER TIME! Sharks backline movement breaks down, and Rapana is away! but we're checking Leilua in support.
Canberra Raiders 6-0
PENALTY SHARKS! Another whistle blows, as Ennis taps.
Canberra Raiders 6-0
PENALTY SHARKS! Feki is taken in the air.. looked 50/50 as Rapana tried to go for the ball.
Canberra Raiders 6-0
SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANBERRA RAIDERS: Conversion attempt by Jarrod Croker successful.
Croker from besides the posts.. slams it over.
Canberra Raiders 6-0
TRY CANBERRA RAIDERS: Scored by Josh Hodgson. Kick to come.
What a magic trick from Hodgson! He feigned to go outside, goes himself and almost gets it stripped but regathers and sends the fans wild!
Canberra Raiders 4-0
SIX MORE for the Raiders after a kick is rebounded to Whitehead.
0 all
PENALTY RAIDERS! Fifita with a shove as Whitehead tries to play the ball.
0 all
PENALTY RAIDERS! Easy piggyback for the home side, Leilua just too big.
0 all
UNFORCED ERROR CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS: Jayson Bukuya makes an unforced error.
RED LIGHTS.. NO TRY! It was a knock on from Bukuya but why did it take so long..
0 all
BUNKER TIME! Townsend has sliced through, after a suspicious dropped ball.
0 all
PENALTY SHARKS! Bukuya gets a penalty after the Raiders defenders take two swipes.
0 all
Wighton tries to dart down the left on last. Changeover.
0 all
PENALTY RAIDERS! and they TAP fast.. what's happening! Leilua bulldozes Graham and we have a stoppage.
0 all
UNFORCED ERROR CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS: Michael Ennis makes an unforced error.
Ennis is destroyed by Boyd. Canberra ruck it out.
0 all
PENALTY SHARKS! Tap and go!
0 all
It's the other hooker, Michael Ennis who gets the grubber right and traps Rapana. Dropout incoming..
0 all
Hodgson tries to stab one through.. too deep. SEVEN tackles for the Sharks.
0 all
PENALTY RAIDERS! Wade Graham holding onto Papalii too long.
0 all
Both teams got through their first sets, as Raiders work it out.
0 all
Sharks KICK-OFF! Here we go in the nation's capital.
Here come the visitors to a chorus of boos, Cronulla wearing their traditional black, blue and white onto Canberra Stadium. It is a century of appearances for Andrew Fifita. Next out, is the home side.. well after we have a thunder clap from the Raiders fans! Croker gathers his troops as the sound reverbs around the stadium and here they come in lime green to a sold out stadium!
TEAM CHANGES:
CAN: The home side are unchanged. 1-17.
CRO: Cronulla will be without captain Paul Gallen due a calf complaint which means Jayson Bukuya starts with Luke Capewell onto the bench.
Welcome to a slightly overcast and damp Canberra, for the first of our Qualifying finals this afternoon. The Raiders pipped the Sharks to second spot on the last afternoon of the season and now, in front of a sold out crowd look to book a preliminary final place. Canberra have been the form side of the last few months, with ten straight victories brimming with confidence.
For the visitors, they have fallen in a hole post Origin and let the Minor Premiership slip from their grasp and searching for answers. Can they topple the Raiders or will their woes continue. Find out at 530 AEST.
Referees & scorers:
Referee: Matt Cecchin, Alan Shortall
Touch Judges: Rickey McFarlane, Jeff Younis
Video Referee: Bernard Sutton, Ben Galea, Jason Robinson
CANBERRA RAIDERS (14)
Tries: Josh Hodgson, Jordan Rapana
Field Goals: Aidan Sezer (0/1)
Conversions: Jarrod Croker (2/2)
Penalty Goals: Jarrod Croker (1/1)
CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS (16)
Tries: Matt Prior, Valentine Holmes
Field Goals:
Conversions: James Maloney (2/2)
Penalty Goals: James Maloney (2/2)