The NRL season kicks off under the bright lights of Las Vegas, as the Warriors face the Raiders, the Jillaroos play their first game on American soil and Penrith take on Cronulla. Follow all the action live.
The NRL season kicks off under the bright lights of Las Vegas, as the Warriors face the Raiders, the Jillaroos play their first game on American soil and Penrith take on Cronulla. Follow all the action live.
Turns out the Warriors have had more tackles inside the opposition 20 than Canberra, and finally some life for them on the scoreboard. From close range though, they crack the Raiders at close range. Kurt Capewell on the end of it out on the right edge. Adam Pompey gets one-on-one with his man out wide and slips the veteran an offload.
Raiders 16 Warriors 4
Xavier Savage is on report for a challenge on Chanel Harris-Tavita as he tries to pressure the kicker. The Warriors desperately need some defensive relief, but it’s only momentary. Because Savage is in it again.
And he’s gone. Dan Ginnane unfurls his first ‘goodbye’ in commentary of the season, because Savage has raced 90-odd metres with an intercept. Warriors would’ve scored if he didn’t nab that, then there was no catching him.
Raiders 16 Warriors 0
Closing in on half an hour and Tom Starling splits the Warriors up the middle when Jackson Ford is called out of the line as offside. Great dummy-half play, he’s into the backfield but can’t turn it into a try straight away as the Warriors defence scrambles.
Doesn’t take long though. It’s a bit stilted as they shift right, but the Warriors are cooked and hands simply stretch them for numbers and Xavier Savage dots down in the corner. Fogarty can’t convert.
Raiders 10 Warriors 0
Ricky Stuart making his feelings felt on the sideline as Canberra threaten to score again, but they ah, don’t. Horsburgh in everything early. His quick play-the-ball has the Raiders away down the right before a grubber back in-field from young Tamale on the wing.
It bobbles around near the Warriors tryline and Seb Kris gets a crack at it but he can’t hold onto it. Try on offer there.
Consistent penalties and errors from the Kiwi side has Canberra basically setting up shop in their half, but so far they keep managing to turn them away.
Raiders 6 Warriors 0
Well, this is a fun one. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad on report for a kung-fu fighting take of a high ball with his leg raised. Corey Horsburgh initially penalised for making contact on him in the air.
Horsburgh challenges the call and the Bunker rules that Nicoll-Klokstad initiated contact, hard to argue with that one. Good call by big Red, or as we say in my extended family, Cousin Corey.
Canberra can’t do much with the attacking chance, but they’re on the march again – they’ve had two thirds of possession so far. And it is nine tenths of the law after all.
Raiders 6 Warriors 0
Corey Horsburgh is pinged for a rubbish play-the-ball attempt in the next set and the Warriors get an early crack at Canberra’s line. Mitch Barnett gets over it but can’t get the ball down.
Another Raiders error from Tom Starling has the Warriors pressing again and they look dangerous down the left edge. The Raiders defence again holds strong though and force a mistake from Kurt Capewell. What Ricky Stuart would give for a completed set… as Horsburgh pops another dicey offload…
Raiders 6 Warriors 0
Hudson Young with a loose pass trying to get around a swarming Warriors defence. The Raiders get a repeat set from it with a hand in there early. Canberra happy to throw it around as they get their first attacking chance. I like the look of this and so does Seb Kris!
Out wide, stepping through a couple of would-be tackles and we’re off to the Bunker for the first time in 2025. Wake up fellas, work to be done back here in Sydney. And they’ll start by overturning the on-field decision of no try. Kris slammed that down on the line and first points to Canberra. Jamal Fogarty slots the conversion, 6-0 early.
Raiders 6 Warriors 0