Canberra Raiders halfback Jamal Fogarty made a successful return from injury to help his side outlast the Warriors to record an important 20-18 win.
In a scrappy game with plenty of errors from both sides, Fogarty's kicking game proved hard to handle for the Warriors.
Hudson Young scored an early double in the first half, but a Roger Tuivasa-Sheck try just before halftime gave the visitors hope as they went to the break trailing 14-6.
The Warriors took their momentum into the second half, scoring the first two tries after the break thanks to Kurt Capewell and Mitch Barnett who were both backing up from State of Origin duty on Wednesday night.
However, while Fogarty was keeping things controlled for the Raiders, it was a deft kick from Kaeo Weekes that produced the match-winning try, with Xavier Savage touching the ball down just before the dead-ball line to score.
The Warriors never went away however with a tough run in next to the posts from Addin Fonua-Blake narrowing the margin, however goal-kicking let the side down with only one from four conversions landed after both first-choice kickers Adam Pompey and Taine Tuaupiki were ruled out of the game in the first half.
Next week, the Warriors host the Tigers in the first of the Round 21 matches, while the Raiders are back at home to close the round when they host the Rabbitohs.
Match: Raiders v Warriors
Round 20 -
home Team
Raiders
11th Position
away Team
Warriors
14th Position
Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra
Match Snapshot
- Canberra halfback Jamal Fogarty had strong return from injury with a line break assist and a try assist. His goal-kicking also proved crucial, kicking all three conversions and a penalty goal.
- The Warriors outscored the Raiders four tries to three, but were only able to convert one of them.
- The Warriors were dealt further injury blows in the match with fullback Taine Tuaupiki and centre Adam Pompey both ruled out of the game in the first half. Tuaupiki was pulled from the field after a call from the independent doctor and failed his HIA, while Pompey was assisted from the field at halftime with a knee injury.
- There was a hardy crowd of 8509 on hand who braved the cold to support their teams.
- Both Mitch Barnett and Kurt Capewell were backing up from Origin duty for the Warriors and both scored tries in the second half. The unlikely duo also both produced kicks - one more successful than the other - with Capewell helping his side earn the ball back from a short kick-off.
- In an error-riddled game, the Raiders made 12 errors while the Warriors produced 10.
- Before tonight's game, the Raiders had won only one of their past five games against the Warriors.
- They had also lost their last four games at GIO Stadium.
- The Warriors have won only three from nine in Australia this season.
Play of the Game
Xavier Savage Try
What They Said
Warriors
Warriors: Round 20
Raiders
Raiders: Round 20