It was one of the few pointscoring opportunities in a hotly contested first half, with a Smith penalty goal all that could separate the two sides inside the opening 20 minutes.
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As if the stakes already weren’t high enough, this will be star halfback Cooper Cronk’s 300th NRL game.
Captain Jarrod Croker was hobbling at left centre after copping a knee injury in the 11th minute, devastating right centre Joey Leilua carried a hamstring strain before leaving the game altogether with 10 minutes left, and they were reduced to 12 men late in the second half.
Had Melbourne not scored four points from penalty goals and Smith’s missed conversion from out wide cost them the game, questions would no doubt have been asked about why he kicked from the hard position he did. However, Melbourne would be the next to display signs of ill-discipline and a result the Raiders gained field possession twenty metres out.
“Those two (Leilua and Rapana) have just about been unstoppable”.
Sezer converted from the sideline to give the visitors a well-deserved 6-2 lead.
Against a Storm side on a six-game winning streak, the nation’s capital became a fortress that could not be cracked, mounting a defensive effort for the ages to hold out Melbourne’s well-oiled attack.
After a disappointing loss to the Sharks where they squandered an early lead, the Raiders responded in terrific fashion against the Panthers last Saturday night, racing out to a 18-0 lead.
Minor premier Melbourne will try to choke down Canberra’s risky attack, especially their lethal right side of Joseph Leilua and Jordan Rapana.
Breakthrough: Cheyse Blair of the Storm is congratulated after scoring a try.
“I was there through the tough times and it’s great to give the fans something to cheer about”. He then heaped further pressure on the Raiders when he forced a goal line drop out following the kick off and a try would more likely than not seal it.
But with five minutes left on the clock the Raiders put themselves back in the game when Elliott Whitehead crossed in the corner following some desperate attack.
It wasn’t to be for the Green Machine though – a forward pass by Austin would be ruled in the closing minutes, and Smith forced consecutive line dropouts to strangle the Raiders chances. Maybe Canberra got some 50/50’s too.
The Storm beat the Sharks at AAMI Park in the final round of the season but lost to them 14-6 in Sydney in round four.
Former Raiders fullback Brett Mullins has labelled Jack Wighton’s sin binning as “pretty ordinary”.
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Make sure to tune in next Sunday for the battle between Cronulla and Melbourne as the Sharks look to claim their first premiership in what is sure to be a classic against one of the best modern era NRL outfits.
