LeagueNews.co | Nick Loken
The Canberra Raiders suffered a heart-wrenching defeat in the 2022 finals, as they were crushed 40-4 by the Eels.
However, their latest finals defeat against the Knights left their fans with a sense of pride, despite the narrow 30-28 loss.
The emotions surrounding these two defeats couldn't have been more different.
Despite both outcomes leading to the Raiders' elimination from the title race, the contrast in emotions was stark.
The Raiders entered the finals as the underdogs, having secured the eighth spot after defeating strong teams like the Rabbitohs, Cowboys, and Eels.
Their opponent, the Knights, had been on a winning streak of nine games.
What followed was an intense and dramatic 89-minute clash that showcased the Raiders' resilience and determination.
The match was filled with ten tries, leaving fans in awe and making it one of the greatest finals in NRL history.
This game reflected the Raiders' season perfectly, as they started poorly but then went on an impressive winning streak to climb from 16th to fifth on the ladder.
Unfortunately, they faltered in their last seven games, losing five of them to fellow contenders by an average margin of 20 points.
This defeat ended their season and left them longing for a premiership in the future.