LeagueNews.co | Robbie Hamilton
The 2024 junior reps season kicked off on the weekend with the Canberra Raiders hosting the Newcastle Knights in a triple header at Raiders Belconnen.
With the crowd buzzing with anticipation, it was a clash that promised to be as fierce as a scrum and as brutal as a bone-crunching tackle.
The action didn't disappoint as the Raiders and Knights went head-to-head in a clash of titans.
The Raiders got off to a flying start, like a winger darting down the sideline, with left-winger Cooper Johnston crossing the line in the very first minute to put them ahead 4-nil.
They continued their dominance in the first half, with Jack Milne and Hardy Glover adding tries to their tally, leaving the Knights trailing 16-4 at halftime.
It seemed like the Raiders had the game in their pocket, but the Knights had other plans.
The second half saw them come charging back, like a prop charging towards the try line, as captain Diesel Hagan scored a quick try to close the gap to 16-10.
With the wind in their sails, the Knights unleashed a flurry of tries, seemingly unstoppable as they crossed the line three times in just six minutes, leaving the Raiders reeling.
It was a devastating blow for Canberra, a knockout punch that left them with no chance of a comeback.
The Knights had turned the game on its head, leaving the Raiders stunned and searching for answers.
As the final whistle blew, the score stood at 28-20 in favor of the Knights, a result that sent shockwaves through the rugby league community.