LeagueNews.co | Robbie Hamilton
In a thrilling showdown at GIO Stadium, the Canberra Raiders narrowly fell to the Newcastle Knights by a score of 26-20.
The clash was a real see-saw battle between the two sides, with both teams fighting tooth and nail for every inch on the field.
The Raiders came out firing on all cylinders, with centre Mackenzie Wiki making a statement early on by crossing the try line on the left edge.
The Green Machine continued to surge forward, with halfback Ashleigh Quinlan leading the charge and setting up Zahara Temara for a try right under the posts.
Temara coolly added the extras, giving Canberra a commanding ten-point lead.
But the Knights weren't about to let the Raiders run away with the game.
Despite a near miss by Abigail Roache, the Newcastle side regrouped and found their rhythm.
Captain Hannah Southwell led by example, muscling her way over the line to narrow the gap to 10-6 after a successful conversion by halfback Jesse Southwell.
As the match wore on, both teams traded blows, matching each other set for set.
It was Newcastle who struck next, with winger Lilly-Ann White darting in on the left flank to level the scores at 10-all.
With just minutes remaining in the first half, the tension was palpable as both teams dug deep for a deciding advantage.
In the end, it was the Knights who emerged victorious, capitalizing on a few crucial moments to secure the win.
Despite the disappointing result, the Raiders showed plenty of heart and determination on their home turf, leaving fans eager for the next chapter in this epic Rugby League saga.