LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
In a thrilling golden-point finish, the Canberra Raiders secured a 20-16 victory over the Penrith Panthers at Glen Willow Stadium in Mudgee.
A standout defensive effort combined with an energetic performance from the backlines enabled the Raiders to defeat the reigning champions.
Mudgee experienced its own slice of finals football on Friday night as the Raiders and Panthers met on neutral ground at Glen Willow Oval.
The initial phase of the match saw minimal movement within the red zone, thanks to the Raiders' steadfast defense that kept the Panthers at bay.
However, it was the Panthers who broke the deadlock in the 14th minute. A misdirected grubber from five-eight Blaize Talagi ricocheted off the Raider's defensive line, allowing Casey McLean to recover the ball and score. A successful conversion from Nathan Cleary put the Panthers ahead 6-0.
The Raiders quickly responded, gaining momentum as they relentlessly attacked Penrith's line over the next fifteen minutes.
Eventually, their persistence paid off when a short ball from hooker Tom Starling found skipper Joe Tapine, who bulldozed through Penrith's defense to score. Jamal Fogarty successfully converted, leveling the match at 6-6.
But a mistake by the Raiders following the next kickoff left them vulnerable. The Panthers capitalized, shifting the ball to the right where Casey McLean found a gap and scored his second try. Cleary's conversion attempt went wide, leaving the score at 10-6 in favor of the Panthers.