Raiders stun Cleary-less Panthers to keep season alive

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Raiders stun Cleary-less Panthers to keep season alive

Canberra have kept their slim NRL finals hopes alive with a stirring 22-18 comeback win against a Penrith side sorely missing star halfback Nathan Cleary.

With nine minutes left, down by two points and defending their own try-line, Raiders centre Matt Timoko intercepted a Jarome Luai pass and handed it to Xavier Savage to sprint the length of the field.

The GIO Stadium faithful could scarcely believe this was the same Canberra side that capitulated so meekly in their 42-4 loss to North Queensland last time out.

With their unlikely victory over the triple-reigning premiers, the Raiders pulled level on points with Brisbane and the Dolphins (26) and two short of St George Illawarra in eighth place on the ladder.

After Canberra coach Ricky Stuart slammed his players for being “spoilt” the week prior, Savage played like he had a point to prove.

As winds swirled above, Jamal Fogarty tormented Brian To’o with his howitzer of a right boot.

The Panthers winger just managed to hang onto Fogarty’s first two volleys but on his third effort Savage snatched a high ball above To’o, who misjudged the flight of the ***** and leaped too late.

Savage spun away and sped past Casey McLean before reaching out a long right arm to plant the ball in the corner.

Slow starts have become an unhealthy habit for Penrith, conceding first points for the fourth game in a row.

But they hit back through ******* Luke Sommerton and Daine Laurie either side of a Kaeo Weekes four-pointer for the hosts, to go into the interval with a 12-10 lead.

After James Fisher-Harris crashed over in the second half it looked like the Panthers would show their class and hold on.

But a try to winger Albert Hopoate and Savage’s runaway four-pointer sealed a memorable upset for the Green Machine.

Penrith never looked fluent without Cleary, who has been ruled out of the rest of the home-and-away season with a shoulder injury.

Stand-in halfback Brad Schneider never looked fully at ease and left the bulk of the playmaking to halves partner Jarome Luai.

Prop Joe Tapine was a standout for the Raiders, running for 129 metres with the ball and creating two line-break assists with his dangerous offloads.

With their second straight loss, the Panthers risk dropping out of the top four with Cronulla and the Sydney Roosters nipping at their heels.

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