Clinical Canberra move to third with thumping of Titans
Dave Lyall |
The Canberra Raiders have moved into third place on the NRL ladder after delivering an eight-try, 40-24 thumping of the Gold Coast Titans.
Built on the back of a strong defensive effort and a brilliant attacking display from their back five, led by Kaeo Weekes, the Raiders put the game to bed with three classy tries in an 11-minute blitz to start the second half on a chilly Sunday afternoon at GIO Stadium in Canberra.
The winning margin could have been even greater if Jamal Fogarty had brought his kicking boots, the Raiders half converting just four from eight shots at goal.
The loss sends Gold Coast to the bottom of the ladder, increasing the pressure on coach Des Hasler.
Once again, the Titans leaked points and missed tackles – 37 of them.
To compare, Canberra missed just 16, in stark contrast to last weekend’s second-half capitulation to the Bulldogs when they missed 30 tackles in 40 minutes.
After Sunday’s match, Canberra coach Ricky Stuart said his side made the choice at halftime to go after the game, and in an ominous warning for the rest of the competition claimed the Raiders still had plenty of growth to come.
“We put ourselves into a position where we could go on with it or make it hard for ourselves,” Stuart said.
“You know that a couple of times we’ve been guilty of, it’s not taking your foot off the gas, it looks like that, but we’re probably not attacking scenarios where we should be.
“Last week (against the Bulldogs) we probably looked at protecting the lead more than going on with it. That’s just a part of us becoming better and growing and developing as a team.
“We’re doing OK at the moment, but we’re working towards all the standards and the type of play, the type of team we want to be.
“We’ve still got a lot of improvement in this group.”
Weekes was in everything, particularly in the first half, using his speed and power to run for 219 metres, make a pair of line breaks, lay on two tries and make several crucial tackles in his best game of the season.
Joining Weekes in terrorising the Titans, Xavier Savage scored his first NRL hat-trick, while Matt Timoko grabbed a double. Morgan Smithies was immense in the forwards.
Centre Seb Kris provided a moment for the highlights reel, determinedly chasing a Hudson Young grubber deep into the in-goal before leaping beyond the dead-ball line and dragging the pill back into play for Savelio Tamale to touch down.
One positive sign for the Titans was the return of Kieran Foran, the veteran recovering from a bicep injury to start his first game of the season.
He had an immediate impact, helping set up the match’s opening try for Jojo Fifita.
Titans skipper Tino Fa’asuamaleaui talked about the importance of Foran’s contribution after the game.
“It was good to see him back out there, he’s had a long stint on the sidelines,” Fa’asuamaleaui said.
“It’s just his experience and his ball playing and the way he tackles, it’s good to have him out there.”
Meanwhile, both sides’ State of Origin contenders got through the game unscathed.
Fa’asuamaleaui, Corey Horsburgh, Beau Fermor and Mo Fotuaika are all in line for selection in Billy Slater’s Maroon’s squad for game one on May 28, while Young is certain to line up for Laurie Daley and the Blues after also coming through the match fit.
AAP
