Round 21 of the NRL season continues with the Dolphins facing the Titans in an all-Queensland battle at Lang Park.
The Dolphins are edging closer to the club’s maiden finals berth while Gold Coast will be playing for pride with their own playoff hopes all but extinguished.
Later, we’ll finish with a grudge match between Canberra and South Sydney, which marks Jack Wighton’s first match against his old club.
Earlier, Nathan Cleary was in dazzling form as he scored 26 points, including three tries, in Penrith’s 46-10 thumping of St George Illawarra.
The win was sullied somewhat by a groin injury to James Fisher-Harris, who came off in the opening minutes and did not return.
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Key events
Injury: Alex Johnston
Johnston has totally collapsed in back play – the trainer is signalling to the bench and they’re taking him off. He copped a shot on his first run of the night and he hasn’t been right since.
They just showed a replay and Johnston collapsed with nobody around him. They’re looking at an Achilles, which would be a season ender and could have major ramifications for his chances of getting the all-time tryscoring record.
In the meantime, the Raiders get a penalty and will go back on the attack.
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Halftime: Raiders 24 lead Rabbitohs 8
Hosking gets pinged for offside off a Fogarty bomb that skews sideways and Souths will get one more set on Canberra’s line before halftime.
Wighton links with Walker down the left and the veteran playmaker bounces over as the siren sounds. But was it a double-movement? He did land short, will it be momentum that takes him over or did he promote it? It’s very close, but the referee confirms the try.
Walker runs off early grabbing at a hip, Cook misses the goal and Canberra take a 16-point lead into halftime.
38′ Rapana gets his second off double Fogarty kick
Fogarty hoists another kick, Savage taps it back, Fogarty kicks it again to the other side of the field, it bounces back off Chee Kam and Rapana is there to pick it up and score. An unconventional try, but they all count. Fogarty converts and it’s 24-4 Canberra.
33′ Rabbitohs cross for their first try
An error and back-to-back penalties take the Rabbitohs from defending their own goal-line to attacking Canberra’s in about 30 seconds. A try here would do a lot to stem the bleeding – only for Host to drop the ball on play one! That’s a shocker…but Timoko is on report, I’m not sure why.
Souths stay on the attack and they end up scoring when a Rabbitohs bomb is allowed to bounce and it ends up where Milne is the first man to it and he scores. A sorely-needed try for the Rabbitohs.
Cook has the kick from wide out and he misses, it’s 18-4 to Canberra.
24′ Raiders error puts Souths on the attack
Mooney loses balance in the play-the-ball and Souths will get a chance to strike right back.
Moale nearly punches over on the last but the Raiders drag him down.
20′ Kris surges over for Canberra’s third
The Raiders sweep to their left, Kris gets at the space between Walker and Chee Kam and and powers through to score Canberra’s third try of the night. The Raiders are winning all the little contests right now and as Fogarty boots the kick over the home side are up 18-0.
15′ Raiders survive first Souths attack
Cook intercepts a Papalii offload and Souths will get some good ball for the first time, the Raiders are right on top so the Rabbitohs need something now – even if it’s just a little bit of confidence.
Milne puts in a kick on the last, it deflects back to Tapine and the Raiders survive….and they get a penalty for Host being offside.
11′ Savage flies high to grab Canberra’s second
Fogarty puts up a bomb, Savage gets a clean run through and he flies high, it bounces off his shoulder, he gets it back before it hits the ground and he scores! A spectacular effort from the Raiders winger, Fogarty converts and it’s 12-0 Raiders.
7′ Young magic sets up Rapana for opening try
A good run from Kris creates some ruck speed for the Raiders then Young steps Walker, surges into space and throws a great one-handed offload to Rapana in support who scores the first try of the night! What a run from Young! Good hands from Rapana as well, the pass wasn’t an easy one to hold.
Fogarty converts from touch and it’s 6-0 Canberra.
Kick-off in Canberra!
We’ve got the Prime Minister watching on as Canberra get us underway! They’ll kick off, running left to right.
Final teams: Raiders vs Rabbitohs
Both sides are 1-17. As I mentioned earlier, I’m a Raider so this is a massive game for me – if Canberra win it keeps them in touch with the cluster of teams at the bottom end of the eight.
If they lose? Well, let’s not think about that right now.
FULLTIME: Titans 21 def Dolphins 14
Pangai Jnr gets put on report for a pointless shot on Fifita and the Titans run the clock down to score a win that keeps their slim finals hopes alive. What an effort!
77′ Bennett calls it as Dolphins chance falls short
The Dolphins attack falls apart on the last, Tabuai-Fidow hoists a kick up and tries to go for a miracle take but knocks it on. Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett has seen enough – he leaves the box early as the Titans get a penalty that will take us to the end of the match. What a comeback win for the Gold Coast!
75′ Titans extend their lead to seven
Fifita charges through almost straight off the kick-off! Titans are on the attack again, a try here could finish it or even a field goal….Sami flies high for a kick, but Farnworth is there first, only to knock it on. Titans retain possession.
The set kind of peters out but Foran bangs over a field goal on the last, which puts the Titans up by more than a converted try! The Titans lead 21-14.
And crucially, Gold Coast get the short kick-off. Hard to see the Dolphins getting home now.
70′ Haas dives over as Gold Coast take the lead!
Sami spins a full 360 and nearly goes through the middle, Randall puts a kick in that hits the post and lands just there for Haas to score! The Titans will lead! Campbell converts and it’s 20-14 Titans.
69′ Dolphins burn their challege
Bromwich drops the ball as he’s looking to play it on halfway and the Phins challenge it and lose. Titans on the attack, searching for a winner.
65′ Titans denied the lead for double-movement
Isaako puts down a bomb and the Titans have the chance to take the lead for the first time.
Sami flies high to take a cross-kick and burrows over the line but I think it’s a double-movement….yup, the video ref confirms it. Just couldn’t resist! Dolphins survive.
61′ Khan-Perieria flashes over to level the scores!
Another error from the Dolphins, this time from Farnworth as he goes into contact on his own 30. It’s a good shot from Fotuaika that forced the ball free. Can the Titans score here and take the lead?
A kick from Foran traps Tabuai-Fidow in the in-goal…and then they do score! It’s Khan-Perieria again off a similar pass from Campbell, the winger only needs a little bit of space to make the most of it! That’s his 19th try of the season and his second of the night.
The Titans are level, can they take the lead through Campbell’s sideline conversion? No! It hits the post – we’re locked at 14-all.
52′ Titans cross in controversial fashion
A Bostock error gives the Titans field position and a successful challenge, turning an error into a play the ball, ensures they keep it.
Campbell goes for a cut-out pass, it’s not a great one and seems to bounce forward but it lands for Khan-Perieria and he’s over to score.
The referee gives it but it will be examined. Fifita crashes into Nikorima, but Nikorima is leaning in as though he’s making the tackle. I think this will stand…and it does! Not a great looking try but it’s put the Titans right in this game!
Campbell’s sideline kick is wide, but the Titans are back to 14-10.
48′ Bostock denied again as Titans hang on
Plath crashes through the middle, swings it out to Bostock and he finds Katoa inside. Katoa goes back out to Lemuelu and he’s dragged down in the corner barely short of the line!
Then Bostock dives over in the corner, straight over the prone Kieran Foran….but they want to have a look at it. He’s knocked it on at dummy half as he tried to pick it up! Another escape for the Titans.
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