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The Raiders have survived a comeback from the Dragons to seal a crucial 24-22 win at GIO Stadium to keep their finals hopes alive.
It was a thrilling finish that was almost identical to the controversial Round 16 finish — only this time it was the Raiders who benefited.
Mat Feagai made a break and knocked on as he got up to play the ball. Corey Harawira-Naera made the tackle and the Dragons pled with the referee for a penalty but to no avail.
The home team struck first with a try in the opening minute, only for the Dragons to hit back five minutes later through youngster Talatau Amone, who bagged a hat-trick and set up a try in the 75th minute to keep the game alive.
MATCH CENTRE: Raiders vs Dragons live updates, video, stats
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75TH MINUTE
After scoring three tries, Talatau Amone threw the cutout pass to send Tautau Moga over for a try to set up a grandstand finish. Zac Lomax couldn’t convert, keeping the Raiders head by two.
67TH MINUTE
The Dragons scored to keep themselves in the game. Talatau Amone crossed just moments after Ben Hunt nailed a 20/40.
41ST MINUTE
It was deja vu for the Raiders, scoring in the first minute of the second half. Mat Feagai had a moment to forget when he missed Xavier Savage’s grubber, allowing Albert Hopoate to ground it to score.
35TH MINUTE
An unlikely bench forward broke the deadlock with a thrilling try. Ryan Sutton charged down a Ben Hunt bomb to score under the posts.
“Put it down to the Englishman and all of that Raiders defence pressuring Ben Hunt,” Fox League commentator Brenton Speed said.
“What an individual play… All effort,” Shane Flanagan added.
27TH MINUTE
Xavier Savager got a try assist in his return game from an ankle injury as he sent Jordan Rapana over in the corner with a short ball. Jamal Fogarty nailed the sideline conversion to lock up scores.
19TH MINUTE
Talatau Amone backed up his try with another one. Jack Bird got around a Raider and then offloaded to Amone who dived over the line.
6TH MINUTE
The Dragons hit back through young gun Talatau Amone who had to push through several Raiders players to ground the ball.
1ST MINUTE
It didn’t take long for the Raiders to get on the board with Hudson Young pouncing on a Zac Woolford grubber to score.
MATCH PREVIEW
Ricky Stuart will be forced to watch from home when his Raiders take on the Dragons in a must-win clash at GIO Stadium to keep their finals hopes alive.
Stuart was suspended by the NRL after his “weak-gutted dog” spray directed at Panthers player Jaeman Salmon last weel.
The Dragons are also still in the finals hunt but after losing to the Sharks last week they now sit two wins outside of the eight.
If they are to get sneak into the finals they’ll need to win all four of their last games — but they’ll do it without veteran Tariq Sims who has been banned for a careless high tackle. Josh McGuire moves into the starting side for Sims and Tyrell Fuimaono joins the bench.
In a boost for the side, Cody Ramsey returns from a knee injury at fullback, forcing Moses Mbye into the centres and Jack Bird to lock.
The Raiders welcome back electric fullback Xavier Savage from an ankle injury but will be without star prop Joe Tapine and winger Nick Cotric.
Tapine has succumbed to a rib injury that was suffered last week, while Cotric is out through suspension.
Emre Guler replaces Tapine in the starting pack with Corey Horsburgh joining the bench after a successful return from pneumonia via reserve grade last week.
Meanwhile, Savage’s return allows Albert Hopoate shift to the wing to replace Cotric.
TEAMS
Raiders: 1. Xavier Savage 2. Albert Hopoate 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Jack Wighton 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Zac Woolford 10. Emre Guler 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Adam Elliott 14. Tom Starling 15. Ryan Sutton 16. Corey Horsburgh 17. Corey Harawira-Naera. Replacement player: 18. James Schiller
Dragons: 21. Cody Ramsey 2. Mathew Feagai 1. Moses Mbye 4. Zac Lomax 5. Tautau Moga 6. Talatau Amone 7. Ben Hunt 8. Jack de Belin 9. Andrew McCullough 10. Blake Lawrie 11. Josh Mcguire 12. Jaydn Su’A 3. Jack Bird 13. Michael Molo 15. Aaron Woods 16. Tyrell Fuimaono 17. Billy Burns. Replacement player: 20. Jaiyden Hunt
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