In a thrilling conclusion to a tightly contested match, the Canberra Raiders secured a stunning victory over the Cronulla Sharks with a remarkable last-gasp try from Sebastian Kris. With only 90 seconds remaining, under immense pressure, the Raiders showed tremendous fortitude. They organized ceaselessly and captured a victory that had previously felt impossible. The quarterfinal contest was marked by furious end-to-end play that thrilled the crowd. Uncrucial penalties swung the momentum, setting up a dramatic final score.
The Raiders faced insurmountable adversity during the contest. This was particularly the case after Hudson Young was sin-binned for a high shot in the 58th minute. This one, four snaps later, set the Sharks up to take a 20-18 lead just moments later. Even after going down to 12 men for ten minutes, the Raiders refused to yield. They were coming up against a really determined Sharks side and with great character. It would take the Sharks, in Young’s absence, over 20 minutes to make this advantage count, managing just a single penalty goal.
Critical Moments of the Match
The game developed into a thrilling battle of will and skill with both teams countering the other’s strengths and risky, high-stakes moves. Hudson Young’s sin-binning turned out to be the most pivotal period of the match, briefly sending the momentum towards the Sharks. Minutes after Young took that early hasty exit from the field, Joe Tapine became the second Kiwi to join him. This silly mistake directly resulted in Cronulla’s first penalty goal. This opened up a two-point lead for the Sharks, leaving the Raiders to chase.
Despite being shorthanded, the Raiders demonstrated resilience. Nonetheless this was a period where, despite their numerical advantage, the Sharks weren’t able to create too many dangerous scoring chances. They even failed to convert a penalty goal while Young was off, a telling sign of the Raiders’ defensive strength. What was most impressive was the Raiders’ resilience as they were able to reset and come into the final quarter ready to make a comeback.
As the game wore on into the home stretch, the Raiders were in a world of trouble. They were trailing by two touchdowns. Now, they faced the impossible task of attacking on the last tackle from 55 meters out. The mood was electric with expectation as each team knew the importance of this decisive clash.
The Miraculous Last Play
With the clock ticking down, the Raiders made the one mistake they could not afford to make, and it led to an instant classic finish. To have that effort rewarded only after forcing a dropout and two “six-agains” called against them. Next, they set up an amazing series of passes. ETSU’s Ethan Strange would take the reins during this stretch, cutting through defenders like a hot knife through butter. In the process, he induced an error from Will Kennedy.
Watch as Kaeo Weekes shows us his world class athleticism by scooping the ball off a horrible bounce. He then curled a deliberate ball to the feet of Simi Sasagi. This fluid play would lead to one final combo play that would decide the fate of the game. Sasagi demonstrated extraordinary poise under pressure as he threw a flick pass back in-field to Sebastian Kris. Perfectly timed into space, Kris made a call that left no doubt she was scoring over the try line.
In those last seconds, Kris left it all on the field. Former Canberra halfback Sam Williams labeled it as an “absolutely miraculous” try. It left all of us breathless, no matter where in the field we had finished. It not only won the game for the Raiders, it had fans and players alike shocked by the incredible reversal of fortune.
Reflections on Team Performance
The Raiders’ performance in the match was a demonstration of their focus and team unity when it mattered most. They overcame adversity with confidence, specifically the big plays that can break a team’s spirit so quickly. Their skill at sustaining concentration and performing when the pressure was at its highest is what led them to win.
Despite the razzle-dazzle from the Sharks, it was their failure to finish in key moments that bit them and led to their early exit from the tournament. The Raiders’ defense held strong when it mattered most, particularly during Hudson Young’s absence, illustrating their determination to fight back despite being at a disadvantage.
