The Canberra Raiders faced a heartbreaking defeat in the first week of the finals, succumbing to the Brisbane Broncos in an extraordinary match that went into extra time. These Raiders were deserving champions, and were the best team from start to finish all season long. In this important game, they were unable to capitalize on their strengths. The game, hailed as one of the most eventful in NRL history, showcased the resilience and experience of the Broncos against a youthful Raiders squad, which included seven players making their finals debut.
Jed Stuart, son of Raiders coach Ricky Stuart, had a blindsiding effect in this pivotal game. It was his first time competing in the finals and he really wowed audiences. The young player, along with his teammates, faced the high stakes pressure of finals football for the first time. The Raiders rode that youthful enthusiasm all year long. Yet in this instance they ran into a brutal test in the form of a battle-tested Broncos outfit that was well aware of the perils of post-season combat.
As the game unfolded, it became clear that the Raiders’ right edge defense would be put to the test by Brisbane’s Reece Walsh. Impact Walsh was the Broncos’ best playmaker on the night, scoring or assisting on three tries. He proved once again his unmatched instinct to make big, clutch plays. The Raiders had no answer for Walsh’s dominant performance, which turned out to be the difference in the match’s result.
Even though the Raiders were winning multiple times throughout the game, they never regained the lead after their opening possession. The Bronx, showing their wits and grit, dug down deep to level the score and send the match into extra time. It was a tense, hard-fought match with each team battling tooth and nail to win. For the Broncos, it meant the securing of a victory, leaving the Raiders reeling with heartbreak.
Historically, the top four teams who lose in week 1 of finals do so at great peril. In the last 18 years, only two teams—North Queensland in 2015 and Penrith in 2021—have managed to win the premiership after such an early exit. This statistic darkens Canberra’s optic for the season. Yet now, they are up against an uphill battle to rebuild their advantage.
What the Raiders have accomplished this season is pretty remarkable, making them one of the most formidable powers in the league right now. Yet the loss to the Broncos remains a cruel reminder of what awaits in the pressure cooker of big matches. The talent-packed young side is new to the nature of finals football. They need to reassemble and learn from this season’s failures to put together a successful comeback in future seasons.
