Blank canvas the perfect platform for colourful finish as Raiders edge Eels in thriller

By Adam PengillyUpdated July 22, 2021 â€" 10.37pmfirst published at 10.12pm

The NRL finally started shooting blanks, which - for once - was better than a blowout. In a year when points frenzies and floggings have been far too frequent, normality has been restored. Rugby league doesn’t always have to be about six-agains and the scoreboard incessantly going up in sixes.

Parramatta and Canberra played an entire first half without scoring a single point at Cbus Super Stadium. The last time an NRL game was scoreless at the break was when the Knights played the Sharks in the opening round of 2019, when a virus knocked you around for a couple of days instead of locking you in your house for months.

But something funny happened on Thursday night; people kept watching. Who knew low-scoring games could be so entertaining? In fact, the Raiders needed Jordan Rapana to sensationally bundle Maika Sivo into touch with five seconds left in one of the most controversial finishes of the year.

The Canberra No.1 raced across the field with Harley Smith-Shields and used his hip to collect Sivo, who spilled over the sideline as he tried to ground the ball for the match winner. Clint Gutherson argued the call, called it horrible, but he can’t argue that rugby league is just as good without many tries.

On Rapana’s match-saving effort, Canberra coach Ricky Stuart said: “When you kept looking at it there was no way it’s a foul. He hit him with his hip or upper thigh. Just for ‘Rapa’ to be there was an extraordinary play.”

Peter V’landys and Andrew Abdo will reach for the television ratings on Friday morning, and it could be the best indicator yet to what they do at the end of the year with the rules. If the numbers are strong, maybe defence is not the dirty word some want to make it out to be.

Seb Kris tries to break the Eels defence.Credit:Getty

On another channel, Graham Arnold’s Olyroos managed to ripple the back of the net against the might of Argentina before half-time in their opening match of the Tokyo Games. But there was something just as intriguing about two NRL sides bashing each other at the business end of the season and not being able to trouble the scorer.

The players are cunning, too. They can make the rules work well for them, Canberra halfback Sam Williams blatantly giving away a set re-start inside the last 20 seconds of the first half with his team desperately defending their line. He knew he wouldn’t risk giving away a full penalty and the potential of two points.

When there was a score - five minutes into the second half - Raiders back-rower Corey Harawira-Naera singled out Eels coach Brad Arthur’s son Jakob and blew straight past him. Then Rapana scored, and the shambles the Raiders have been for most of the season looked a thing of the past.

They’re back in the top eight for the first time since April, grinding out a 12-10 win over the premiership heavyweights after a final tackle that will prompt debate for days.

I know what’s underneath the jumper. Any young boy that wants to be a Raider, you need to have that grit and determination

Ricky Stuart

“We’ve turned a corner, but it’s not through fluke â€" it’s through hard work,” coach Ricky Stuart said. “At this time of the year we need to up the intensity in regards to the play-offs. We believe we’re good enough to be in the play-offs.

“It was a tough game of football, real tough. [And] I know what’s underneath the jumper. Any young boy that wants to be a Raider, you need to have that grit and determination.”

After the first two Canberra scores, the Eels responded in a, well, Blake Ferguson-style way. The recalled winger almost dropped a kick, charged straight over the top of Hudson Young and Jarrod Croker on the return, sprinted downfield and wonkily chipped for Dylan Brown to score. On the first tackle.

How could you look away?

Sivo squeezed the ball down in the corner with four minutes left after Arthur’s deflected kick was flung out to him, but stand-in kicker Gutherson’s attempt never looked likely with Mitchell Moses watching on. The Eels are in prime position for the top four, but will find out where they sit with clashes against the rest of the top six to come.

“Depending where we get to, we’re going to have to earn every bit of it,” Brad Arthur said. “I think they beat us in the physical contest in the end. We had plenty of ball and opportunity, but we didn’t win any of the collisions.”

Canberra’s Josh Papalii ran himself into the ground in Queensland’s upset win, then went head first straight into it in a tackle on Oregon Kaufusi, prompting his withdrawal for a concussion test just before half-time. He didn’t return.

During his assessment they should have asked him what the score was, and it should have been enough to really confuse him.

But wasn’t it beautiful to watch.

CANBERRA RAIDERS 12 (Corey Harawira-Naera, Jordan Rapana tries; Jarrod Croker 2 goals) defeated PARRAMATTA EELS 10 (Dylan Brown, Maika Sivo tries; Clint Gutherson goal) at Cbus Super Stadium. Referee: Adam Gee.

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Adam Pengilly is a Sports reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.

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