A stunning late try from the most unlikely of sources that capped off a thrilling 26-24 comeback over St George Illawarra has Canberra coach Ricky Stuart praying for a miracle finals berth.
Down by four points with two minutes remaining on Saturday, Corey Horsburgh attempted to grubber through for himself 10 metres from the Dragons’ line.
The big prop mistimed the kick, shinning it horribly, but somehow ended up with the footy and crashed over to stun the 11,189 in attendance at Jubilee Stadium.
Young fullback Kaeo Weekes iced the conversion from the sideline to put the Raiders’ noses in front and seal a famous win after trailing from minute one to 78.
Two points ahead of Newcastle and the Dolphins but with inferior points difference, the Raiders will be glued to the TV screen on Sunday afternoon, with a draw at McDonald Jones Stadium their only hope of playing finals.
“Our review’s at church tomorrow at Manuka in the big cathedral. We’ll say a couple of prayers,” Stuart joked.
Realistically, they know their season is already over.
But the Raiders can still celebrate three straight wins to cap a frustrating year, which oscillated between heroic victories and woeful floggings.
“Some really disappointing performances through the season have put us this position,” Stuart said.
“It’s our own doing.
“I’m going to do a lot of planning on that (finding consistency next season).”
One player who might not be back to help the Raiders find their groove is Horsburgh.
‘Big Red’ was starting in his third consecutive game for Canberra after barely featuring this season, amid reports he has been granted a release from his contract to talk to rival clubs.
“I’ve got no doubt about his football talent,” Stuart said.
“There’s nothing personal with Corey and I. I want Corey at the club, and Corey knows the way I need him at the club. But that’s not my decision.”
Dragons lock Tom Eisenhuth got his side on the board in the first set of the game, crashing over after Zac Lomax outleaped Albert Hopoate under a Ben Hunt bomb.
The suspect defence on display left no doubt as to why both sides won’t be playing finals footy.
Hooker Jacob Liddle brushed off weak tackles from Danny Levi, Hudson Young and Weekes to crash over as the Dragons raced away to an 18-0 lead in the first 12 minutes.
After Levi hit back for the Raiders off a Jamal Fogarty grubber, Canberra winger Hopoate made a mess trying to field a bouncing ball in his in-goal, allowing Lyhkan King-Togia to pounce on the leftovers and score his first try in the NRL.
The Dragons had some shockers of their own in defence.
Canberra winger Xavier Savage brushed off a tackle from future teammate Savelio Tamale on his NRL debut to score in the corner and reduce the margin to 14.
Stuart sent a rocket up the Raiders at halftime.
They came out with renewed steel in defence and scored through Hopoate and Young, before Horsburgh’s surprise finish sealed the result.
Lomax tried to level it late with a two-point field goal but his attempt was charged down.
After they held their finals fate in their hands, three straight losses have left Dragons coach Shane Flanagan with a sour end to the season.
“It just shows no resilience, no patience. So I’ve got a lot of work to do,” he said.
