Source :- THE AGE NEWS
Josh Papali’i’s home-ground swan song has ended in heartache, with Brisbane surging in the second half to overcome an emotional Canberra 34-30.
Papali’i announced that he would retire at the end of the season ahead of the Raiders’ final home game, ending a glittering one-club tenure, in which he played in the 2019 NRL grand final and became the team’s most-capped player (341 games).
But even after Canberra renamed GIO Stadium “Papa’s House” for Friday’s clash, the home team only led 18-16 at half-time after two Brisbane tries while captain Pat Carrigan was in the sin bin.
The Raiders put themselves in the box seat when hooker Owen Pattie and second-rower Zac Hosking crossed, but two tries in three minutes thrust the visitors back into the contest.
Reece Walsh’s replacement Hayze Perham stormed over in the 73rd minute to edge the Broncos in front, and a try-saving tackle from Josiah Karapani on winger Xavier Savage helped the visitors hang on for the win.
It capped off a dazzling performance for Perham, who provided a lofting try assist to Grant Anderson in the first half and nailed five from six conversion attempts.
Brisbane (7-15) avoided claiming the dreaded wooden spoon, and victory will also briefly quell questions on whether coach Michael Maguire should re-sign with the club following their implosion after winning last year’s premiership.
The Raiders (10-13) were looking to exact a modicum of revenge after Brisbane claimed a pulsating 29-28 golden-point victory in last year’s finals series.
But the home crowd were left feeling a similar way despite Pattie’s prolific performance (one try, one try assist, one 40/20, 37 tackles).
Canberra will have to sweat on the fitness of Hosking, who limped off the field in the second half gripping his hamstring.
Despite Papali’i receiving an emotional guard of honour before the match, Brisbane drew first blood when hooker Billy Walters scurried over.
The Raiders responded through fullback Kaeo Weekes and forward Ata Mariota, before Carrigan was binned for a high tackle on Corey Horsburgh.
Brisbane thrived despite the numerical disadvantage, with both under-fire five-eighth Ezra Mam and winger Anderson storming over to help the visitors snatch the lead.
Weekes grabbed his second on the stroke of half-time, before Pattie and Hosking scored, but representative prop Payne Haas, Anderson and Perham surged over to steal the victory.
AAP
The Dolphins have tightened their grip on a top-four NRL spot after overcoming another slow start to blitz Parramatta 34-16 in Brisbane.
The Redcliffe side trailed 10-0 after 19 minutes before scoring five consecutive tries in front of 24,728 fans at Suncorp Stadium on Friday.
Victory pushed Kristian Woolf’s men level on 36 points with the third-placed Warriors, still to play on Saturday, with three rounds to play before the club’s first finals appearance.
And importantly they denied Cronulla and Newcastle (32 points) the chance to draw level by the end of the round.
That’s the cherry on top for the Dolphins.
Parramatta go searching for another try with a backline sweep inside the Dolphins’ 20 metres, and Mitch Moses throws a pass slightly behind Api Twidle – who either spills it or misdirects his tap-on pass for Josh Addo-Carr. Either way, the ball goes to ground, and Herbie Farnworth picks it up and runs 80 metres to score.
Jamayne Isaako nails another sideline conversion as well, and the Dolphins’ winning streak extends to five games.
Full-time: Dolphins 34, Eels 16 at Suncorp Stadium
A six-again after a Isaiya Katoa ruck infringement gives Parramatta a chance to hit back and they take it, Mitch Moses chipping over the top, Will Penisini battling Kodi Nikorima in the chase before deflecting the ball back inside for Kelma Tuilagi to score.
Moses kicks the conversion and there’s a sliver of hope for the underdogs if they can score again. Quickly.
Dolphins 28, Eels 16 with eight minutes left
The Dolphins are starting to run away with this now, going on the attack after a Harrison Edwards error, forcing a dropout then earning a six-again before Max Plath spots a bit of space, holds off Jack Williams and forces his way over to the right of the posts.
Jamayne Isaako converts, and after a slow start the Dolphins are capable of racking up a big score here.
Dolphins 28 Eels 10 with 19 minutes left
Classy stuff from the Dolphins again, first with Isaiya Katoa unleashing Jack Bostock with a fantastic pass over the top of a defender, then a couple of tackles later the Dolphins sweep right and Bostock finds Jamayne Isaako, who cuts inside and beats two defenders on the way to the tryline.
Isaako converts his try and the hosts lead by 12.
Dolphins 22, Eels 10 with 31 minutes left
The second half begins and Parramatta get the first scoring opportunity after the break, when Jeremy Marshall-King is penalised on the last tackle for working the arm of the ball carrier in a tackle.
The Eels work into Dolphins territory and Mitchell Moses directs a last-tackle bomb towards Brian Kelly, but it’s a little too strong and sails over the sideline.
Dolphins 16, Eels 10 with 35 minutes left
The Dolphins go oh-so-close to scoring one more spectacular try, running it from halfway, and making 10 passes before Herbie Farnworth’s final pass to Selwyn Cobbo is directed at the winger’s feet. Cobbo improvises with a kick – and the ball clatters into Eels fullback Apa Twidle and bounces straight back into Cobbo’s hands as he dives over to score.
But … the referee rules Farnworth’s final pass was forward (correctly), and the try is denied.
Dolphins 16, Eels 10 at half-time
Josh Papali’i’s home-ground swan song has ended in heartache, with Brisbane surging in the second half to overcome an emotional Canberra 34-30.
Papali’i announced that he would retire at the end of the season ahead of the Raiders’ final home game, ending a glittering one-club tenure, in which he played in the 2019 NRL grand final and became the team’s most-capped player (341 games).
But even after Canberra renamed GIO Stadium “Papa’s House” for Friday’s clash, the home team only led 18-16 at half-time after two Brisbane tries while captain Pat Carrigan was in the sin bin.
The Raiders put themselves in the box seat when hooker Owen Pattie and second-rower Zac Hosking crossed, but two tries in three minutes thrust the visitors back into the contest.
The Dolphins are in again, thanks to some spectacular play from right centre Jack Bostock.
Isaiya Katoa puts up a bomb, and Bostock does a great job to jump, catch it, land, keep his arm off the ground while falling then flick an offload around a defender towards Jamayne Isaako on the right wing. Isaako clashes into Sean Russell and appears to lose control of the ball while trying to force it down.
But the bunker takes several looks and determines that Isaako got it down cleanly, and confirm the try. Bit of a controversial call, but the home crowd doesn’t mind one bit.
Isaako fails to convert his try from the right sideline.
Dolphins 16, Eels 10 after 37 minutes
