Freak 'falcon' try lifts Canberra Raiders to upset victory, leaves Storm stunned
Sebastian Kris didn't put any thought into it, yet it was still his head that set up the match-sealing try for the Raiders and stunned the Storm in Saturday's elimination final.
In perhaps the most astounding try assist of the season, an accidental Kris "falcon" bobbled into the path of Jordan Rapana late in the Raiders' do-or-die final against the Storm.
All Rapana had to do was race through open pastures, collect the ball and dot down.
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"It was probably the only thing that went our way tonight," winning coach Ricky Stuart said after the game.
"It was a tough night. We just didn't get any good ball.
Sebastian Kris knocked the ball forward with his head, resulting in a Raiders try. Nine
"There were some calls there that were tough calls, we didn't get any 50-50s, and you need them. The way the players hung in there tonight makes me so proud to be their coach.
"We got a stroke of luck on that header."
It was a topsy-turvy affair at AAMI Park and both sides looked the likely winner at different stages of the contest.
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The Raiders were rank underdogs before kick-off, having only qualified for the finals thanks to a late-season Broncos capitulation, but they scored first on Saturday when Matthew Timoko palmed off Cameron Munster for the opener.
Melbourne hit the lead when Nelson Asofa-Solomona stormed over the try line in the 57th minute.
A converted try in the 67th minute put the Raiders in front by two and set up a thrilling finish.
There were less than five minutes remaining on the clock when an errant Jack Wighton pass bounced off the head of Kris and the ball was pounced on by Rapana.
The Jamal Fogarty conversion made it an eight-point lead and, ultimately, Melbourne could not reel in Canberra.
It ended a run of seven straight preliminary finals for the Storm and coach Craig Bellamy.
The only injury concern for Canberra is Adam Elliott, who limped off the field.
Joe Tapine was put on report for high contact and will be looking at the match review committee's report on Sunday to learn his fate.
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