Tigers’ 15-year finals misery continues as NRLW history made
In the lowest-scoring NRLW finals game in the competition’s history, the Raiders kept their premiership hopes alive with a 6-0 victory, eliminating the Wests Tigers in front of their home crowd at Campbelltown Stadium.
Though the scoreboard remained low, the match was a battle for both sides in their first-ever finals series on Friday night.
Raiders players celebrate at full-time. Nine
Tigers players dug deep but struggled to maximise their attacking opportunities against an unrelenting Canberra defence.
Canberra produced the only try of the match in the 17th minute, capitalising on slick ball movement from the Temara sisters, winger Isabella Waterman crashed over the line for the Green Machine to break the deadlock.
The second half remained a grind as tension peaked when on-field referee Belinda Sharpe blew a penalty against the Tigers, gifting the visitors a crucial two points.
“There’s a bit of spice in this one,” Mat Thompson said on Nine as scuffles ensued in the second half.
Sheridan Gallagher was immense for Canberra, racking up 206 run metres.
“First final series and now we’re into the major semi so it’s going to be pretty cool to go onto it next weekend,” Gallagher told Nine post-game.
“I come from a soccer background and I think you know growing up kicking a round ball has really helped me come across to the game and um be able to put the bombs up in game now.”
For the Tigers, the defeat marked a bitter end to a milestone day.
The club were celebrating their first finals appearance – men’s or women’s – in 15 years, on the same day veteran Kezie Apps played her 50th game.
With the victory, the Raiders now head to a preliminary final against the Sydney Roosters next weekend.
