Raiders snatch 24-20 victory over Sharks in final minute

Canberra pulled off one of the great escapes in recent NRL memory, scoring a stunning last-minute try to snatch a 24-20 win over Cronulla at GIO Stadium on Thursday night.

With 90 seconds left and trailing by two, the Raiders ran it on the last from 55 metres out.

Hudson Young broke through on the left edge, Xavier Savage darted cross-field and grubbered ahead, and after slick hands from Kaeo Weekes and Simi Sasagi, it was Sebastian Kris who finished the play to cap a miracle moment.

“Absolutely miraculous,” was how former Raiders half Sam Williams described it on ABC Sport as the Green Machine faithful erupted into raptures.

NRL Round 5 Highlights: Raiders v Sharks

Ricky Stuart’s men looked out of ideas late in the game after being denied repeatedly by a gritty Sharks defence.

They were also forced to battle with only 12 men after Hudson Young was sin-binned in the 58th minute under the NRL’s renewed crackdown on high tackles.

Cronulla kicked a penalty to take a 20-18 lead while Young was off, but that was all they could muster despite the advantage.

Young had already starred with two first-half tries and 106 metres, but his hit on Cameron McInnes put him in the spotlight for the wrong reasons.

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The Bunker intervened after the fact, prompting widespread debate.

“There was a lot of fight in them,” Stuart said post-match.

“You saw what this club is about in that last minute and a half.”

The game was level at 18-18 at halftime after an explosive first 40 minutes that saw Matt Nicholson, Young (twice) and Briton Nikora (twice) all cross.

Nikora’s second came from a self-made chip-and-chase effort, kicking the ball three times to ground it in a freakish solo play.

Seb Kris continued his breakout season with the match-winner and a tireless defensive performance, while Kaeo Weekes redeemed a tough night under the high ball with a crucial touch in the final act.

Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon praised the effort but lamented poor execution.

“We just didn’t ask enough questions,” he said.

“There was effort and attitude, but we were a little out of sorts.”

Despite another courageous showing, Cronulla slumped to 2-3 and now faced the high-flying Sea Eagles.

Canberra, now 3-2, is set for a trip to Darwin to take on the Eels, where they will be expected to start as very short favourites with the top online bookmakers.

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