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party remains unspoilt - Ozleague.com The Canberra Raiders were lucky to be in the 2002 NRL finals: a point they wouldn’t dispute having won less than half the games they have played this season and an almost 200 point deficit on the for and against ledger. Add to that their shocking form away from home – one win for the year – and there would seem to be little reason for them to make the trip across Tasman to face the competition’s minor premiers. But the flights were booked and the tickets had been sold, so they had to go, even it was only to be the Washington Generals to the New Warriors’ Globetrotters. Of course there was always the chance the Raiders the trip with intention of winning and chancing their arm to see just how far they could go in he play offs. After all the Raiders were playing a side who had topped the competition by accident and were an outside chance of folding under the pressure that came with their new found success. So perhaps the Raiders were holding hidden hopes that cash in on some Kiwi complacency It took only two minutes, however, for those hopes be dashed when a reverse banana kick from resident magician Stacey Jones resulted in a try to the new “home” of rugby league. Halfback Jones looked one way and kicked the other, close to the Raiders’ try line, for centre John Carlaw to leap high and then get down low and go, go, go for the opening points. Much to the Raiders’ disappointment, the Warriors had adopted a resistance is useless approach and by the midway point of the first half they had doubled their advantage through a try to winger Henry Fa’afili. The Canberra side could have capitulated from here and conceded a cricket score but as so often happens when a team – any team – has spark at the back of their collective brain that oblivion beckons, the Raiders surged to get within reach of the Warriors.Joel Monaghan and then Michael Monaghan each picked up a try to make it 14-10 to Warriors with the change of ends in sight. So Warriors coach Daniel Anderson would have plenty to say at half time about disappointing the sell-out – and slightly wet – crowd and answering the call to perform accordingly. It was Dally M second rower of the year, Ali Lauiti’iti who responded the most obviously with a try early in the second half stretching the lead to 20-10. Lauiti’iti had been out injured since the Warriors’ 44-0 loss to the Roosters in Sydney three weeks ago and was a doubtful starter even this morning. Then Jones added a four pointer to the New Zealand tally and making a week off for the Warriors closer to a reality. And when Francis Meli and Mark Tookey registered their names on the score sheet, a week’s rest was a surety and the Warriors thoughts turned to qualifying for NRL Grand Final. Joel Monaghan and Mark McLinden added late tries for the Raiders but it was to no avail and the off-season sang a sirens’ song for the Canberra side.
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