BY ROB

The Raiders entered round 9 in need of a convincing win over the Titans. What they got, unfortunately, was the mother of all reality checks. The Titans came to win, dominating Canberra in every aspect of the game.

The Gold Coast side had a plan, which sadly for the Raiders was almost a mirror image of what the women in green usually opt for. The Titans absolutely bashed the Raiders through the middle, tiring out ruck adjacent defenders and then running through them like water through a colander.

In above-average Spring heat the Raiders wilted like Floriade leftovers. It’s not that they weren’t willing but the Titans plan was so ruthlessly effective that they scored half of their tries close to or under the posts. Initially the visitors were scoring through close-range crash balls, but as the game opened up mid-range strikes started coming. Too often the Raiders found themselves getting sold a dummy with a side of harbour bridge.

If life in defence seemed miserable for Canberra it was possibly worse in attack. I actually lost track of many of the Raiders passes went to ground, with at least a third of them either evolving into knock-ons or plain just ending up in Gold Coast hands. This dysfunctional lack of rhythm can be credited to the Titans, who spent the game constantly up and in on the Raiders first or second receivers, flustering them into pushing unnecessary passes.

Canberra did have some minor victories – twice the Titans failed to defuse bouncing restarts, watching in frustration as the Steeden wobbled over the dead-ball line. On both of these occasions the Raiders failed to convert position and possession into points, such was the opponent’s defence.

Just when it looked to be 26-0 drubbing Captain Taufa worked her stuff through the middle, an exhilarating charge that ended metres short of the line. The Raiders went left on the next play and a lovely moment of season bookending (credit to Dan for this) found the OG Canberra try-scorer Madison Bartlett, who jigged her way past several defenders to score.

Because nice things are fleeting the Titans quickly scored another try, a bruising full-stop to the afternoons encounter. The Raiders, battered, bruised and bleeding all over the pitch, were finally allowed to rest, congratulate the Titans on their win and then welcome faithful fans onto the field.

While it may have been one of the less fun games of the season it’s worth noting that every team must, at some point, suffer this kind of loss. For the most part the NRLW Canberra Raiders have been a smart, stoic and talented side. They’ll be back stronger, faster, tougher and better in 2024 – I simply can’t wait!

Stick around! In the next couple of weeks Viv and I will put together a season review for the NRLW side – until then, Bleed Green!

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