BY DAN

After a season that is closer to hell than Orpheus on a walk, the Canberra Raiders NRLW team finally broke into the glory of sunshine. The 56-24 victory over the Canterbury Bulldogs won’t fix all the flaws of this team, but it allowed them one moment of joy, proof that when they play to their best they are a decent footy team.

This year the Raiders have had two sets of interrelated problems. Their defence is weak at all the traditional points of incision. It means that when they hand over possession they often have problems defending the result. You’ll note from the four tries they conceded, primarily through the middle of the ruck against the bruising Canterbury middle still capable of success despite the game situation.

But they did solve the other problem. An 81 per cent completion rate is pretty good, but compared to what they’ve done this year it felt like an oasis. Only one other time have they approached that number this season, in their season opening loss to the Dragons. The next highest was 71 per cent. In between they’ve done little but drop ball and miss tackles.

But for once they didn’t. Was it divine providence? Some sort of vibe or change or self belief that came from their previous week’s victory over the 11 Warriors? Whatever it was it released football in this side for what felt like the first time this year. It meant that Simaima Taufa’s inspiring and resolute efforts didn’t go to waste (159 metres, 60 plus post contact, and two barnstorming tries while the contest was alive). It also meant that Sophie Holyman’s consistent hard work wasn’t for nought (155 metres, 60 plus post contact also). It meant that every time Grace Kemp stomped her opposition – which was a few times – it didn’t feel like a desperate gasp of a drowning swimmer, but instead blood in the water for hungry sharks.

And boy did the Raiders play some footy. In every way we’ve been waiting for them to. The interplay between the forwards, a strength of this side, was in full flight. The Raiders’ second came from Chloe Saunders hitting Taufa. A further try started with Lili Boyle digging deep into the line and throwing an out ball that would have made any lock forward proud, doubly so because she was smashed by the defence in doing so. The result was Zehera Temara in space and ended with Jordyn Preston scoring.

Temara revelled in the more spacious environs she found herself on account of the forwards (and better ball handling). Four try assists somehow understates how easy she found it. She set up one try by simply working out that having three players standing on a short side was too much for the two defenders. A further try-assist came when she was able to take 5 or 6 steps into a barely moving goal line defence and grubber for Saunders. She had such free running out there it was like her and the defensive line shared the same charge.

She wasn’t the only spine member that had a field day. Sereana Naitokatoka had an excellent game. Each week she’s improved as the starting six, finding better and more ways to get involved. In this game she set up Elise Simpson’s second career try by scything through a line that expected her to pass.

For her part Simpson didn’t stop at galloping away like Paul Hauff. She set up tries on both sides of the ground as a crucial last pass for both Isabel Waterman and Cheyelle Robins-Reti tries. Both balls were perfect choices, one a long ball onto a winger’s chest with nothing but daylight in front of her, the other a short ball, recognising a defence stretched and desperately trying to cover the out-ball.

These are the main stories but so many had big games. That’s what happens when you put 56 on them. Robins-Reti had her best game in an awful season. Kemp had her best day. Marley Cardwell debuted and looked rough and ready in the middle. Leanne Taufuga, perhaps the unsung hero of an awful season, was again brutal and brilliant, getting involved in movements and yardage. It felt cruel that she somehow didn’t score.

Everyone had a good day. That’s the kind of day it was. It didn’t fix all the problems. The Dogs still found scoring too easy, and Canberra still can’t defend their errors. But they showed that when the Milk don’t offer the opposition the ball like free samples, they can make a real fist of this competition.

Does that mean they’re about to go and beat the premiership-favourite Roosters this weekend (ah, they’re not actually playing. Soz)? It’d take a braver punter than me to make that claim. But after six weeks of hell they got out. Let them breathe the air, smell the spring coming around the corner, feel the sun on their back. This season isn’t going to turn on a dime. But if there’s going to be more in this side in the coming weeks, months and even years, they will need to remember what went into making this day so beautiful.

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