The NRLW Raiders had a prime platform against the Sharks on Saturday: cool, sunny conditions, the home ground advantage and the confidence of two solid wins and a competitive loss to the Roosters.
Instead of playing like a team in a good position they panicked and produced their worst 70 minutes of the season thus far.
There were a few positives on the board. Elise Simpson, Grace Kukutai and Leianne Tufuga all stood tall while much senior players wandered off into the weeds. Simpson was resolute in defence, constantly turning up to make key tackles on her edge.
Kukutai was there every time the Sharks broke the line, halting long range strikes when she could. Tufuga had legs like the pistons on a steam engine, constantly driving forward with multiple defenders hanging off her.
Their output was not matched by their peers. Sheridan Gallagher did her best, but Zahara Temara had a very quiet outing and Kirsty Blackwell seemed almost disoriented at times. These connective difficulties were not helped by Emma Barnes, who arguably had one of her worst games in green (she looked to be having trouble passing left across her body).
The malaise was compounded by the rub of the green, or rather the flick of the ponytail (this is an insanely stupid rule, and it should be abolished from both the NRLW and NRL as soon as possible). Wiki scored after the tackler fell off her, only for the bunker to rule that her ponytail, a part of herself over which she has no direct control when in motion, brushed the sideline, despite the rest of her remaining well in the field.
Taufa was also denied a try after the video ref ruled she had lost contact with the ball for a split second as she barged over.
If their own ineptitude/luck with the ball was bad the pummeling from the Sharks was worse. Johnston and Johnston-Green (no relation) battered the Raiders through the middle, constantly collapsing the Raiders pack in on itself.
The Sharks other tactic was sending traffic towards Temara and Blackwell, which had the two halves expending energy in defence.
The good news for the Green Machine is that they’ve already played two of the teams above them, and next week they’re at home again to host the struggling Cows.
Let’s see if they can get it right next Saturday.
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