Raiders Overcome Controversial Offside Decision to Deliver Remarkable Comeback Win Against the Roosters

Despite two controversial tries awarded to the Roosters, the Raiders remained unfazed, mounting a thrilling comeback to overcome the Tricolours with a score of 26-24.

A flurry of tries from the Raiders tested the Roosters’ defence, with Robert Toia’s late try providing the hosts an opportunity to push the match into extra time.

Coach Ricky Stuart experienced a rollercoaster of emotions from the sidelines, reaching a pinnacle of excitement as Victor Radley made a costly error with just 30 seconds left on the clock.

Trailing by two points, Simi Sasagi sought to replicate teammate Xavier Savage’s 38th-minute try, only to be thwarted by the Bunker for an offside infringement.

“Only the player kicking the ball can put him (onside),” Alexander commented on Fox League.

“It was Angus Crichton who held (Sasagi) back on a couple of occasions.”

Sasagi initiated the scoring opportunity with a grubber kick on the Roosters’ 40m line but was obstructed in the chase. He eventually received the ball again, aiming to finish what he’d started.

This extraordinary effort appeared poised to hand the Raiders the lead, but the Bunker ruled Owen Pattie offside while Sasagi made the original grubber kick, encroaching too close to the ball during the kick chase.

In the following set, James Tedesco added to the visitors’ woes, sprinting over the line to extend the score to 12-4 at halftime.

However, like previous scorers before him, the Roosters captain’s try faced controversy, as Connor Watson knocked on during the build-up.

Sasagi put his name on the scoreboard in the 45th minute, reducing the deficit to four points, before Daniel Tupou followed suit for the Roosters in the 53rd minute.

A group of four Roosters players could not prevent Savelio Tamale from miraculously offloading back into play, finding Hudson Young, who charged over untouched to score.

Joseph Tapine got his coach on his feet as he capitalised on a kick from Pattie to snatch the lead.

Ultimately, it was a brilliant break from Kaeo Weekes that clinched the victory for the visitors, as he delivered a smooth pass to Savage, allowing him to score in the 74th minute.

“Overall, I think the Raiders pose a greater threat than any other attacking team,” Alexander added.

With just under a minute remaining, Toia evaded four defenders, closing the gap to just two points, but his converted effort was insufficient to alter the outcome of the match.

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Earlier in the match, the Roosters made the first breakthrough when Mark Nawaqanitawase soared to catch a high cross-field kick from Sandon Smith and scored.

The 24-year-old outjumped Canberra’s Savelio Tamale during the airborne duel and was tackled in-goal by Sebastian Kris, who couldn’t manage to keep him off the ground.

However, a replay of the impressive try raised concerns about whether the points would be awarded, as Nawaqanitawase seemed to lose control of the ball while grounding it.

“Oh, hold on for a moment,” Greg Alexander noted during the commentary on Fox League.

“It appeared to wobble and come loose as he was going down, and he didn’t regain his grip.”

Although the Roosters winger seemed uncertain as the replay was displayed on the screens at Allianz Stadium, the Bunker ultimately upheld the initial try decision.

“He hasn’t done that intentionally, but he has regripped it,” Alexander remarked as another angle of the grounding was shown.

“I believe it goes back into his hand and making contact with the ground.”