The Last Time We Met The Canberra Raiders was on the NRL's biggest stage in 2019 in one of the most memorable Grand Finals in the game's history.
Last Time We Met The Raiders
It was the second consecutive Grand Final for the Tricolours who were chasing back-to-back Premierships, while the Canberra Raiders fought their way to the big dance after missing the finals series altogether in 2018.
Sam Verrills would open the scoring in the early going with a dummy-half dart, but that would do anything but give indication of the 70+ minutes to follow.
The Raiders were gritty, asking constant questions and testing the Tricolours defence right the way through.
Jack Wighton scored at the back end of the half, while a penalty for a professional foul on Cooper Cronk early in the second would see the veteran sent to the bin in his final match and Raiders captain Jarrod Croker level the scores with the penalty goal.
They continued to test the Roosters defence for the remainder of the battle, but thanks to some heroics from Brett Morris and an outstanding defensive effort under pressure, the Roosters took an opportunity late.
Luke Keary started it with a dart out of dummy half, Latrell Mitchell finds Daniel Tupou out wide with the offload, Tupou sprints into open space, inside to James Tedesco and the Roosters snatch a lead in the closing eight minutes.
On Thursday night, we meet again for the first time since that epic clash.
Match: Roosters v Raiders
Grand Final -
home Team
Roosters
away Team
Raiders
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Roosters is number 1 James TedescoFullback for Raiders is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
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Winger for Roosters is number 2 Daniel TupouWinger for Raiders is number 2 Nick Cotric
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Centre for Roosters is number 3 Latrell MitchellCentre for Raiders is number 3 Jarrod Croker
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Centre for Roosters is number 4 Joseph ManuCentre for Raiders is number 4 Joseph Leilua
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Winger for Roosters is number 5 Brett MorrisWinger for Raiders is number 5 Jordan Rapana
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Five-Eighth for Roosters is number 6 Luke KearyFive-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Jack Wighton
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Halfback for Roosters is number 7 Cooper CronkHalfback for Raiders is number 7 Aidan Sezer
Forwards
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Prop for Roosters is number 8 Jared Waerea-HargreavesProp for Raiders is number 8 Josh Papalii
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Hooker for Roosters is number 9 Sam VerrillsHooker for Raiders is number 9 Josh Hodgson
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Prop for Roosters is number 10 Isaac LiuProp for Raiders is number 10 Iosia Soliola
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2nd Row for Roosters is number 11 Boyd Cordner2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 John Bateman
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2nd Row for Roosters is number 12 Mitchell Aubusson2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Elliott Whitehead
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Lock for Roosters is number 13 Victor RadleyLock for Raiders is number 13 Joseph Tapine
Interchange
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Interchange for Roosters is number 14 Angus CrichtonInterchange for Raiders is number 14 Bailey Simonsson
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Interchange for Roosters is number 16 Nat ButcherInterchange for Raiders is number 15 Emre Guler
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Interchange for Roosters is number 17 Siosiua TaukeiahoInterchange for Raiders is number 16 Corey Horsburgh
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Interchange for Roosters is number 20 Jake FriendInterchange for Raiders is number 17 Dunamis Lui
Match Officials
- Referee: Ben Cummins
- Referee: Gerard Sutton
- Touch Judge: Nick Beashel
- Touch Judge: Chris Butler
- Senior Review Official: Jared Maxwell
Last updated:
TRIES
Sam Verrills 6'
Jack Wighton 30'
James Tedesco 72'
FAN VOTED MAN OF THE MATCH | JARED WAEREA-HARGREAVES
KEY STATS: 185 running metres, 41 tackles, 63 post contact metres
