Tigers 35 Raiders 22
Wests Tigers bounced back from a first-half slumber to deal the Raiders a demoralising loss at Canberra Stadium yesterday.
The Raiders were up 22-10 at halftime and looked set to continue their impressive unbeaten record on home soil since round 20 last year, before the Tigers staged a remarkable comeback.
Tries to Benji Marshall, skipper Robbie Farah and Chris Lawrence were all the visitors needed to wrestle back momentum and even up the scores.
Farah's field goal had them one point clear with eight minutes remaining, before Liam Fulton ran through his second for the afternoon to crush the Raiders' hopes.
A final try right on the buzzer to Beau Ryan put the icing on the cake for the visitors.
The first half was almost exclusively all the Raiders.
Earlier in the week, Tim Sheens' men made the point they could ill-afford to give the Raiders a good start.
But they failed to take their own advice, letting Dane Tilse waltz over the line four minutes in for the easiest of opening tries.
It signalled a Raiders whitewash for the next 20 minutes as the Tigers struggled to find any path forward.
Joe Picker wasted a clear opportunity for the Raiders' second, but the home side more than up for it in the 15th minute courtesy of Jarrod Croker.
He ducked and weaved for 20m, evading the Tigers defence before leaping over the line and getting ball to ground with both heels in the air.
Another try to Shaun Fensom had the Raiders up by 16-0 before the Tigers finally got their first on the board thanks to Fulton, playing his first game back from a rib injury.
The Raiders replied straight away through Picker, but Marshall, set up by a flying Lote Tuqiri, had the visitors 22-10 with just seconds to go in the half.
It gave the Tigers' some much needed confidence heading into the final 40 minutes.
After an early arm-wrestle, tries to Farah and Lawrence had the Tigers back on an even keel, before they ran away for victory.
Farah was disappointed with his side's flat start to the match.
"We spoke about starting strong and not letting them score early," he said.
"Our start was disappointing, but credit to us, we got the jump on them."
Campese was equally unimpressed with the Raiders' fade-out.
"We haven't put two good halves together so far and that was the case again today," he said.
- NZPA