Raiders Defeat Storm 26-22 as Papali'i and Timoko Suffer Injuries
The Canberra Raiders secured a narrow 26-22 victory over the Melbourne Storm at GIO Stadium, inflicting a fifth consecutive defeat on the visitors and marking Melbourne's worst start to an NRL season under coach Craig Bellamy. Despite the win, the Raiders faced significant setbacks as captain Josh Papali’i and centre Matt Timoko sustained injuries. Canberra’s Simi Sasagi was instrumental in the victory, contributing a try, an intercept, and a key assist while running for 182 metres. The Storm, now holding a 2-5 record, showed resilience with Nick Meaney scoring two tries in his 100th game and Sua Fa’alogo adding a try and two assists. However, Melbourne’s defensive struggles persisted, continuing a slump that has seen them lose five straight games for the first time since 2012. The Raiders improved their record to 3-4, ending a previous four-match losing streak. Key moments included Ethan Strange’s try following Sasagi’s offload and desperate goal-line defense by Canberra to hold off a late Storm surge. This result highlights ongoing challenges for Melbourne while presenting a costly triumph for Canberra.
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Raiders Defeat Storm 26-22 as Papali'i and Timoko Suffer Injuries
The Canberra Raiders secured a narrow 26-22 victory over the Melbourne Storm at GIO Stadium, inflicting a fifth consecutive defeat on the visitors and marking Melbourne's worst start to an NRL season under coach Craig Bellamy. Despite the win, the Raiders faced significant setbacks as captain Josh Papali’i and centre Matt Timoko sustained injuries. Canberra’s Simi Sasagi was instrumental in the victory, contributing a try, an intercept, and a key assist while running for 182 metres. The Storm, now holding a 2-5 record, showed resilience with Nick Meaney scoring two tries in his 100th game and Sua Fa’alogo adding a try and two assists. However, Melbourne’s defensive struggles persisted, continuing a slump that has seen them lose five straight games for the first time since 2012. The Raiders improved their record to 3-4, ending a previous four-match losing streak. Key moments included Ethan Strange’s try following Sasagi’s offload and desperate goal-line defense by Canberra to hold off a late Storm surge. This result highlights ongoing challenges for Melbourne while presenting a costly triumph for Canberra.
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