In the opening round of the Pre-Season Challenge, the Canberra Raiders managed to hold off a fast-finishing Penrith Panthers side in what was a thrilling, albeit early, clash between two teams that will be hoping to make their mark in the upcoming NRL season.
From the kick-off, the Raiders seemed intent on making a statement, playing with a sense of urgency and purpose. The game began with solid defense and aggressive attacking play, and it didn’t take long for the Raiders to get on the board, capitalizing on a number of mistakes by the Panthers. Their forward pack dominated early exchanges, laying a strong foundation for their halves to orchestrate some fluid attacking raids.
Jack Wighton, in particular, played a key role, dictating the tempo and creating opportunities for the backs. His link play was slick, and his vision was apparent in several key moments. The Raiders’ speed on the edges kept the Panthers’ defense on the back foot, with early tries putting them ahead by a comfortable margin in the first half. It was evident that they were using the pre-season to gel as a team and iron out any rough patches ahead of the season proper.
However, Penrith showed why they are such a strong unit. As the first half wore on, the Panthers began to find their rhythm. The usually reliable Nathan Cleary started to guide the attack with his precision kicking and playmaking, while the powerhouse forwards, led by James Fisher-Harris, began to get over the advantage line. Though the Panthers were unable to finish some of their opportunities early in the game, they were far from out of the contest.
In the second half, Penrith’s resilience came to the fore. With the game winding down, they began to mount a late comeback. Their intensity increased, and their efforts to run the ball through the middle and utilize their edge players resulted in two quick tries. It was a thrilling display, but despite the momentum shift, the Raiders held strong defensively.
The match ended with Canberra hanging on to a slender lead, winning by a narrow margin. Despite the late pressure from Penrith, the Raiders showed that they could adapt and fight through adversity. The Panthers, while not fully firing, will have gained plenty from the contest, especially in terms of their ability to turn the game around late. Both teams can take positives from this match as they fine-tune their preparations for the season ahead.
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