Raiders coach Ricky Stuart says his side is due for a well-earned break after rebounding from a 10-point deficit and a controversial no-try ruling to seal a thrilling 26-24 win over the Roosters at Allianz Stadium on Sunday evening.
A stellar performance from James Tedesco and another impressive aerial effort from Mark Nawaqanitawase were not enough for the home side, who were unable to turn an 18-8 lead after 59 minutes into a win.
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Round 13: Roosters v Raiders | Match Highlights
Sydney Roosters host the Canberra Raiders in Round 13 of the 2025 NRL Premiership at Allianz Stadium, Sydney.
It took Canberra 64 minutes to hit the front, courtesy of a conversion from Ethan Sanders off the back of a Joseph Tapine try.
Ahead 20-18, the Raiders put the finishing touches on a sensational second half when Kaeo Weekes motored his way down the field with a kick return that started inside his own 20-metre area. Ethan Strange finished Weekes’ superb play with a try.
It was the Raiders’ 10th win from 13 matches, putting them into second spot on the ladder, two points behind the Bulldogs.
Raiders halves Ethan Strange and debutant Ethan Sanders steered the visitors around cleverly as their team scored five tries to the Roosters’ four.
Canberra will face South Sydney on Sunday, in Josh Papalii’s record-breaking appearance match, before a bye.
“I was very upbeat at half-time because I thought we played really good footy. It could have went either way,” Stuart said.
“We go into a bye after our next game, and we really need it. What we’ve had to endure over the last 13 weeks … I can see it in the boys; we need a break. We are just hanging on for the break, I’ll give them after the Souths game.”
In a tense match, the Roosters’ back three of Tedesco, Daniel Tupou and Nawaqanitawase each scored tries and ran for more than 150 metres.
A fortnight after scoring a stunning try against the Bulldogs, Nawaqanitawase’s aerial prowess was on display once again as he plucked a Sandon Smith cross-field kick out of the night sky in the fourth minute.
There were hints of a bobble, but the try stood, giving the former Wallaby his ninth four-pointer in as many appearances this season.
Rugby league fans are freshly marvelling at Nawaqanitawase’s ability to find the tryline, but those who follow the 15-man game have already seen it time and again.
A clever flick pass and a 65-metre break were other highlights for Nawaqanitawase, but there was also a couple of simple knock-ons that helped open the door for Canberra midway through the second half.
Mark Nawaqanitawase continues his stellar run with a try for the Roosters.
“I feel like he can have a huge impact on the game just by cleaning up that back field, and then he’ll be a dominant player in this competition,” Roosters coach Trent Robinson said of Nawaqanitawase.
“He’s a quick learner. He’s hurting in there because of it. I hope they keep kicking to him because he is such a good catcher, but they’re unforced errors at the moment. When he stops that, he’ll be one of the better wingers in the competition.
“The self-inflicted errors invited a really good team into our half too much.”
Both teams announced changes before kick-off, with Jamal Fogarty succumbing to a groin injury and Spencer Leniu and Connor Watson shifting to the bench after having helped the Blues take a 1-0 lead at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night.
Groans echoed around Allianz Stadium when Victory Radley hit the deck and was taken from the field in the 25th minute for a HIA. However, the Roosters forward passed his tests and returned to the action.
Xavier Savage’s try in the 31st minute was sorely needed after the Raiders’ repeated efforts close to the Roosters’ line had previously amounted to nothing.
With the Raiders trailing 6-4, controversy erupted just before half-time when the visitors were denied a try to Simi Sasagi.
Owen Pattie was deemed to be in an offside position after Sasagi put in a grubber kick before finishing off the try himself after help from several teammates. However, Sasagi was held back by Angus Crichton, preventing him from being able to put Pattie onside.
Canberra had the try denied – to the dismay of players and coach Ricky Stuart – before James Tedesco helped the Roosters take a 12-4 lead from the ensuing penalty.
Sasagi made amends in the 45th minute by reducing the deficit to four points, before Hudson Young and Tapine bagged tries of their own to swing momentum.
Robert Toia crossed with 80 seconds remaining to make it a 26-24 scoreline and give the Roosters a glimmer of hope, before a knock-on from Radley with 25 seconds on the clock sealed an important come-from-behind result for Canberra.
