A dominant first half performance has seen the Canberra Raiders record a 48-6 victory over the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles at GIO Stadium today.
The Raiders piled on five first half tries to lead 28-0 at half-time with Manly's right edge found wanting. The win moves Canberra into eighth place with one round remaining and leaves the Sea Eagles in 11th place on the back of six straight losses.
The match marked the NRL debut for winger Ray Tuaimalo Vaega, who crossed for a hat-trick over the Wests Tigers in Manly’s opening pre-season trial match.
The Raiders opened the scoring in the fifth minute through winger Jordan Rapana for a 4-0 lead before the home side swooped on a short kick against the run of play to score a length of the field try to full-back Xavier Savage for a 10-0 lead after 16 minutes.
A spilt bomb saw the Raiders cross for their third try through second-rower Hudson Young for a 16-0 lead after 23 minutes.
A break down the left edge saw the Raiders support each other for Tom Starling to score behind the posts for a 22-0 lead after 28 minutes.
A touch of lady luck came the Raiders way when a grubber kick from Rapana on the last bounced off Manly five-eighth Kieran Fogarty for Jamal Fogarty to score for a 28-0 lead after 29 minutes.
The Raiders took 11 minutes to open the scoring in the second half when Young crashed over next to the posts for a 34-0 lead.
Manly got on the board when second-rower Ethan Bullemor dived over off a pass from Brad Parker for a 34-6 scoreline with 16 minutes remanining.
A drop bomb from Tolu Koula saw former Manly junior Albert Hopoate score next to the posts in the 67th minute for a 40-6 lead.
The Raiders then put on two tries to Sebastian Kris and Corey Harawira-Naera for a 48-6 lead after 72 minutes.
