Joseph Tapine capped his brilliant season with one of the best finals performances from a prop, Jack Wighton was at his busy best, while Xavier Savage struggled.
The Raiders continued their brilliant charge in the back half of the year to win through to the semi-finals with a 28-20 victory.
Read on for the Raiders player ratings from their elimination final against the Storm.
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1. XAVIER SAVAGE – 5
Struggled to get into the game and made an early error. Just three runs and 24 metres in the first half. Set up a try with a falcon to seal the victory. Finished with 75 metres after an improved second half.
2. NICK COTRIC – 6
Produced a try-saving play in the first half to deny Justin Olam. Made 32 metres and five tackle busts in the first half. Finished with 58 metres.
3. MATTHEW TIMOKO – 8
Produced a brilliant fend on Cameron Munster to score the first try of the night. But he also made an error and went off for a HIA in the first half, but was cleared to return. Finished the first half with 53 run metres. Finished with 84 metres and 10 tackles to go with his try.
4. SEBASTIAN KRIS – 6
Made two early errors. Tried hard to stop Coates from scoring, but was left with too much to do by Rapana. Just 23 run metres in the first half, but nine tackles without a miss. Had 64 metres but two errors and two missed tackles in a mixed bag.
5. JORDAN RAPANA – 8
Rushed up off his wing to allow Coates to score in the corner in a poor defensive play. Made 32 run metres from four first half runs. Scored the match sealing try off a try assist from Savage’s head. Finished with 90 metres.
6. JACK WIGHTON – 9
Made the early break and set up the opening try to Matthew Timoko. Finished the first half with 52 run metres, a linebreak and a try assist. Set up a brilliant try to Hudson Young with a pinpoint grubber. His pass came off Savage’s head to set up the match sealer for Rapana. Had 66 metres, two try assists and a linebreak.
7. JAMAL FOGARTY – 7
Struggled to get into the game in the first half, but was solid with his kicking game. broke the game open with a brilliant solo try in the 32nd minute. had 13 run metres, a linebreak and a try in the first 40. Finished with 42 run metres, four tackle busts and a try.
8. JOSH PAPALII – 9
Led from the front with some strong charges and made plenty of tackles to set the tone for his side in defence. had 38 metres and 16 tackles without a miss in the first period. Finished with 167 metres and eight tackle busts to go with 23 tackles without a miss.
9. ZAC WOOLFORD – 6
Struggled to get his running game going early, but was solid defensively. Jumped out of dummyhalf to help create space for Whitehead’s try. Made 13 tackles without a miss in the first half. Had just two run metres, but 20 tackles without a miss.
10. JOSEPH TAPINE – 10
Set up the break from Jack Wighton that led to the first try. Made the most metres from any raiders player in the first half. Superb pass from a big man to put Whitehead over from close range. Produced a brilliant tackle on Smith to force a turnover, before setting up another break for Whitehead in a superb first half display. Ran for a whopping 126 metres in the first half, the most for any team. Had three linebreak assists in the first half alone. Finished with a match high 209 metres, three linebreak assists, a try assist and 28 tackles without a miss.
11. HUDSON YOUNG – 8
Limited touches in the first half, but did plenty of quality work in defence. Produced an excellent kick to force a restart late in the first half. 43 run metres and 11 tackles in the first 40. Scored a brilliant try to give the Raiders the lead with 14 minutes to play. Had 72 metres and 26 tackles.
12. ELLIOTT WHITEHEAD – 7
Struggled to get into the game with ball in hand, but did a mountain of defence in the first stanza. Charged over for a brilliant solo try to extend the Raiders lead before the break. 51 run metres and 18 tackles to go with his try in the first half. Had 75 metres and two linebreaks.
13. ADAM ELLIOTT – 6
Looked solid in defence with 19 tackles and made 33 run metres, before he came from the field with a hip injury and did not return.
14. TOM STARLING – 6
Came on in the second half and had limited opportunities. Finished with 25 metres and 15 tackles.
15. EMRE GULER – 7
Limited opportunities in the first half, but made an impact with ball in hand. Had 40 metres from six first half runs. Had 60 run metres, and 11 tackles at the finish.
16. COREY HORSBURGH – 8
Came on late in the first half and made an instant impact. Finished the first 40 with 53 metres from seven runs. A massive 104 run metres off the bench to go with 19 tackles.
17. COREY HARAWIRA-NAERA – 6
Did plenty of defensive work off the bench in the first half, but struggled to get his hands on the ball. Finished with 50 run metres, three offload and 10 tackles.
