Two field goals from Clinton Schifcofske exacted revenge for the Canberra Raiders today when his side grabbed an extra time 30-29 National Rugby League (NRL) victory over the New Zealand Warriors at Canberra Stadium.
It was a particularly sweet moment for the Raiders after they were eliminated from last year's playoffs
by a field goal by Warriors halfback Stacey Jones.
The Warriors were less than two minutes away from climbing from the foot of the NRL standings today after Jones potted a 35m field goal to give his side a 29-28 lead and silence a partisan crowd.
However, the Raiders stormed downfield after regaining possession from a short restart, paving the way for Schifcofske to send the game into overtime with his own field goal.
Then, barely 90 seconds into sudden death, Schifcofske repeated the feat, this time from 30m out.
Canberra coach Matthew Elliot had feared the worst when Jones had earned the Warriors a one-point buffer with time ticking down.
"You couldn't help but think it was deja vu," Elliott admitted after the Raiders won their first game via a golden point.
The Raiders finished strongly to overhaul a 10-point deficit inside the last 11 minutes, through Matt Gafa, who scored three tries, and wing Nathan Smith, who bagged two.
An inability to stop the Raiders' making easy yards up the middle of the field proved fatal for the Warriors as Canberra got into field goal range with relative ease on both occasions.
Warriors coach Tony Kemp said he never felt comfortable despite Jones' strike.
"At no time did I think the game was in the bag. They showed a lot of guts to come back," Kemp said.
Nor did Jones believe his field goal would be the final act of a pulsating match.
"The short kickoffs got us and they were able to get into field position. It's disappointing to lose like that but we have to move on."
The standard of refereeing will again be put under the microscope, with the Warriors and Canberra both querying the officiating of Tim Mander and his match officials.
The Warriors were denied what looked to be a legitimate try in the 27th minute after video referee Steve Carrall said Awen Guttenbeil obstructed Jason Croker as Jones did a double round with Karl Temata.
Matt Gafa scored from the resulting penalty as the Raiders swept downfield.
"I'd like to look at it again but I thought it was a well worked and fair try," Kemp said.
"I'll look at it again about 20 times and decide whether to speak with Rob (NRL referees boss Robert Finch) later in the week."
The double blow failed to buckle the Warriors, who scored two sublime tries in the final six minutes of the first half to lead 16-12 at the interval.
Richard Villasanti looked to have butchered a certain try when he ignored an unmarked Francis Meli on his outside after a 20m bust.
His error was forgotten one minute later when Meli stretched out in the corner after grabbing a basketball-style pass from Sione Faumuina.
The Warriors struck again when Jerome Ropati's angled run carried him over the tryline after a smart inside ball from Brent Webb.
Despite making a handling error immediately after the restart the Warriors continued their momentum when Iafeta Paleaaesina scored under the crossbar in the 47th minute although there was a question mark over a pass from Vinnie Anderson to Ropati in the build up.
"There were some strange decisions out there -- to put it mildly," Raiders captain Simon Woolford said after the game.
Canberra shrugged off the setback and scored through Smith four minutes later when a counter attack saw the wing crash through the attempted tackles of Webb and Faumuina.
Jones then stepped up, capitalising from his own pinpoint bomb in the 62nd minute. Francis Meli batted the ball down to Faumuina, who hurled a lineout throw-style pass to Jones, who went over untouched.
Canberra then timed their run perfectly to erase the 10-point deficit.
"I wouldn't say it was a fantastic performance but it was great just to get the result. I think my pacemaker needs a new battery," Elliott said.
Kemp put a brave face on his team's loss.
"I thought we did enough to win," Kemp said.
" I'm proud of the blokes. I still think we've played some decent footy over the past month."
He was forced to rejig his pre-game line up when centres Clinton Toopi and Tony Martin were ruled out because of leg injuries.
Original hooker Louis Anderson moved to the centres with Faumuina while Lance Hohaia filled in at dummy half.
Herewini Rangi was also given a few minutes on the field to mark his first-grade debut.
Webb, who scored the Warriors' opening try after a barnstorming run by Paleaaesina in the 12th minute, was placed on report by Mander for twice going high when attempting to tackle Raiders prop Michael Weyman 13 minutes from fulltime.
The Warriors have a bye next weekend before facing Brisbane in Auckland in round 22.
- NZPA
Warriors draw and results - 2004 NRL
Other NRL fixtures and points table
Two field goals from Clinton Schifcofske exacted revenge for the Canberra Raiders today when his side grabbed an extra time 30-29 National Rugby League (NRL) victory over the New Zealand Warriors at Canberra Stadium.
It was a particularly sweet moment for the Raiders after they were eliminated from last year's playoffs
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