NRL: Late Eels comeback denies Raiders first victory

NRL
Eels18
Raiders16

Big winger Eric Grothe scored two tries to inspire the Eels to a hard-earned win over the Canberra Raiders at Parramatta Stadium last night.

It was the Eels' second win in three games but the Raiders remain winless after leading until 10 minutes from the end in a match which had a grandstand finish.

The Eels went into the game buoyed by last week's gritty 14-8 win over the Rabbitohs, while the Raiders were intent on avoiding their third consecutive defeat after losses to the West Tigers (26-34) and the Roosters (4-28).

It was a special occasion for halfback Brett Finch, playing his 50th game for the Eels against the club where his 214-game first grade career began 10 years ago.

Captain and back rower Alan Tongue was a late injury withdrawal for the Raiders. His place was taken by Trevor Thurling, while Terry Campese took over the leadership.

But the Raiders began strongly and their territorial advantage was rewarded with a try after 11 minutes when centre Joel Monaghan took a pass from Campese and burst through some ineffective tackling. Campese goaled and the Raiders led 6-0.

The Raiders were reduced to 12 men when fullback David Milne was sin-binned and the Eels capitalised after 23 minutes, Grothe capitalising on an overlap to score a straightforward try. Luke Burt's kick rebounded off an upright.

The Raiders, who showed more intensity and had 59 per cent of possession, deserved their 6-4 halftime lead, though both sides were guilty of basic errors.

The Eels' main cause for cheer was the workrate of Nathan Hindmarsh, who topped the tackle count in an impressive defensive display.

It was the Raiders who again struck first in the second spell, centre Jarrod Croker getting the ball on the sixth tackle and taking two defenders with him as he surged to the line to increase the lead to 10-4.

The Raiders stretched their lead 16 minutes into the half when second rower Joe Picker ran on to a pass from Campese and burst over. Campese goaled and it was 16-4.

But five minutes later the Eels were back in the game when five-eighth Jarryd Hayne intercepted and sprinted 90m for a try. Burt's sideline conversion reduced the deficit to 16-10.

The Eels narrowed the gap to two points 10 minutes from the end, Krisnan Inu scoring from a deftly-weighted kick on the last tackle by Finch.

Two minutes later, the Eels took the lead for the first time, 18-16, when Grothe powered over from short range, taking three defenders with him.

Eels 18 (E. Grothe 2, J. Hayne, K. Inu tries, L. Burt 1 goal) Raiders 16 (J. Monaghan, J. Croker, J. Picker tries, T. Campese 2 goals). Halftime: Raiders 6-4.