Raiders demolish timid Tigers

v BYE

The Canberra Raiders have capitalized on a timid Wests Tigers outfit to post a 60-6 victory in front of 13420 fans at GIO Stadium tonight.

After the Raiders big forwards and outside backs laid a solid platform early, Dally M leader Josh Hodgson took full advantage putting his fellow countryman Elliot Whitehead over in the 4th minute with a simple play. Captain Jarrod Croker converted to give his team an early 6-0 lead.

It wouldn't be long before Hodgson was at it again, capitalizing on some poor goal-line defence from the Tigers to put big prop Shannon Boyd under the sticks one off the ruck. Croker made no mistake with the extras to give his team a 12-0 lead after 10 minutes.

Given an opportunity to attack, the Tigers hit back when back-rower Chris Lawrence stormed onto a short ball from halfback Luke Brooks to score in the 16th minute. Winger Jordan Rankin converted to get his team back within six.

The try was a rare first half highlight though and the Raiders would regain the ascendancy again ten minutes later with a try to winger Jordan Rapana. Hodgson was again the orchestrator catching the Tigers outside men napping to send his winger over. Croker converted from the sideline to give his team an 18-6 lead.

In the dying stages of the opening half, Rapana would complete a first half double after Hodgson made a half break behind the ruck before offloading to centre Joey Leilua to burst through and set up his winger, giving the Raiders a commanding 22-6 lead heading into the sheds.

If Tigers fans thought the first half was bad, they should have turned away there and then because the second was about to get a whole lot worse with the home team running in 38 unanswered points to send the staff out Concord way scrambling for the tackling bags ready for training next week.

Jarrod Croker, Paul Vaughan, Aidan Sezer and Joey Leilua with a double all cashed in with second half tries, but it was Jordan Rapana, one of the stars of the night who captured everyone's attention with another two tries to go with his opening half double taking his tally to four for the match.

Next week, the Raiders will head to Carrington Park, Bathurst to tackle the Penrith Panthers on Saturday afternoon, whilst the Tigers will have a short turnaround before they look to erase the memories of tonight when they battle the South Sydney Rabbitohs at ANZ Stadium on Thursday night.