Hear from Ricky Stuart and Joe Tapine following the Raiders tight win over the Tigers on Friday night….
Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart and co-captain Joe Tapine shared their thoughts after the Raiders edged out the Wests Tigers in a nail-biting 20-18 victory on Friday night at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.
Stuart praised his team’s resilience under pressure, especially in the final minutes as the Tigers mounted a strong comeback. “It wasn’t perfect, but we showed real grit tonight,” Stuart said. “That’s what I love about this group – they fight for every inch. We needed that win, and we earned it.”
Joe Tapine, who delivered a standout performance in the middle, acknowledged the team’s lapses but was proud of how they held on. “We let them back into it a bit, but credit to the boys for sticking solid,” Tapine said. “Wins like this build character. We know we’ve got areas to fix, but it feels good to grind out a result.”
The Raiders’ defensive line was tested throughout the second half, but key efforts from Tapine and Jack Wighton helped hold off the fast-finishing Tigers. With the win, Canberra keeps their finals hopes alive and will look to carry momentum into next week’s clash.
“We’re far from done,” Stuart concluded. “This was just one of many steps.”
