Raiders win grand final

Way to go Raiders U20s!!!!

Dugan had a great game, as did Michael Picker. Overall, we made a truckload of handling errors but still managed to stay close on the scoreboard. Our defence was good, and we just managed to outplay them in the end.

Bigfeet, if you think the kicking in overtime in that game was bad, you should have seen the Wentworthville v Newtown Jets game shown just before it. The played for over 100 minutes, they were out on their feet, and their kicks were almost hilariously bad.

It was interesting to see the difference in refereeing errors between the U20s game and the first grade. Both were good games with deserving winners, but they showed a stark contrast between having a video ref and not having one.

It was a great win, and an entertaining game. I thought Manly against the Storm was tight for the first twenty minutes but after that it was all Manly. The under 20s by comparison was close and free flowing from both sides and enjoyable to watch.

I wonder how the step up from under 20s to first grade is going to work. There are some talented young raiders players, but surely we need an intermediate step (say reserve grade) before blooding some of these boys in first grade?

Anyway, let’s hope this gives the basis for a strong green machine in years to come.

Well done the CFMEU Raiders.

Dugan, Picker and Waddell were all outstanding. A lot of those boys have a great future ahead of them. And they handled the pressure of finals football very well. I suspect we were a tiny bit lucky that the pass leading to the final try wasn’t called forward. But who cares – that’s football and Mick Picker had a clear try disallowed early in the first half.

And it was good attacking play that won this game. The attempts to ‘golden point’ by field goal were atrocious.

When a game goes into extra time it should be the most exciting and intense play you have seen, with both teams trying to get over the line

Not just manoeuvring to get within a field goal distance.

Well done lads, keep it going in ’09.

They should have a penalty shoot out.

They deserved the win. In the second half they played all over the Broncos.

That bloody golden point though, its so nerve racking. Basically every set of tackles, the attacking side gets within range and gives it a go. Luckily in this game no one could kick a goal (some of the worst field goal kicking I have ever seen).

It should be 5 mins each way and at the end of that ten mins,if it is still a draw,then maybe golden point could be considered.

They played sooo well. It really looked for a while after half time that the Broncos had their measure but they just lifted a notch to draw level. There some amazing individual performances. The boy Dugan can play. In a topsy turvy year for the Raiders it really gave us something to cheer about right at the end.