Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has received significant acclaim for his handling of winger Savelio Tamale, who made a puzzling decision during a recent match. With just eleven minutes left in the first half and the Raiders leading 6-4, Tamale picked up a loose ball near the halfway line and sprinted towards the try line. Despite having ample speed, he inexplicably halted just short of scoring, allowing Rabbitohs player Cody Walker to tackle him. Although Tamale managed to ground the ball, Walker expressed his frustration by punching it out.
Commentary from Fox League highlighted the bafflement surrounding Tamale’s actions, questioning whether his decision was due to an injury. Stuart, reacting from the sidelines, swiftly called Tamale over for a stern talking-to, which many regarded as a prime example of effective coaching. Raiders players, including Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, praised Stuart’s feedback, while Cooper Cronk dismissed Tamale’s actions as mere “show-offmanship.”
Despite the moment of individual folly, the Raiders continued to dominate the half, with players Kaeo Weekes and Hudson Young contributing to a commanding 24-4 lead by the break. The momentum shifted when South Sydney, rallying under the influence of coach Wayne Bennett during the halftime break, saw Cody Walker, Jamie Humphreys, and Latrell Mitchell score successive tries, narrowing the deficit to 24-22 early in the second half.
As the game unfolded, the Raiders initially responded to the Rabbitohs’ resurgence with further scores from Weekes and Ethan Strange. However, the Rabbitohs persisted, with Alex Johnston and Jack Wighton bringing the scores to a nail-biting 36-34 in favour of the Raiders.
The match concluded dramatically, with the Rabbitohs nearly equalising during a final play in which Mitchell kicked towards Johnston in the corner. Unfortunately for South Sydney, Johnston couldn’t secure the ball cleanly, ensuring a narrow victory for the Raiders. The match was not without its casualties, as Jye Gray from the Rabbitohs left the field in the first half with an AC joint injury and was later seen wearing a sling.