2021 SG Ball Grand Final: Canberra Raiders V Illawarra Steelers

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2021 SG Ball Grand Final: Canberra Raiders V Illawarra Steelers

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2020 SG Ball Grand Final: Canberra Raiders V Illawarra Steelers

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Canberra Raiders V Illawarra Steelers
Saturday 1 May, 3:00pm
Leichhardt Oval
On line broadcast: NSWRL TV via the NSWRL Facebook page



Canberra Raiders

1. Jack Sandford 2. Xavier Savage 3. Deakin Bright 4. Josh Billing 5. Michael Asomua 6. Mitchell Spencer 7. Sione Moala 8. Loghan Lewis 9. Toby Thorburn 23. Caleb Esera 11. Noah Saddler 12. Clay Webb 13. Trey Mooney

14. Connor Williams 15. Blake Martin 16. Mitchell Prest 21. Wilson Hamblin

22. Joshua Pokoney

Illawarra Steelers

1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Alexander Lobb 3. Benjamin Lavender 4. Brandon Morkos 5. Cooper Roberts 6. Junior Amone 7. Tyrone Roberts 8. Bryce Magnone 9. Riley Wooden 17. Trent Griffiths 11. Jackson Shereb 12. Travis Barrett-Hancock 13. Joshua Coric

10. Thomas Phillips 15. Trey Barlow 16. Jack Owens 18. Syddarys Cassidy

14. Viliami Mahe


AT A GLANCE:

Last week: The Canberra Raiders have qualified for the SG Ball Grand Final, defeating the Manly Sea Eagles, 20-18, in an epic at Leichhardt Oval. The Raiders started fast, scoring three tries in the opening 10 minutes. The speed of Xavier Savage was on full display, with the Raiders going wide early, and making big inroads. Tries to prop Caleb Esera, hooker Toby Thorburn and centre Deakin Bright produced an 18-0 lead.

The Sea Eagles fought their way back into the match - producing some questionable niggling and strong arm tactics. Half Sione Moala was hit late and then high in the first half - with the second incident, in the 25th minute, forcing him from the field for an HIA. Manly lock Siua Fotu was sin binned for the high shot - and the ensuing penalty goal for the Raiders from Mitchell Spencer would later prove crucial.

Sea Eagles hooker Daniel O'Donnell got a double in the first half - with his second try coming just before the break, while Fotu was in the bin. The Raiders led by 20-12 at half time - and almost all they would do in the second half was defend, desperately. Manly fullback Kaeo Weekes scored in the 38th minute - reducing the gap to just two points. But they simply couldn't breach the Raiders' line after that. The Green Machine's defence was simply superb.

VIDEO: SG Ball Semi Final highlights: https://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2021/04/2 ... ighlights/

VIDEO: Raiders belt out team song: https://www.raiders.com.au/news/2021/04 ... final-win/

This week: The Raiders now meet the Illawarra Steelers in the Grand Final. The Steelers finished the regular season in sixth, but they beat the No. 1 team, the Sydney Roosters, 42-32, on Saturday to qualify for the decider. The Steelers had a 5 and 2 record in the regular season - plus they had one draw. They started the year with losses to the Roosters (28-16) at Mascot and the Raiders (36-10) at Kippax. They have been undefeated since, and are on a seven game winning streak. The Raiders finished the season with a six and two record - and have a LLWWW form line in their past five games. Canberra opened the season with a five game winning streak, but suffered a late season dip - in part due to disruptions to the line up. They are now close to full strength.

Illawarra had a slightly better defensive record than the Raiders in the regular season, conceding 20 points per game, compared with 21 conceded by Canberra. However, the Raiders just shaded the Steelers in attack (37 points scored per game, compared with 34 for Illawarra).

During their finals matches, the Raiders defeated the fifth placed Bulldogs and the second placed Sea Eagles, while the Steelers have had tougher road - beating the third placed Rabbitohs and the minor premiers, the Roosters.





The Canberra Raiders have won the SG Ball premiership three times. They beat the Panthers 36-6 in the 1995 Grand Final; the Eels, 16-4 in 2003; and the Steelers, 34-12, in 2005. The Steelers have also won the premiership three times - in 1989, 1996 and most recently in 2019.

Canberra last made the Grand Final back in 2012, fielding a team that featured a young Anthony Milford at half, Brenko Lee at centre and Patrick Mago at lock. Matt Frawley is the only current Raider that was in that squad - named at No. 19. They were defeated, 42-20, by a Balmain Tigers outfit captained by Mitchell Moses, and featuring Manaia Cherrington at hooker. There are only half a dozen players who played in the match, who became first graders. It tells us a lot about how tough it is to make it to the NRL.

But next Saturday marks an important day in the rugby league careers of 34 young players. History has its eyes on you.

Team news: Canberra Raiders coach Ash Barnes has named an unchanged line up to the one that beat the Sea Eagles. The Steelers have added Jack Owens to the bench, with Viliame Mahe becoming 18th man.
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Re: 2021 SG Ball Grand Final: Canberra Raiders V Illawarra Steelers

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Grand final confirmed at Leichhardt Oval. 3pm Saturday.
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Re: 2021 SG Ball Grand Final: Canberra Raiders V Illawarra Steelers

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Re: 2021 SG Ball Grand Final: Canberra Raiders V Illawarra Steelers

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any highlights from the prelim?

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Re: 2021 SG Ball Grand Final: Canberra Raiders V Illawarra Steelers

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bonehead wrote: April 28, 2021, 11:05 am any highlights from the prelim?

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No package yet, but you can watch the whole game on NSWRL TV on the NSWRL Facebook page. It is worth watching.
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bonehead wrote: April 28, 2021, 11:05 am any highlights from the prelim?

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SG Ball Semi Final highlights: https://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2021/04/2 ... ighlights/
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Re: 2021 SG Ball Grand Final: Canberra Raiders V Illawarra Steelers

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Need to be getting Savage a multi-year deal to see him into first grade.
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Re: 2021 SG Ball Grand Final: Canberra Raiders V Illawarra Steelers

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Re: 2021 SG Ball Grand Final: Canberra Raiders V Illawarra Steelers

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SG Ball Grand Final Preview

Naming the same 17 men for Saturday's SG Ball Grand Final is a huge advantage for the young Raiders in coach Ash Barnes’ eyes.

“We’re rolling in being able to name the same 17 for the fourth week in a row, so the combinations and consistency are all starting to build. They’re starting to be confident around their ability as individuals because they’ve all been able to exhibit the things that we want as a Raider.”

Read more: https://www.raiders.com.au/news/2021/04 ... l-preview/
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Re: 2021 SG Ball Grand Final: Canberra Raiders V Illawarra Steelers

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The Raiders website has us winning in 2003.

"It was a highly-successful season for the club, taking out both the SG Ball and Premier League titles and coming within a whisker of knocking Parramatta off their perch as NSWRL Club Champions since 1997."

https://www.raiders.com.au/about/raider ... 2003-2011/
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Re: 2021 SG Ball Grand Final: Canberra Raiders V Illawarra Steelers

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Any story behind Esera wearing 23? only one big enough?

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Re: 2021 SG Ball Grand Final: Canberra Raiders V Illawarra Steelers

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Canberra Raiders juniors aim to end season of adversity with premiership

Ashley Barnes has praised the resilience of his SG Ball squad, which has overcome the early-season sacking of four players to advance to Saturday's grand final against the Illawarra Steelers.

"This group has shown a lot of resilience and toughness to be able to deal with distractions that have gone on and also just sharpen their focus on what's most important."

Read more: https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/ ... /?cs=14239
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Re: 2021 SG Ball Grand Final: Canberra Raiders V Illawarra Steelers

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bonehead wrote: April 29, 2021, 6:43 pm Any story behind Esera wearing 23? only one big enough?

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Yeah I think so.
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Re: 2021 SG Ball Grand Final: Canberra Raiders V Illawarra Steelers

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We should pay tribute to Ash Barnes.

His coaching record the last 4 years

2018 - Woden Rams Premiership coach
2019 - Raiders Jersey Flegg grand final
2020 - Raiders u20 Canberra Cup premiers
2021 - SG Ball GF and hopefully premiers

It is reasonable to say that the local comp last year was very weak and it is reasonable to say the Raiders have a massive advantage in SG Ball in that we are the only club not playing their best 19 year olds in Jersey Flegg, but you can only coach against the opposition you are given and Barnes has achieved every time.
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Re: 2021 SG Ball Grand Final: Canberra Raiders V Illawarra Steelers

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Is the only way to watch this through Facebook?
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hobbsy wrote: April 30, 2021, 6:32 pm Is the only way to watch this through Facebook?
Believe so.
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Re: 2021 SG Ball Grand Final: Canberra Raiders V Illawarra Steelers

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greeneyed wrote: April 30, 2021, 6:37 pm
hobbsy wrote: April 30, 2021, 6:32 pm Is the only way to watch this through Facebook?
Believe so.
But I don’t believe you have to have a Facebook account to watch.

I think if you go to this page you will be able to watch.

https://www.facebook.com/NSWRL/?hc_ref= ... _tn__=kC-R
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Re: 2021 SG Ball Grand Final: Canberra Raiders V Illawarra Steelers

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Bay53 wrote: April 30, 2021, 9:05 pm
greeneyed wrote: April 30, 2021, 6:37 pm
hobbsy wrote: April 30, 2021, 6:32 pm Is the only way to watch this through Facebook?
Believe so.
But I don’t believe you have to have a Facebook account to watch.

I think if you go to this page you will be able to watch.

https://www.facebook.com/NSWRL/?hc_ref= ... _tn__=kC-R
Beautiful. I deactivated my Facebook a couple months ago.

Looking forward to this!
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Re: 2021 SG Ball Grand Final: Canberra Raiders V Illawarra Steelers

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hobbsy wrote:
Bay53 wrote: April 30, 2021, 9:05 pm
greeneyed wrote: April 30, 2021, 6:37 pm
hobbsy wrote: April 30, 2021, 6:32 pm Is the only way to watch this through Facebook?
Believe so.
But I don’t believe you have to have a Facebook account to watch.

I think if you go to this page you will be able to watch.

https://www.facebook.com/NSWRL/?hc_ref= ... _tn__=kC-R
Beautiful. I deactivated my Facebook a couple months ago.

Looking forward to this!
I created an incognito account with no friends just for the business pages and fb only content

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Re: 2021 SG Ball Grand Final: Canberra Raiders V Illawarra Steelers

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Welcome to our coverage of this afternoon’s SG Ball Grand Final! Canberra Raiders V Illawarra Steelers from Leichhardt Oval. Watch the live stream on the NSWRL Facebook page if you’re unable to get to the ground.

We will have live scores from 3pm right here.

Light shower here at the ground... mostly fine.
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Re: 2021 SG Ball Grand Final: Canberra Raiders V Illawarra Steelers

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The Raiders are 1-17. Here are the final line ups:

Canberra Raiders

1. Jack Sandford 2. Xavier Savage 3. Deakin Bright 4. Josh Billing 5. Michael Asomua 6. Mitchell Spencer 7. Sione Moala 8. Loghan Lewis 9. Toby Thorburn 23. Caleb Esera 11. Noah Saddler 12. Clay Webb 13. Trey Mooney

14. Connor Williams 15. Blake Martin 16. Mitchell Prest 21. Wilson Hamblin

22. Joshua Pokoney

Illawarra Steelers

1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Alexander Lobb 3. Benjamin Lavender 4. Brandon Morkos 5. Cooper Roberts 6. Junior Amone 15. Trey Barlow 8. Bryce Magnone 9. Riley Wooden 17. Trent Griffiths 11. Jackson Shereb 12. Travis Barrett-Hancock 13. Joshua Coric

10. Thomas Phillips 14. Viliami Mahe 16. Jack Owens 18. Syddarys Cassidy

19. Dilan Asanoski
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Re: 2021 SG Ball Grand Final: Canberra Raiders V Illawarra Steelers

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Is Thorburn a local lad?
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gergreg wrote: May 1, 2021, 2:14 pm Is Thorburn a local lad?
From Mackay.
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Re: 2021 SG Ball Grand Final: Canberra Raiders V Illawarra Steelers

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Steelers kick off, we are underway!
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Re: 2021 SG Ball Grand Final: Canberra Raiders V Illawarra Steelers

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Who are we keeping an eye on today??
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Re: 2021 SG Ball Grand Final: Canberra Raiders V Illawarra Steelers

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5th min RAIDERS ERROR Jack Sandford in the red zone. Followed a forced line drop out on the Steelers.
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9th min Raiders get a seven tackle set. Steelers kick too long. But now the Steelers take the Raiders over the sideline on their own 40m line.
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12th min TRY RAIDERS to Caleb Esera. He’s been on fire in attack and defence, some great offloads. He just crashes through from short range. Mitchell Spencer converts from close to the posts.

Raiders 6-0
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Re: 2021 SG Ball Grand Final: Canberra Raiders V Illawarra Steelers

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Man Esera and Mooney look the goods
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Asomua with some strong runs also
Last edited by Raiders666 on May 1, 2021, 3:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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18th min Raiders looking dangerous but Asomua can’t take the Billing pass. Almost a try.
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19th min TRY STEELERS out wide to Brandon Morkos. No conversion. Bit of a defensive error out wide for the Raiders.

Raiders 6-4
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11 to half time TRY RAIDERS to halfback Sione Moala. Great individual run. The Raiders did well to force the error from the Steelers while they attempted a bomb defusal. Mitchell Spencer converts.

Raiders 12-4
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Anyone else receiving live stream errors on Fb?
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Re: 2021 SG Ball Grand Final: Canberra Raiders V Illawarra Steelers

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Esera and Mooney going great guns, but so is Webb. What a fend then from Esera.
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