Game Summary
The Canberra Raiders ended their winless start to the 2026 The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup season in emphatic fashion, demolishing the Melbourne Storm 48-12 in Round Seven at Seiffert Oval, Queanbeyan. Coming into the match with six straight losses, the Raiders were desperate for a breakthrough – and they delivered it in stunning style, racing to a 36-0 lead at half-time before adding further points in the second half.
The Raiders were on the board as early as the 10th minute when a sharp play-the-ball from Ethan Alaia set up a slick right-edge movement, with the ball finding Mark Tuialii who crossed for his second try of the season. Coby Black was clinical with the boot, slotting the conversion to make it 6-0.
Four minutes later, hooker Owen Pattie continued to pull the strings in the halves, bouncing out of dummy half and finding Jake Clydsdale, who extended a long arm and planted the ball under the posts. Black converted again to stretch the lead to 12-0.
The Raiders did not let up. Chevy Stewart added a third try in the 17th minute after a sustained possession period, capitalising on patient build-up play orchestrated by Pattie. Black's conversion made it 18-0.
Alaia crossed for his double in the 20th minute after Black spotted a gap at the back of a ruck and darted through. With Alaia on his hip to complete the play, the score read 24-0, and the Storm had barely seen the football. Vena Patuki-Case then barged over for his first try of the season in the 28th minute, and Pattie was magnificent again, steering the Raiders through multiple phases before the ball was sent short to Patuki-Case. Another Black conversion made it 30-0.
The Raiders continued to press before half-time. Roman Tuaimau – 18-year-old Australian schoolboy representative – crossed for his first NSW Cup try after a well-worked left-edge play, courtesy of another slick Pattie offload. A 40-20 kick from Pattie in the final minutes opened up the field further in the lead up to the try. Black converted to send the Raiders to the sheds ahead 36-0.
The second half began in similar fashion. The Storm had limited ball and struggled to build any momentum against an organised Raiders defence. It took 17 minutes before the Raiders next struck, with Alaia producing a precise grubber kick for Sione Finau to chase down and score in the corner. Black converted his seventh to push the lead to 42-0.
The Storm finally got on the board through prop Davvy Moale, who powered over from close range, with Trent Toelau converting. They added a second through Declan Casey, who poached a loose ball, with Toelau again converting. However, it was too little too late. Savelio Tamale then crossed off another Alaia grubber, and Black booted his eighth conversion. The Raiders ran out 48-12 winners in a result that will give Canberra enormous confidence moving forward.
Talking Points
- Owen Pattie was the standout performer, directing traffic from dummy half all afternoon with his running game, short passing and the outstanding 40-20 kick late in the first half. He was unlucky not to score a late try himself, just falling into touch on the stretch.
- Coby Black was perfect from the tee, converting all eight conversion attempts to finish the day eight from eight. It was a flawless display of goal kicking under no pressure, but a reflection of his composure throughout.
- Jake Clydsdale was a massive threat to the Storm in the early stages, clocking up big metres and scoring a try. His strong carries off restarts set a tone that the Melbourne Storm pack could not match.
- Chevy Stewart was the metre-eater the Raiders needed, averaging 138 run metres per game this season. His third try of the year underscored his ability to find the try-line from short-side opportunities.
- The Melbourne Storm came into the match with momentum from a 32-24 victory over the Warriors in Round Six but were unable to replicate that form. Their only opportunities with the ball came from poor Raiders kicks and restart receptions deep in their own territory.
Key Moment
Owen Pattie’s 40-20 kick in the final five minutes of the first half summed up the Raiders' dominance. With the score already 36-0, Pattie spotted space out of dummy half, took off himself and slotted a perfectly weighted kick from inside his own half that travelled and bounced into touch inside the Storm's 20-metre line. It set up the position from which Roman Tuaimau crossed for his maiden NSW Cup try, capping a dominant first-half performance.
What's Next?
The Canberra Raiders will be looking to build on this result in Round Eight as they look to climb off the bottom of the NSW Cup ladder when they face the Western Suburbs Magpies next Saturday. The Melbourne Storm must regroup quickly ahead of their next assignment, taking on the Rabbitohs on Friday afternoon.
