Former sevens star locked in for NRL debut
Dragons coach Shane Flanagan has confirmed former sevens star Nathan Lawson will make his NRL debut for the club on Friday night after try-scoring machine Christian Tuipulotu was ruled out.
Tuipulotu scored seven tries in five matches but hasn't played since the round 6 win over the Titans when he came off with a hamstring injury having already crossed for a double.
The left winger was named to make his return in Friday's match against the Knights, but the club has decided to play it safe, with Tuipulotu expected to come back next week against the Dolphins.
'CT is very close,' Flanagan said.
'We could have pushed him if it was a semi-final or something like that. With his history, we told him he was playing all week and we'd get him to the start line, and then we were always going to pull him at the last minute because he's had that hamstring that has caused a few problems.
'Our staff thought it would be better off if he had a really good training week and then get him ready for next week.'
The late change has opened the door for Lawson to make his NRL debut after joining the Dragons in the off-season following a decorated sevens career.
Lawson went to two Olympics with the Australian side and scored a stack of tries for the national team, with the recruit doing well in his eight games in reserve grade where he scored a hat-trick against Manly last month.
'It was interesting with the presentation with his dad and his partner this morning that we presented a jersey to a bloke that's been to two Olympics and represented Australia numerous times,' Flanagan said.
'I think he's had 25 Test matches and he's been player of the year, so it was interesting that it's a reverse cycle that he's making his debut now in a different code.
'He's really excited about it and I'm really looking forward to him playing.
'One thing I know is that he'll compete really hard.'
Maroons winger Valentine Holmes is set to play just 48 hours after the State of Origin opener, with the Dragons looking to build on their fantastic win over the Broncos before last week's bye.
The Red V sit just outside the top eight but have the chance to move up the ladder during the Origin period where they'll be close to full strength.
'Every game is important, but in this period during Origin, some sides have different issues with a few players away,' their coach said.
'We're not disrupted, so (we have) to keep it simple, prepare well and make sure we're ready to play during this period.
'After the Origin period, it's just a race to the finals. If you get this period right then you put yourself in with a chance.'
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The big 'challenge' the Matildas are a step closer to overcoming
Friday night made it clear why Tom Sermanni was brought in to lead the Matildas for a third time, with a fairytale debut giving hope that the team can overcome the biggest challenge of their next chapter. His special skill of bringing in new talent and ensuring they prosper when they make the jump was on full display at Marvel Stadium in Australia's 2-0 victory over Argentina. Since Sermanni took back over in September 2024, nine players have made their debut for the Tillies. The latest was Kahli Johnson, who earned her debut in Melbourne and a starting XI spot in her first national team camp. Her impact was immediate, giving hope of what to expect from the next generation in the green and gold. "It feels great when you see a young player coming into the team and you can get them on the field, and particularly then get them on the field and start them," Sermanni said. "It makes it even better when you see how well Kahli played. She fulfilled what I saw of her as a player prior to coming in, but also what she did in training, and she just really took that out onto the field." Below are the five things we learned about the team heading into game two in Canberra, including the return of a key trio. Johnson, who plys her trade in Canada's new league for Calgary, became Matilda no. 237 in front of more than 43,000 fans. The 21-year-old lined up at left wing, and it only took the newest member 38 minutes to etch her name into history as an Australian goalscorer. Charlotte Grant swung the ball into the area and found Johnson's head at the backpost. The Argentinians threw their hands up, but their offside calls fell on deaf ears. "I mean, if it doesn't get called, is it offside?" Johnson asked tongue-in-cheek post-match. "It was surreal. I just wanted to go out there and kind of show what I could do. Playing in a team like this, with these type of players, it gives you that confidence." Sermanni was adamant the Matildas' Champions League-winning trio would feature in game two. The Tillies' head coach confirmed Arsenal stars Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross "should be fit and ready to go" in the Bush Capital on Monday. "I anticipate them starting on Monday. They've had the holiday, they've had a week," Sermanni said with a smile. "We were fortunate ... the game went how we hoped it would go, and that allowed us to utilise other players and give game time to players that haven't had as much. "But Monday, we've got three key Arsenal players, and they'll be - barring any accident or injury - in the starting lineup." The trio was rested in game one after their entry into camp was delayed by their European victory over Barcelona. There was a glaring void in the next chapter of the Matildas' story after the historic Women's World Cup in 2023. The future-proofing of the squad's success was at risk of falling by the wayside due to the aging stars and the dependence on key personnel. Alarm bells began ringing, and a solution was not found under former coach Tony Gustavsson by Paris 2024. Cue Sermanni. More than a decade ago, he was identifying players like Catley, Alanna Kennedy, Emily van Egmond, and Sam Kerr. On Friday, his eagle-eyed skill of spotting the stars of tomorrow was on display again. "It shows what your players can do when they get an opportunity," Sermanni said. "It's one of the challenges in the national team, and I've said this probably numerous times, is to play for the present, but plan for the future, and it's getting that balance right. "It's becoming more and more difficult to do that, because you're limited with the amount of time you get your team together, as opposed to what it was in the past. So it's always a challenge to do that. "But if there's anything that I've noticed over the last nine or 10 months, is that some of those fringe players have started to become more comfortable in the environment, and that's given them more confidence. "And I think that their ability to mix in and not be overawed by bigger players is now more evident, and that helps them perform like we saw tonight with Kahli." Football Australia has not confirmed if Sermanni will remain on beyond this international window, but it is understood a permanent coaching solution is edging closer. It seems likely the two-game series against Argentina will be his last, with Friday's win marking his 150th game in charge across his three stints in the role. "It's been a real privilege for me to be able to come back and do what I have this spell with the Matildas," the interim Tillies coach said. "I've been extraordinarily lucky. I've had three spells with the team and if you could pick three spells to have, I would have picked the three that I had. "When the program started, basically from scratch, then the second time when we went into Asia from Oceania, and then this third time, when the team has just gone to a different level of support and recognition. So for me to come in now is just, it's kind of a wee bit extraordinary." Sermanni was given the task of future-proofing the squad ahead of next year's Asian Cup and beyond, and the 2-0 result made evident he has achieved that. The big question is, who will replace him? FA have remained tight-lipped about their options for the heading coaching role, but the leading candidate remains Lyon coach, Joe Montemurro. Johnson's inclusion in the starting XI helped to unlock the Tillies' front third through her connection with fellow forwards Kaitlyn Torpey and Holly McNamara. The side's movement off the ball and creativity in attack breathed new life into a squad that had struggled to create goalscoring opportunities without their big-name stars. Tottenham fullback Charlotte Grant's partnership with Johnson, Torpey and McNamara proved fruitful in the first half and showed what fans could come to expect from the next generation. Torpey eventually added the Matildas' second in the 69th minute, with a cross-turned-shot effort from out wide catching the Argentinian shotstopper Abigail Chaves by surprise. "If you look particularly at our second-half performance, I think we dominated the game and there were a lot of good passages of play," Sermanni said. "We maybe could have created a couple more better chances, which we didn't do. But generally, I thought, overall, our tempo in the second half was very good. "And when you consider the changes we've made, and when you consider the players that we started and put into the game, that was a very pleasing aspect of the performance." Friday night made it clear why Tom Sermanni was brought in to lead the Matildas for a third time, with a fairytale debut giving hope that the team can overcome the biggest challenge of their next chapter. His special skill of bringing in new talent and ensuring they prosper when they make the jump was on full display at Marvel Stadium in Australia's 2-0 victory over Argentina. Since Sermanni took back over in September 2024, nine players have made their debut for the Tillies. The latest was Kahli Johnson, who earned her debut in Melbourne and a starting XI spot in her first national team camp. Her impact was immediate, giving hope of what to expect from the next generation in the green and gold. "It feels great when you see a young player coming into the team and you can get them on the field, and particularly then get them on the field and start them," Sermanni said. "It makes it even better when you see how well Kahli played. She fulfilled what I saw of her as a player prior to coming in, but also what she did in training, and she just really took that out onto the field." Below are the five things we learned about the team heading into game two in Canberra, including the return of a key trio. Johnson, who plys her trade in Canada's new league for Calgary, became Matilda no. 237 in front of more than 43,000 fans. The 21-year-old lined up at left wing, and it only took the newest member 38 minutes to etch her name into history as an Australian goalscorer. Charlotte Grant swung the ball into the area and found Johnson's head at the backpost. The Argentinians threw their hands up, but their offside calls fell on deaf ears. "I mean, if it doesn't get called, is it offside?" Johnson asked tongue-in-cheek post-match. "It was surreal. I just wanted to go out there and kind of show what I could do. Playing in a team like this, with these type of players, it gives you that confidence." Sermanni was adamant the Matildas' Champions League-winning trio would feature in game two. The Tillies' head coach confirmed Arsenal stars Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross "should be fit and ready to go" in the Bush Capital on Monday. "I anticipate them starting on Monday. They've had the holiday, they've had a week," Sermanni said with a smile. "We were fortunate ... the game went how we hoped it would go, and that allowed us to utilise other players and give game time to players that haven't had as much. "But Monday, we've got three key Arsenal players, and they'll be - barring any accident or injury - in the starting lineup." The trio was rested in game one after their entry into camp was delayed by their European victory over Barcelona. There was a glaring void in the next chapter of the Matildas' story after the historic Women's World Cup in 2023. The future-proofing of the squad's success was at risk of falling by the wayside due to the aging stars and the dependence on key personnel. Alarm bells began ringing, and a solution was not found under former coach Tony Gustavsson by Paris 2024. Cue Sermanni. More than a decade ago, he was identifying players like Catley, Alanna Kennedy, Emily van Egmond, and Sam Kerr. On Friday, his eagle-eyed skill of spotting the stars of tomorrow was on display again. "It shows what your players can do when they get an opportunity," Sermanni said. "It's one of the challenges in the national team, and I've said this probably numerous times, is to play for the present, but plan for the future, and it's getting that balance right. "It's becoming more and more difficult to do that, because you're limited with the amount of time you get your team together, as opposed to what it was in the past. So it's always a challenge to do that. "But if there's anything that I've noticed over the last nine or 10 months, is that some of those fringe players have started to become more comfortable in the environment, and that's given them more confidence. "And I think that their ability to mix in and not be overawed by bigger players is now more evident, and that helps them perform like we saw tonight with Kahli." Football Australia has not confirmed if Sermanni will remain on beyond this international window, but it is understood a permanent coaching solution is edging closer. It seems likely the two-game series against Argentina will be his last, with Friday's win marking his 150th game in charge across his three stints in the role. "It's been a real privilege for me to be able to come back and do what I have this spell with the Matildas," the interim Tillies coach said. "I've been extraordinarily lucky. I've had three spells with the team and if you could pick three spells to have, I would have picked the three that I had. "When the program started, basically from scratch, then the second time when we went into Asia from Oceania, and then this third time, when the team has just gone to a different level of support and recognition. So for me to come in now is just, it's kind of a wee bit extraordinary." Sermanni was given the task of future-proofing the squad ahead of next year's Asian Cup and beyond, and the 2-0 result made evident he has achieved that. The big question is, who will replace him? FA have remained tight-lipped about their options for the heading coaching role, but the leading candidate remains Lyon coach, Joe Montemurro. Johnson's inclusion in the starting XI helped to unlock the Tillies' front third through her connection with fellow forwards Kaitlyn Torpey and Holly McNamara. The side's movement off the ball and creativity in attack breathed new life into a squad that had struggled to create goalscoring opportunities without their big-name stars. Tottenham fullback Charlotte Grant's partnership with Johnson, Torpey and McNamara proved fruitful in the first half and showed what fans could come to expect from the next generation. Torpey eventually added the Matildas' second in the 69th minute, with a cross-turned-shot effort from out wide catching the Argentinian shotstopper Abigail Chaves by surprise. "If you look particularly at our second-half performance, I think we dominated the game and there were a lot of good passages of play," Sermanni said. "We maybe could have created a couple more better chances, which we didn't do. But generally, I thought, overall, our tempo in the second half was very good. "And when you consider the changes we've made, and when you consider the players that we started and put into the game, that was a very pleasing aspect of the performance." Friday night made it clear why Tom Sermanni was brought in to lead the Matildas for a third time, with a fairytale debut giving hope that the team can overcome the biggest challenge of their next chapter. His special skill of bringing in new talent and ensuring they prosper when they make the jump was on full display at Marvel Stadium in Australia's 2-0 victory over Argentina. Since Sermanni took back over in September 2024, nine players have made their debut for the Tillies. The latest was Kahli Johnson, who earned her debut in Melbourne and a starting XI spot in her first national team camp. Her impact was immediate, giving hope of what to expect from the next generation in the green and gold. "It feels great when you see a young player coming into the team and you can get them on the field, and particularly then get them on the field and start them," Sermanni said. "It makes it even better when you see how well Kahli played. She fulfilled what I saw of her as a player prior to coming in, but also what she did in training, and she just really took that out onto the field." Below are the five things we learned about the team heading into game two in Canberra, including the return of a key trio. Johnson, who plys her trade in Canada's new league for Calgary, became Matilda no. 237 in front of more than 43,000 fans. The 21-year-old lined up at left wing, and it only took the newest member 38 minutes to etch her name into history as an Australian goalscorer. Charlotte Grant swung the ball into the area and found Johnson's head at the backpost. The Argentinians threw their hands up, but their offside calls fell on deaf ears. "I mean, if it doesn't get called, is it offside?" Johnson asked tongue-in-cheek post-match. "It was surreal. I just wanted to go out there and kind of show what I could do. Playing in a team like this, with these type of players, it gives you that confidence." Sermanni was adamant the Matildas' Champions League-winning trio would feature in game two. The Tillies' head coach confirmed Arsenal stars Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross "should be fit and ready to go" in the Bush Capital on Monday. "I anticipate them starting on Monday. They've had the holiday, they've had a week," Sermanni said with a smile. "We were fortunate ... the game went how we hoped it would go, and that allowed us to utilise other players and give game time to players that haven't had as much. "But Monday, we've got three key Arsenal players, and they'll be - barring any accident or injury - in the starting lineup." The trio was rested in game one after their entry into camp was delayed by their European victory over Barcelona. There was a glaring void in the next chapter of the Matildas' story after the historic Women's World Cup in 2023. The future-proofing of the squad's success was at risk of falling by the wayside due to the aging stars and the dependence on key personnel. Alarm bells began ringing, and a solution was not found under former coach Tony Gustavsson by Paris 2024. Cue Sermanni. More than a decade ago, he was identifying players like Catley, Alanna Kennedy, Emily van Egmond, and Sam Kerr. On Friday, his eagle-eyed skill of spotting the stars of tomorrow was on display again. "It shows what your players can do when they get an opportunity," Sermanni said. "It's one of the challenges in the national team, and I've said this probably numerous times, is to play for the present, but plan for the future, and it's getting that balance right. "It's becoming more and more difficult to do that, because you're limited with the amount of time you get your team together, as opposed to what it was in the past. So it's always a challenge to do that. "But if there's anything that I've noticed over the last nine or 10 months, is that some of those fringe players have started to become more comfortable in the environment, and that's given them more confidence. "And I think that their ability to mix in and not be overawed by bigger players is now more evident, and that helps them perform like we saw tonight with Kahli." Football Australia has not confirmed if Sermanni will remain on beyond this international window, but it is understood a permanent coaching solution is edging closer. It seems likely the two-game series against Argentina will be his last, with Friday's win marking his 150th game in charge across his three stints in the role. "It's been a real privilege for me to be able to come back and do what I have this spell with the Matildas," the interim Tillies coach said. "I've been extraordinarily lucky. I've had three spells with the team and if you could pick three spells to have, I would have picked the three that I had. "When the program started, basically from scratch, then the second time when we went into Asia from Oceania, and then this third time, when the team has just gone to a different level of support and recognition. So for me to come in now is just, it's kind of a wee bit extraordinary." Sermanni was given the task of future-proofing the squad ahead of next year's Asian Cup and beyond, and the 2-0 result made evident he has achieved that. The big question is, who will replace him? FA have remained tight-lipped about their options for the heading coaching role, but the leading candidate remains Lyon coach, Joe Montemurro. Johnson's inclusion in the starting XI helped to unlock the Tillies' front third through her connection with fellow forwards Kaitlyn Torpey and Holly McNamara. The side's movement off the ball and creativity in attack breathed new life into a squad that had struggled to create goalscoring opportunities without their big-name stars. Tottenham fullback Charlotte Grant's partnership with Johnson, Torpey and McNamara proved fruitful in the first half and showed what fans could come to expect from the next generation. Torpey eventually added the Matildas' second in the 69th minute, with a cross-turned-shot effort from out wide catching the Argentinian shotstopper Abigail Chaves by surprise. "If you look particularly at our second-half performance, I think we dominated the game and there were a lot of good passages of play," Sermanni said. "We maybe could have created a couple more better chances, which we didn't do. But generally, I thought, overall, our tempo in the second half was very good. "And when you consider the changes we've made, and when you consider the players that we started and put into the game, that was a very pleasing aspect of the performance."
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O'Brien defends Ponga resting as Dragons down Knights
Adam O'Brien says he overruled Kalyn Ponga and sat Newcastle's captain out of their 20-6 NRL loss at the hands of St George Illawarra for his own good. O'Brien said he took the decision out of Ponga's hands after the Knights fullback played for Queensland in the State of Origin opener on Wednesday. The Newcastle captain has been carrying an ankle ailment for the past three weeks and was ruled out of Friday's game at Jubilee Oval an hour before kick-off. Without their captain, Newcastle lacked spark and they didn't cross the line until the 70th minute when edge forward Kai Pearce-Paul crashed over, as Clint Gutherson led the Dragons to a comprehensive victory. "He was doing everything he could (to play), I took the decision away from him because it's the right thing to do," O'Brien said of Ponga. "It's the type of injury that takes a few days to settle down. Two days is not enough. "He's disappointed, a little bit angry with me but again we've got to protect him." O'Brien said the NRL's scheduling had added to Newcastle's woes after they were kept scoreless in a first half for the seventh time this season. The Dragons led 18-0 by halftime and could have been accused of failing to turn the screw against a Knights side lacking direction. Jaydn Su'A got the Red V rolling with a 20th minute try before the would-be Queensland back-rower succumbed to an ankle injury. But it didn't knock the Dragons off course, with Shane Flanagan's pack finding plenty of joy up the middle. First a rampaging Jack de Belin run was the catalyst for the workaholic captain Gutherson to cross before Damien Cook sent man mountain Loko Pasifiki Tonga over for his first NRL try. "We took our opportunities when we needed to, and defended well - we only missed two tackles in the first half," Flanagan said. "The second half was going that way. It was a bit of an arm wrestle, and then we get on top of them." The Dragons added a second-half penalty through Valentine Holmes and should have added more tries only for Holmes and Tyrell Sloan to drop balls over the line. Pearce-Paul crashed in for the Knights' only score of the evening with 10 minutes left. Rugby sevens convert Nathan Lawson made his NRL debut for the Dragons and didn't look out of place by chalking up 176m from 17 carries on the left wing. "He's just that type of personality, I don't want to play him down at all - he's not a flashy type of player, he's a real tradesman," Flanagan said. Flanagan was confident Su'A's injury would not be a long-term issue but the ankle complaint will likely deny the edge forward a chance at a Queensland recall. Adam O'Brien says he overruled Kalyn Ponga and sat Newcastle's captain out of their 20-6 NRL loss at the hands of St George Illawarra for his own good. O'Brien said he took the decision out of Ponga's hands after the Knights fullback played for Queensland in the State of Origin opener on Wednesday. The Newcastle captain has been carrying an ankle ailment for the past three weeks and was ruled out of Friday's game at Jubilee Oval an hour before kick-off. Without their captain, Newcastle lacked spark and they didn't cross the line until the 70th minute when edge forward Kai Pearce-Paul crashed over, as Clint Gutherson led the Dragons to a comprehensive victory. "He was doing everything he could (to play), I took the decision away from him because it's the right thing to do," O'Brien said of Ponga. "It's the type of injury that takes a few days to settle down. Two days is not enough. "He's disappointed, a little bit angry with me but again we've got to protect him." O'Brien said the NRL's scheduling had added to Newcastle's woes after they were kept scoreless in a first half for the seventh time this season. The Dragons led 18-0 by halftime and could have been accused of failing to turn the screw against a Knights side lacking direction. Jaydn Su'A got the Red V rolling with a 20th minute try before the would-be Queensland back-rower succumbed to an ankle injury. But it didn't knock the Dragons off course, with Shane Flanagan's pack finding plenty of joy up the middle. First a rampaging Jack de Belin run was the catalyst for the workaholic captain Gutherson to cross before Damien Cook sent man mountain Loko Pasifiki Tonga over for his first NRL try. "We took our opportunities when we needed to, and defended well - we only missed two tackles in the first half," Flanagan said. "The second half was going that way. It was a bit of an arm wrestle, and then we get on top of them." The Dragons added a second-half penalty through Valentine Holmes and should have added more tries only for Holmes and Tyrell Sloan to drop balls over the line. Pearce-Paul crashed in for the Knights' only score of the evening with 10 minutes left. Rugby sevens convert Nathan Lawson made his NRL debut for the Dragons and didn't look out of place by chalking up 176m from 17 carries on the left wing. "He's just that type of personality, I don't want to play him down at all - he's not a flashy type of player, he's a real tradesman," Flanagan said. Flanagan was confident Su'A's injury would not be a long-term issue but the ankle complaint will likely deny the edge forward a chance at a Queensland recall. Adam O'Brien says he overruled Kalyn Ponga and sat Newcastle's captain out of their 20-6 NRL loss at the hands of St George Illawarra for his own good. O'Brien said he took the decision out of Ponga's hands after the Knights fullback played for Queensland in the State of Origin opener on Wednesday. The Newcastle captain has been carrying an ankle ailment for the past three weeks and was ruled out of Friday's game at Jubilee Oval an hour before kick-off. Without their captain, Newcastle lacked spark and they didn't cross the line until the 70th minute when edge forward Kai Pearce-Paul crashed over, as Clint Gutherson led the Dragons to a comprehensive victory. "He was doing everything he could (to play), I took the decision away from him because it's the right thing to do," O'Brien said of Ponga. "It's the type of injury that takes a few days to settle down. Two days is not enough. "He's disappointed, a little bit angry with me but again we've got to protect him." O'Brien said the NRL's scheduling had added to Newcastle's woes after they were kept scoreless in a first half for the seventh time this season. The Dragons led 18-0 by halftime and could have been accused of failing to turn the screw against a Knights side lacking direction. Jaydn Su'A got the Red V rolling with a 20th minute try before the would-be Queensland back-rower succumbed to an ankle injury. But it didn't knock the Dragons off course, with Shane Flanagan's pack finding plenty of joy up the middle. First a rampaging Jack de Belin run was the catalyst for the workaholic captain Gutherson to cross before Damien Cook sent man mountain Loko Pasifiki Tonga over for his first NRL try. "We took our opportunities when we needed to, and defended well - we only missed two tackles in the first half," Flanagan said. "The second half was going that way. It was a bit of an arm wrestle, and then we get on top of them." The Dragons added a second-half penalty through Valentine Holmes and should have added more tries only for Holmes and Tyrell Sloan to drop balls over the line. Pearce-Paul crashed in for the Knights' only score of the evening with 10 minutes left. Rugby sevens convert Nathan Lawson made his NRL debut for the Dragons and didn't look out of place by chalking up 176m from 17 carries on the left wing. "He's just that type of personality, I don't want to play him down at all - he's not a flashy type of player, he's a real tradesman," Flanagan said. Flanagan was confident Su'A's injury would not be a long-term issue but the ankle complaint will likely deny the edge forward a chance at a Queensland recall.
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2 hours ago
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Brumbies denied by Crusaders in Canberra battle
The ACT Brumbies have seen their Canberra fortress raided by the Crusaders, who snatched a top two spot on the Super Rugby Pacific ladder in a thrilling final round clash. While the Chiefs locked down the No.1 ranking with a win over the Highlanders earlier on Friday night, the Brumbies and Crusaders met in a battle for second position with the Kiwi outfit victorious, 33-31. The visitors hit the front in the 76th minute with reserve hooker George Bell peeling off a maul to dive over. His try came after referee James Doleman missed a clear knock-on by Sevu Reece in the previous play, much to the disgust of a vocal Canberra crowd. With little more than a minute to play it looked like Brumbies winger Corey Toole would put his side back in the lead as he pin-balled through the defence, but Scott Barrett dislodged the ball from his arms three metres from the tryline. The third-placed Brumbies, the top-ranked Australian side, will now to host the team that finishes fourth - the Hurricanes or Queensland - in the qualifying finals next weekend. By finishing in the top two the Crusaders are now guaranteed to host a home semi-final provided they win their week one final. Wallabies playmaker Noah Lolesio was gutted his team wasn't able to win after clawing their way back into the match. "It's pretty disappointing. We were really in that game. We did really well to get back the lead. I'm lost for words at the moment," said Lolesio, who made a successful return from a serious back injury earlier this month. "It's a tough pill to swallow as we really wanted to win this game. "We're going to have to get over and work into whoever we've got next Saturday." The Brumbies trailed 25-14 at halftime with the Crusaders dominant in every aspect, with their line speed in defence and physicality at the breakdown causing the home side headaches. But Canberra started the second half with intent, with prop Rhys Van Nek burrowing across. The Brumbies then set up a heart-stopping finish when they drew level at 28-28 after Lolesio converted a try by Andy Muirhead in the 56th minute. After some quick hands, Muirhead still had plenty of work to do but the winger showed his will to drag three defenders across the line. A penalty strike by Lolesio then put his team ahead with eight minutes to play but the Crusaders - the most successful team in the competition's history with 14 titles - wouldn't be denied. Crusaders skipper Codie Taylor lauded his team's defensive effort and calmness. "Good to show a bit of composure there at the back end of that game as it seems to be a common trend for us, leaking points in that second half," the hooker said. "It's always hard fought over here and, last year it was the same, and we were on the short straw of that and managed to sneak a W (win) tonight, so proud of the lads." In another blow for the Brumbies, they could lose centre Len Ikitau, who showed his pace to score in the 16th minute but also limped off with 10 minutes to play. The ACT Brumbies have seen their Canberra fortress raided by the Crusaders, who snatched a top two spot on the Super Rugby Pacific ladder in a thrilling final round clash. While the Chiefs locked down the No.1 ranking with a win over the Highlanders earlier on Friday night, the Brumbies and Crusaders met in a battle for second position with the Kiwi outfit victorious, 33-31. The visitors hit the front in the 76th minute with reserve hooker George Bell peeling off a maul to dive over. His try came after referee James Doleman missed a clear knock-on by Sevu Reece in the previous play, much to the disgust of a vocal Canberra crowd. With little more than a minute to play it looked like Brumbies winger Corey Toole would put his side back in the lead as he pin-balled through the defence, but Scott Barrett dislodged the ball from his arms three metres from the tryline. The third-placed Brumbies, the top-ranked Australian side, will now to host the team that finishes fourth - the Hurricanes or Queensland - in the qualifying finals next weekend. By finishing in the top two the Crusaders are now guaranteed to host a home semi-final provided they win their week one final. Wallabies playmaker Noah Lolesio was gutted his team wasn't able to win after clawing their way back into the match. "It's pretty disappointing. We were really in that game. We did really well to get back the lead. I'm lost for words at the moment," said Lolesio, who made a successful return from a serious back injury earlier this month. "It's a tough pill to swallow as we really wanted to win this game. "We're going to have to get over and work into whoever we've got next Saturday." The Brumbies trailed 25-14 at halftime with the Crusaders dominant in every aspect, with their line speed in defence and physicality at the breakdown causing the home side headaches. But Canberra started the second half with intent, with prop Rhys Van Nek burrowing across. The Brumbies then set up a heart-stopping finish when they drew level at 28-28 after Lolesio converted a try by Andy Muirhead in the 56th minute. After some quick hands, Muirhead still had plenty of work to do but the winger showed his will to drag three defenders across the line. A penalty strike by Lolesio then put his team ahead with eight minutes to play but the Crusaders - the most successful team in the competition's history with 14 titles - wouldn't be denied. Crusaders skipper Codie Taylor lauded his team's defensive effort and calmness. "Good to show a bit of composure there at the back end of that game as it seems to be a common trend for us, leaking points in that second half," the hooker said. "It's always hard fought over here and, last year it was the same, and we were on the short straw of that and managed to sneak a W (win) tonight, so proud of the lads." In another blow for the Brumbies, they could lose centre Len Ikitau, who showed his pace to score in the 16th minute but also limped off with 10 minutes to play. The ACT Brumbies have seen their Canberra fortress raided by the Crusaders, who snatched a top two spot on the Super Rugby Pacific ladder in a thrilling final round clash. While the Chiefs locked down the No.1 ranking with a win over the Highlanders earlier on Friday night, the Brumbies and Crusaders met in a battle for second position with the Kiwi outfit victorious, 33-31. The visitors hit the front in the 76th minute with reserve hooker George Bell peeling off a maul to dive over. His try came after referee James Doleman missed a clear knock-on by Sevu Reece in the previous play, much to the disgust of a vocal Canberra crowd. With little more than a minute to play it looked like Brumbies winger Corey Toole would put his side back in the lead as he pin-balled through the defence, but Scott Barrett dislodged the ball from his arms three metres from the tryline. The third-placed Brumbies, the top-ranked Australian side, will now to host the team that finishes fourth - the Hurricanes or Queensland - in the qualifying finals next weekend. By finishing in the top two the Crusaders are now guaranteed to host a home semi-final provided they win their week one final. Wallabies playmaker Noah Lolesio was gutted his team wasn't able to win after clawing their way back into the match. "It's pretty disappointing. We were really in that game. We did really well to get back the lead. I'm lost for words at the moment," said Lolesio, who made a successful return from a serious back injury earlier this month. "It's a tough pill to swallow as we really wanted to win this game. "We're going to have to get over and work into whoever we've got next Saturday." The Brumbies trailed 25-14 at halftime with the Crusaders dominant in every aspect, with their line speed in defence and physicality at the breakdown causing the home side headaches. But Canberra started the second half with intent, with prop Rhys Van Nek burrowing across. The Brumbies then set up a heart-stopping finish when they drew level at 28-28 after Lolesio converted a try by Andy Muirhead in the 56th minute. After some quick hands, Muirhead still had plenty of work to do but the winger showed his will to drag three defenders across the line. A penalty strike by Lolesio then put his team ahead with eight minutes to play but the Crusaders - the most successful team in the competition's history with 14 titles - wouldn't be denied. Crusaders skipper Codie Taylor lauded his team's defensive effort and calmness. "Good to show a bit of composure there at the back end of that game as it seems to be a common trend for us, leaking points in that second half," the hooker said. "It's always hard fought over here and, last year it was the same, and we were on the short straw of that and managed to sneak a W (win) tonight, so proud of the lads." In another blow for the Brumbies, they could lose centre Len Ikitau, who showed his pace to score in the 16th minute but also limped off with 10 minutes to play.
