Latest news with #NRLStormRaiders
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Idiot not to': inside Fogarty's big chat with Stuart
Ricky Stuart told Jamal Fogarty he'd be an idiot not to accept Manly's contract offer, much to the relief of the halfback, who had spent a sleepless night agonising over telling his coach he'd be leaving Canberra. From the outside looking in, Fogarty's exit from the Raiders had appeared highly likely for weeks. That was particularly the case after Stuart publicly admitted Canberra could not match Manly's offer of a three-year, $2.1 million deal to replace the outgoing Daly Cherry-Evans from 2026. But for Fogarty, the call to leave the club where he's played his best football was never easy. "It was a really hard decision, to be honest," the 31-year-old said. "It was something that I was tossing and turning (about). In the end, I was an idiot if I didn't accept it." It was similarly difficult for Fogarty to walk into Stuart's office last Tuesday and tell the famously passionate Raiders man he'd be leaving after four years. "Monday night, I didn't really get to sleep, I was in bed and I just kept waking up, going to the toilet, thinking about it," Fogarty said. "Obviously he could take it well or he could take it the other way. I was not too sure what was going to happen. "(But) he was very accepting of it. Our relationship hasn't changed from then and he gave me his backing, (saying) 'You're an idiot if you don't take it', which was good." For now, Fogarty's focus remains 300km south of Manly's northern beaches stronghold and with a Canberra side that has well-founded premiership aspirations for 2025. Sunday's 20-18 defeat of perennial contenders Melbourne was the latest proof of the Raiders' heavyweight status this season, and it was Fogarty who slotted the game-winning penalty goal in extra time. "I had a bit of shaky legs there ... (scoring) was more of a relief if anything," he said. Far from making him regret his decision to leave, wins like Sunday's have made Fogarty more engaged than ever with Canberra's campaign. "I'm not even thinking about it (leaving) to be honest," he said. "We've got 20-odd games here at the Raiders and I think we're building something special." Watch all the highlights as the Storm take on the Raiders in Round 9!#NRLStormRaiders — NRL (@NRL) May 4, 2025 After beating both the Storm and Warriors in the opening nine rounds, the second-placed Raiders now host the only top-four side they have not met in 2025, ladder-leading Canterbury. The top end of the ladder has been foreign territory for the two sides in recent years. The Raiders haven't finished a season in the top two since 2016, and the Bulldogs' finals berth last year was their first in eight years. Fogarty admitted that in the pre-season he would've considered Saturday's clash an unlikely top-two match-up. "I probably would've thought you were kidding yourself to be honest, and I think everyone probably will agree with that comment," Fogarty said. "But in saying that, the pre-season that we had, we know the squad that we've got. "The Dogs are probably the best team in the comp at the minute, they're not letting many tries in, they're scoring a lot. "It's going to be a pretty good game."
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Cost us dearly': Bellamy fumes over poor discipline
Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy wants his players to take ownership after poor discipline while in possession of the ball cost the Storm victory against Canberra. "One thing we can control is our actions," Bellamy said. "To give away penalties when you have got the ball, it cost us. It cost us dearly." The Storm lost 20-18 in golden point in the final match of Magic Round on Sunday. In regular time, they led 18-12 and fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen kicked a field goal in the 75th minute that would have taken them to 19-12. Watch all the highlights as the Storm take on the Raiders in Round 9!#NRLStormRaiders — NRL (@NRL) May 4, 2025 On review, the Bunker found an elbow to the head of Raiders captain Joseph Topine by Storm lock Trent Loiero in a previous play when Melbourne had the ball. Papenhuyzen's one-pointer was overturned. The Raiders then levelled through a scintillating try to fullback Kaeo Weekes. But the Storm were in position for a field goal in golden point when prop Stefano Utoikamanu was pinged and sin-binned for stomping on hooker Tom Starling in the play-the-ball. He'd already given away a penalty in the first-half while in possession, after wrangling with Canberra prop Joseph Topine. Loiero again transgressed when he hit Raiders forward Hudson Young in a high tackle in the 85th minute, with Jamal Fogarty landing the winning penalty. Storm captain Cameron Munster, no saint when it comes to ill-discipline, had a chat to Loiero post-match. "I said to him to just take some learnings from it. I have been in those situations before," Munster said. "You don't what to be the guy that clips a chin and they go for two and get the penalty. I have been in grand finals where I have done some silly stuff. He will learn from that. "He's a great player and we've all had those opportunities and lost those moments. Unfortunately, tonight it was him. "I'm not going to sit there and bag him. He's done some great stuff for us as a player. I know what he is feeling. A lot of people will be on his back but as a group we have got to stick together and learn." Bellamy also weighed in on Utoikamanu's actions. "I've only had one look at it. I'm not exactly sure what happened," he said of the stomp. "To turn the ball over when you've got the ball 15m from their line ... if he was in the wrong he needs to pick his discipline up. I don't know exactly who was the instigator. "Twice he did it. It's unlike anyone. You show me a bloke that gives away two penalties when you've got the ball in a game. You are not looking at too many people." There was a sense the Storm had been hard done by but Bellamy wasn''t going down that path. "You can say that if you like," he said. Munster was also careful about commenting on the officiating. "I can't remember the last time a team got penalised with the ball but ...we played some dumb footy tonight," Munster said. "As much as it looked like it was in the hands of the ref, we have to be disciplined with the ball. "It's a tough pill to swallow. We can't afford to keep doing it."
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Raiders stun Storm after golden-point drama
Comeback kings Canberra have stunned Melbourne to win 20-18 in golden point in one of the most controversial finishes in NRL history. Raiders captain Jamal Fogarty landed the match-clinching 85th minute penalty after Storm forward Trent Loiero was pinged for a high shot on Hudson Young in front of the posts.. The Storm looked set for a Magic Round victory in regulation time. Leading 18-12, Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen, in his 100th NRL game, appeared to have sealed the win with a 75th-minute field goal. The one-point was disallowed due to Loiero being penalised while possession for an elbow to the head of Raiders prop Joe Topine in a previous play, after referee Gerard Sutton appeared to ask the Bunker for a review. Three minutes later Raiders fullback Kaeo Weekes scored a stunning individual try. From 50m out he raced away, chipped over Papenhuyzen's head, regathered and scored to send the match into golden point. KAEO WEEKES! 🤯#NRLStormRaiders — NRL (@NRL) May 4, 2025 The drama escalated when Storm prop Stefano Utoikamanu was penalised and sin-binned while in possession for stomping on Raiders hooker Tom Starling when his team was in front of the sticks. Raiders prop Josh Papalii was binned for running in and getting involved. Fogarty then stepped up to win it with a pressure penalty. Scintillating Storm winger Sua Fa'alogo earlier shone. The final Magic Round clash lived up to its billing as the match of the round with both sides inside the top four. Pocket rocket Fa'alogo set up two tries, scored one and made three line breaks in a dazzling display. The Raiders refused to relent. They had come back from an 18-point deficit to win their previous clash with the Dolphins. They were behind 14-0 after 25 minutes against the Storm and again rallied to narrow the margin to two at halftime. Melbourne had given up a 16-2 lead to lose 42-22 to the Dolphins last time they played at the venue and would have had a sense of deja vu. Fa'alogo's try in the 59th minute restored a six-point advantage. In the first half Cameron Munster eyed space on the left after a scything Faalogo bust. His left-foot kick was precision personified and centre Grant Anderson swooped. Faalogo set up a try for Papenhuyzen with a play of pure audacity and scintillating skill. The speedy winger broke down the right from 70m out and at full speed hooked an inch-perfect kick onto a flying Papenhuyzen's chest. It was Magic Round magic. The Storm are bringing the magic to Magic Round! 👏#NRLStormRaiders — NRL (@NRL) May 4, 2025 The Raiders, however, are never beaten. Hulking Raiders winger Savelio Tamale, who had a blinder, got the better of Fa'alogo with brute strength to score in the corner. Raiders centre Matt Timoko was too strong and determined for three Storm defenders as he scored and it was game on at the break. There was plenty of feeling between two rivals with a history of titanic battles. Two skirmishes between multiple players broke out before Utoikamanu and Tapine exchanged open-handed shoves with the Storm giant penalised while in possession. Papalii was also put on report for foul play after he gave Papenhuyzen a facial.
