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Raiders farewell Whitehead in style with win over Panthers

An Xavier Savage double helped the Raiders to send English veteran Elliott Whitehead off a winner as the Panthers crashed to back-to-back to losses in the eve of the finals.

Savage scored the first and last tries as Canberra outlasted Penrith to snatch a 22-18 win after the speedster backed up an intercept by centre Matt Timoko near his own line to cross in the 71st minute.

Despite losing 42-4 in North Queensland last weekend, the Raiders were determined to farewell Whitehead with a win after nine seasons with the club.

Whitehead, who is returning to Catalans next season, was in tears at fulltime.

An emotional Whitehead goes through his last home game

The loss leaves Penrith in danger of losing their top two spot and they could drop to fourth if the Roosters beat the Titans and the Sharks defeat the Dragons on Sunday.

The boot of Raiders halfback Jamal Fogarty was a feature of the opening exchanges as the home team took advantage of the windy conditions, with Panthers winger Brian To'o tested by a series of swirling kicks.

The tactic paid dividends when Canberra flyer Xavier Savage beat To'o to a Fogarty bomb in the sixth minute and tiptoed his way down the touchline to score the opening try in the sixth minute.

Xavier Savage 1st Try

Panthers hooker Luke Sommerton got the visitors on the board when he ran from dummy half to score in the 10th minute after a penalty against Danny Levi as ill-discipline threatened to cost the Raiders.

Defending their line after conceding six consecutive penalties or re-starts, Canberra hit back through five-eighth Kaeo Weekes off a Joseph Tapine offload in the 23rd minute.

However, after earlier being denied by a spectacular Seb Kris cover tackle, Daine Laurie was awarded a try even the Penrith winger didn't think he had scored after managed to just get the ball down despite the best efforts of Albert Hopoate.

Daine Laurie Try

James Fisher-Harris had the chance to put the three-times premiers further ahead before halftime only to fumble the ball in-goal, but Rapana was penalised for a high shot and Dylan Edwards added the two points.

After undergoing a HIA, Fisher-Harris returned to score a spectacular try for a front-rower after backing up a break by lock Isaah Yeo in the 46th minute to put Penrith ahead 18-10.

James Fisher-Harris Try

However, the Raiders were far from done and Kris kept them in the game when he burst down the sideline before sending Hopoate racing over to score in the 60th minute.

Canberra hit the front nine minutes before fulltime when centre Matt Timoko intercepted a pass from Panthers playmaker Jarome Luai and found Savage in support.

Match snapshot

Savage on his match-winning try

  • Departing Raiders captain Elliott Whitehead surpassed coach Ricky Stuart's 203 matches for the club.
  • The win was the first by the Raiders over the Panthers at GIO Stadium since 2016 and ended a five-match losing streak against Penrith.
  • Raiders winger Xavier Savage has scored six tries in his past six games at GIO Stadium.
  • Penrith prop James Fisher-Harris passed a HIA just before halftime.
  • Canberra fullback Jordan Rapana was placed on report for the high shot on Fisher-Harris.

Play of the game

Xavier Savage 2nd Try

What they said

Raiders: Round 25

Panthers: Round 25

 

Acknowledgement of Country

Penrith Panthers players and staff respect and honour the traditional custodians of the land and pay our respects to their elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.