<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>328627</docID> <postdate>2024-09-07 17:46:15</postdate> <headline>Big Red answers Raiders prayers with miracle late try</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-328628" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240907196907015192-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" /></p> <caption>A late try by Corey Horsburgh (centre) helped the Raiders beat the Dragons in a thriller. (Mark Evans/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p class="wire-column__preview__author"><span class="kicker-line">By <b>Jacob Shteyman</b> in Sydney</span></p> <p><strong>A stunning late try from the most unlikely of sources that capped off a thrilling 26-24 comeback over St George Illawarra has Canberra coach Ricky Stuart praying for a miracle finals berth.</strong></p> <p>Down by four points with two minutes remaining on Saturday, Corey Horsburgh attempted to grubber through for himself 10 metres from the Dragons' line.</p> <p>The big prop mistimed the kick, shinning it horribly, but somehow ended up with the footy and crashed over to stun the 11,189 in attendance at Jubilee Stadium.</p> <p>Young fullback Kaeo Weekes iced the conversion from the sideline to put the Raiders' noses in front and seal a famous win after trailing from minute one to 78.</p> <p>Two points ahead of Newcastle and the Dolphins but with inferior points difference, the Raiders will be glued to the TV screen on Sunday afternoon, with a draw at McDonald Jones Stadium their only hope of playing finals.</p> <p>"Our review's at church tomorrow at Manuka in the big cathedral. We'll say a couple of prayers," Stuart joked.</p> <p>Realistically, they know their season is already over.</p> <p>But the Raiders can still celebrate three straight wins to cap a frustrating year, which oscillated between heroic victories and woeful floggings.</p> <p>"Some really disappointing performances through the season have put us this position," Stuart said.</p> <p>"It's our own doing.</p> <p>"I'm going to do a lot of planning on that (finding consistency next season)."</p> <p>One player who might not be back to help the Raiders find their groove is Horsburgh.</p> <p>'Big Red' was starting in his third consecutive game for Canberra after barely featuring this season, amid reports he has been granted a release from his contract to talk to rival clubs.</p> <p>"I've got no doubt about his football talent," Stuart said.</p> <p>"There's nothing personal with Corey and I. I want Corey at the club, and Corey knows the way I need him at the club. But that's not my decision."</p> <p>Dragons lock Tom Eisenhuth got his side on the board in the first set of the game, crashing over after Zac Lomax outleaped Albert Hopoate under a Ben Hunt bomb.</p> <p>The suspect defence on display left no doubt as to why both sides won't be playing finals footy.</p> <p>Hooker Jacob Liddle brushed off weak tackles from  Danny Levi, Hudson Young and Weekes to crash over as the Dragons raced away to an 18-0 lead in the first 12 minutes.</p> <p>After Levi hit back for the Raiders off a Jamal Fogarty grubber, Canberra winger Hopoate made a mess trying to field a bouncing ball in his in-goal, allowing Lyhkan King-Togia to pounce on the leftovers and score his first try in the NRL.</p> <p>The Dragons had some shockers of their own in defence.</p> <p>Canberra winger Xavier Savage brushed off a tackle from future teammate Savelio Tamale on his NRL debut to score in the corner and reduce the margin to 14.</p> <p>Stuart sent a rocket up the Raiders at halftime.</p> <p>They came out with renewed steel in defence and scored through Hopoate and Young, before Horsburgh's surprise finish sealed the result.</p> <p>Lomax tried to level it late with a two-point field goal but his attempt was charged down.</p> <p>After they held their finals fate in their hands, three straight losses have left Dragons coach Shane Flanagan with a sour end to the season.</p> <p>"It just shows no resilience, no patience. So I've got a lot of work to do," he said.</p> </body>