So often in big games the little things, regularly unnoticed, become telling factors and for Orange’s Jack Wighton and his Canberra Raiders in Saturday’s preliminary final loss to Melbourne that little thing was one non-existent kick chase.
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Trailing 8-6 with 20 minutes to go Canberra halfback Aidan Sezer sent a spiralling bomb skyward which Melbourne’s Cameron Munster let bounce before, seeing the lack of green jerseys chasing, finding the rugby union-bound Marika Koroibete on his left.
The flying Fijian winger went 70 metres before Wighton produced a stunning try-saving tackle.
He held on too long though and was sin-binned for his trouble. His departure paved the way for Melbourne’s killer blow – an unconverted try from the resulting penalty and then a penalty goal.
Outside his sin-binning Wighton was strong in the loss, one of Canberra’s best in fact, and went a long way to giving his side a sniff when the Storm were leading 14-6, all but sending winger Edrick Lee over in the corner.
It’s just a pity Lee spilled the ball with the open try line beckoning.
Raiders back-rower Elliott Whitehead scored just minutes after, but Melbourne held on to win 14-12 and set up a grand final showdown with the Cronulla Sharks.
Canberra coach Ricky Stuart refused to blame Wighton’s sin-binning for the loss, even though it was one of the few times referees have used the bin this season.
"The decision was made and you've got to get on with it," Stuart said.
Stuart preferred to focus on the journey his side has made this season. He said if anyone thought Canberra would be a penalty goal away from a grand final at the start of the season they'd be "dancing with the fairies".
"This experience ... this journey and development as a club this year and the hurt is the start of a really, I hope, a real competitive, strong era for the Canberra Raiders,” Stuart said.
"This loss will help us achieve success in the near future. We have to learn from this loss. It's not something that we just throw away ... we'll go back and learn from this.”
Melbourne skipper Cameron Smith opened the scoring with his 16th minute penalty goal but the Raider tooks the lead through Jordan Rapana’s converted try in the 23rd, until Cooper Cronk scored late in the half.
Smith’s conversion gave the Storm an 8-6 lead, which they held until Wighton’s sin-binning. Cheyse Blair’s try and Smith’s second penalty goal gave Melbourne an eight-point lead and, despite Whitehead’s try cutting the deficit to two, a place in the grand final.
While Wighton’s season is over Orange will have a presence in the decider in Melbourne prop Jesse Bromwich, who spent the 2008 season with Orange Hawks.