Raiders unleash upon shell-shocked Panthers

AAP & rugbyleaguelive.com | 10/08/08 | 0

AUDIO - Post-match: Three-try hero Trevor Thurling

AUDIO - It was like a dream: Terry Campese

Canberra handed out an astonishing 74-12 NRL hiding of Penrith today, using their attacking flair and bustling forwards to destroy a weak-kneed, unwilling Panthers outfit.

Five-eighth Terry Campese missed a chance to equal Mal Meninga's club record of 38 points in a match when he injured himself in the final minute and could not convert the 13th and last try.

He had to settle for 36 points via four tries and ten goals - equal fourth highest on the all-time list.

Rain and then snow showers before kickoff made the Canberra Stadium surface slippery from the outset but the familiar conditions didn't stop the Raiders from going wide early.

The Panthers might have scored the first try in just the second minute via winger Michael Gordon but beyond that little went right for the mountain men.

Led by Campese, whose points were split nearly in each half, Canberra had one of those days when every pass stuck and every bounce of the ball from the boot of half Marc Herbert sat neatly in place.

The second half opened in the same fashion as the first had ended with Canberra fullback David Milne claiming his first try of the day just two minutes in, taking the score out to 44-12.

Eighteen minutes later second rower Trevor Thurling capped an outstanding day by claiming his third try, bringing 6,500 cold but enthusiastic fans to their feet.

But the Raiders weren't finished pushing through the Panthers' insipid defence.

CANBERRA 74 (T Campese 4 T Thurling 3 J Carney T Learoyd-Lahrs D Milne J Monaghan D Tilse A Tongue tries T Campese 10 M Herbert goals) bt
PENRITH 12 (M Gordon R Wesser tries M Gordon 2 goals)

Crowd: 6,500.

I could never dream of such a game... Canberra's four-try hero, Terry Campese