Kaeo Weekes produced the decisive moment as the Canberra Raiders edged South Sydney 36-34 in Perth on Saturday, ending a four-game losing streak in a frantic finish. The Raiders fullback covered 98 metres for a try that arrived just as South Sydney had dragged the game back to 24-22.
The Kaeo Weekes try gave Canberra breathing room after a sharp Souths fightback had threatened to erase a commanding Raiders lead. Even after that burst of momentum, the Raiders were forced to withstand two late South Sydney tries before holding on at the new Perth Stadium.
Weekes creates a chance from nothing
The Canberra side had opened strongly and went to the break with a 24-4 lead, helped by a first-half surge that looked, for a time, like it would settle the contest early. But South Sydney stormed back with three tries at the start of the second half, turning what had been a comfortable margin into a tense two-point game.
That was the moment Weekes changed the match. Starting deep in his own end, he broke clear and ran the length to score a try described as one of the best of the season, and possibly one of the tries of the decade. The finish came at the exact point Canberra needed it most, stopping the momentum shift and restoring control.
The Kaeo Weekes effort also stood out because it was built from little apparent opportunity, turning a pressured phase into a match-defining score. It was the kind of play that can reset a game in seconds, and it did exactly that for Canberra.
Raiders recover after Souths push back
Canberra still had to work for the result after the try gave them separation. South Sydney kept coming and managed two late tries, but the Raiders did enough to close out a 36-34 win that was much tighter than it should have been.
The victory also ended a four-game losing streak and stretched Canberra’s winning run against South Sydney to five. It was the club’s first game at the new Perth Stadium, and the result gave the Raiders a badly needed lift after a run of frustration.
Big performances around the field
While Weekes delivered the headline moment, Simi Sasagi was heavily involved for Canberra and set up two first-half tries. By half-time he had 155 run metres, and he finished with 228 metres and two line breaks.
Hudson Young and Weekes both scored doubles, while Rabbitohs five-eighth Cody Walker also crossed for two tries. Raiders captain Joe Tapine led a much-improved forward pack with 138 metres, after coach Ricky Stuart shuffled the starting forwards.
What it means next
The result will be remembered first for the Kaeo Weekes try, but it also mattered because Canberra needed a response after a difficult spell. South Sydney left Perth with late momentum but no points, and the Raiders left with a win that could matter far beyond one Saturday night in Perth.
For Canberra, the next challenge will be turning a dramatic escape into something steadier. For now, the Kaeo Weekes moment stands as the pivot point that kept the Raiders alive when the game threatened to slip away.
