Ryan James' return sparks Canberra Raiders win over Wests Tigers

It sparked the Green Machine to a 30-12 victory over the Wests Tigers at Canberra Stadium on Sunday.

James shifted from the Gold Coast in the off-season as he looked for a fresh start from two knee reconstructions that meant his last NRL game was in 2019.

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart felt the try was the perfect tonic for James.

"It was good for him. It was a nice way to start the second half," Stuart said.

"But it was just nice for Ryan James, from an individual point of view, that he got through an NRL game with his new club."

There was almost another one. Cinderella story that is. With the bunker ruling out a Sebastian Kris try after the young centre spent 2020 on extended sick leave.

The victory came after a spine tingling Viking clap from 15,680 fans, the biggest one since the 2019 preliminary final, as Raiders fans celebrated having full capacity back for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic struck.

Canberra co-captain Josh Hodgson also capped a successful comeback from a knee reconstruction, getting through a full 80 minutes.

He looked sharp running out of dummy half, especially in the second half.

The Raiders pack all rolled their sleeves up, with Joe Tapine (141 metres), Hudson Young (121m), Ryan Sutton (120m) and Sia Soliola (118m) all getting the team on the front foot.

It wasn't a happy return for ex-Raider Joey Leilua, who was playing his first game back at Canberra Stadium since switching to the Tigers.

It didn't take long for Kris to show exactly what Raiders coach Ricky Stuart saw during the pre-season.

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He took last year off with extended sick leave, but returned on a train-and-trial deal before earning a spot in the top 30.

His first run was an electrifying line break that almost saw him score.

He then thought he had on the ensuing plays when he got on the end of an Elliott Whitehead offload only for the NRL bunker to rule Whitehead had lost control of the ball.

Kris impressed with his hard running on the left edge, filling in for co-captain Jarrod Croker (shoulder).

Wests opened the scoring on the back of a few sets in a row and a Bailey Simonsson error - forcing an offload near his own tryline.

After three defensive sets in a row, the Raiders line eventually broke with Tigers halfback Luke Brooks putting hooker Jacob Liddle over with a short pass.

Finally the Green Machine clicked into gear and levelled the score just before the break.

They too enjoyed some sustained pressure off the back of a penalty and a Leilua knock-on.

Jordan Rapana got on the end of a deflected George Williams grubber to have it all square after 40 minutes.

Stuart felt they struggled offensively in the first half, with their defence keeping them in the game.

"Fortunately we turned up to defend in the first half because we certainly didn't turn up to attack the way we wanted to.

"We were looking for too many cheap tries, we tried to take short cuts and wanted to make it an easy day for us.

"That's the way it looked like from an attacking point of view ... fortunately the attitude was opposite with the way they defended."

The Raiders then flew out of the sheds.

Referees seem to have finally heard Stuart's comments last season about teams targeting five-eighth Jack Wighton post kick.

Luke Garner was penalised for taking Wighton out and it led to James' crossing for his first try in two-and-a-half years.

It looked so easy for the big man, carrying several Tigers over with him to mark his first NRL game since 2019.

Wests seemed to fall apart - Brooks putting the restart out on the full and then George Williams added two points from a penalty.

Williams looked to have gratefully accepted a gift from James Roberts, swooping on a loose pass to run half the field - only for the bunker to spot an alleged Ryan Sutton tackle on Tigers fullback Daine Laurie without the ball.

So Williams turned provider instead, putting up a high ball for Simonsson to fly for and then offload for Young to charge over.

Williams also looked good from the kicking tee, deputising for Croker, kicking five from six.

Whenever Wests were able to wrestle back any momentum or get back-to-back sets they'd come up with an error or find the a resolute Raiders' defence.

They also gifted tries to the Green Machine.

Tigers winger Asu Kepaoa offloading to nobody in particular and allowing Scott to swoop on the ball.

He simply drew and passed for Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad to race away and score in the corner.

Wests scored a consolation try when winger David Nofoaluma crossed in the corner after a nice James Roberts flick pass.

Rapana brought up his double to complete the win, with Raiders enforcer Josh Papalii sent to the sin bin in the dying seconds.

The Raiders travel to Kogarah to take on Cronulla, while the Tigers host the Sydney Roosters at Campbelltown.

AT A GLANCE

CANBERRA RAIDERS 30 (Jordan Rapana 2, Ryan James, Hudson Young, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad tries; George Williams 5 goals) bt WESTS TIGERS 12 (Jacob Liddle, David Nofoaluma tries; Luke Brooks 2 goals) at Canberra Stadium. Referee: Gerard Sutton. Crowd: 15,680.

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