Published: 6:24PM Sunday May 12, 2013 Source: AAP
Canberra centre Blake Ferguson has starred again for the Raiders, bagging a hat-trick of tries to help his NRL side thump Newcastle 44-14 in their NRL clash at Canberra Stadium today.
In typical Raiders fashion, they overcame an early 14-0 deficit to romp home with 44 unanswered points and post their eighth consecutive home win.
Ferguson backed up last week's match-winning efforts against premiers Melbourne with another slick performance that should attract the interest of NSW State of Origin selectors.
The Raiders created havoc down the right edge, with Sandor Earl also snaring three tries.
The Raiders began in sluggish fashion, captain Terry Campese kicking out on the full twice to stall his team's momentum.
The Knights punished them immediately through tries to James McManus and Robbie Rochow and a penalty goal to Kurt Gidley.
Raiders prop David Shillington (161 metres) returned from a rib cartilage injury off the interchange in the 20th minute and his go-forward was immediately evident.
His impact helped the Raiders earn back-to-back sets and they hit back through tries to Earl and then a brilliant 55-metre solo effort from Ferguson, whose only blemish was his goal-kicking, with four successes from eight conversion attempts.
Earl then scored his second try in the 39th minute, with only Ferguson's third failed conversion attempt preventing the Raiders from reeling in the 14-point deficit before the break.
However second-half tries to Earl and Reece Robinson, also down the right fringe, atoned for Ferguson's sloppy goal-kicking.
Campese's all-round performance dramatically improved after his shaky start, his pinpoint kicking leading to the Raiders' last three tries to Ferguson, Edric Lee and Jack Wighton.
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