SCONE-bred Adam Clydsdale’s first NRL match for the Canberra Raiders certainly proved entertaining.
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The former Thoroughbred played 11 minutes in the side’s thrilling 26-22 extra-time victory over the New Zealand Warriors at GIO Stadium on Saturday.
Clydsdale, who made six tackles during his brief appearance, was called into the Raiders’ line-up as a replacement for back-up hooker Kurt Baptiste.
Canberra looked set for an easy day at the office, when it led 22-4.
But, the Warriors surged home to make it 22-20 following a brilliant try from David Fusitu'a.
A sideline conversion from Issac Luke, with seconds on the clock, tied the scores and sent the match to golden point.
However, Jarrod Croker finished off a swift left-side move to secure the Raiders’ nail-biting win.
Clydsdale, who started his rugby league career as a junior for the Scone Thoroughbreds, made his NRL debut with the Newcastle Knights where he played 40 games between 2013 until the end of last season.
He was later released from the Knights and signed a two-year contract with the Raiders, bolstering Canberra's dummy half stocks headlined by English recruit Josh Hodgson and Baptiste.
Before he departed, Clydsdale paid tribute to the coaches he played under at Newcastle, including Wayne Bennett, Rick Stone and Danny Buderus.
He said he was looking forward to working with Raiders’ mentor Ricky Stuart and assistant Mick Crawley.
“It was tough to leave [Newcastle], there was a lot of emotions there because it's been my club since the juniors," Clydsdale told the Advocate.
"It was a dream come true to play first grade at the Knights, but it's time for the next chapter in the book I suppose.
“Plus, Canberra's assistant coach [Mick Crawley] was at Newcastle for a couple of years, and he gave the club a good rap as well.”
