It’s been a career-best season for Canberra halfback Jamal Fogarty.
Yet despite guiding the Raiders to the club’s first minor premiership in 35 years, questions remain about the 31-year-old’s ability to ice big games—dialling up the pressure heading into Saturday night’s sudden death clash with the Cronulla Sharks.
In his three seasons with the Gold Coast Titans and four with the Raiders, Fogarty’s post-season record currently stands at a decidedly modest one win and four losses.
Perhaps most worryingly, three of those losses were by two points or less—including last Sunday’s heartbreaking 29-28 extra time defeat to the Broncos where the Raiders missed several opportunities to close out the game.
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In their previous trip to the NRL post season, Fogarty and the Raiders bowed out in week one of the 2023 finals series, losing to the Newcastle Knights 30-28.
Fogarty also lost his first and only final with his original NRL club, the Titans, by a solitary point when eliminated by the Sydney Roosters 25-24 in week one of 2021.
‘There would be an element of doubt,’ says Anasta
Reflecting on Fogarty’s latest finals outing against the Broncos on NRL 360, Braith Anasta suggested the playmaker’s stats line in tight games has him firmly under the microscope.
“There would be an element of doubt, he’s missed a couple of opportunities of late when he’s needed to ice them,” Anasta said.
“I know from personal experience, when you are scarred by big moments, you can carry them.
“You try and get them out of your mind but at the end of the day there’s an element of doubt until you nail it and you ice it and you hit the mark.”
Depending on the result against the Sharks, Saturday night could be his final game for Ricky Stuart and the Raiders.
Fogarty announced mid season he would be joining Manly in 2026 where he will replace departing Sea Eagles legend Daly Cherry-Evans in the number seven jersey.
Fogarty’s Finals Frustration
2025 |
|
Lost 29-28 | Broncos (week one) |
2023 |
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Lost 30-28 | Knights (week one) |
2022 |
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Won 28-20 | Storm (week one) |
Lost 40-4 | Eels (week two) |
2021 |
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Lost 25-24 | Roosters (week one) |