Austin runs hot as the Raiders win in the cold

COACH Laurie Daley made it clear he planned to start working on the 2016 NSW Origin campaign immediately.

So it was a good thing Daley got the chance last night to watch Blake Austin help orchestrate Canberra’s 36-22 hammering of Newcastle.

The Raiders were playing just their second live game on Channel Nine for the season – it was their first Friday night fixture at home – and Austin sure put on a show for the mass audience tuned in at home.

The 6015 locals who braved the bitterly cold conditions were also appreciative.

The blond, bearded playmaker, who could easily pass for an extra on US biker drama Sons Of Anarchy, scored three tries in the opening 15 minutes.

Austin’s first came at the end of Canberra’s first set as they spread the ball right and raced down field, with winger Jordan Rapana’s final pass hitting the No. 6 on the chest.

In the ninth minute, Austin showed some lovely footwork to step Kurt Gidley and double the lead for the Raiders, who are now just one win outside the eight.

Austin then brought up the hat-trick when he produced a serious turn of foot over 15m to burst through three lazy Knights defenders and win the race for a grubber kicked by Sam Williams.

Austin, 24, was also outstanding in defence. He produced some decent hits on his own goal-line towards the back end of the first half.

And on top of that his 70m dropout ended any hope of Newcastle trying to make the scoreboard more respectable just before the break.

Austin was rated an outside chance at best for a NSW callup this year and did his chances no harm when he scored a hat-trick during the annual City-Country fixture.