The Canberra Raiders have ground out a huge win in the context of their NRL season, finding their way past Canterbury 36-24 to significantly boost their finals chances.
Two tries for centre Matt Timoko and a superb outing for fullback Jordan Rapana helped them see off the stubborn Bulldogs, who defied their ladder position to challenge the Raiders before a late fade-out on Sunday evening.
The win meant the Raiders ended the round in sixth place and close to locking in a finals berth, unable to miss the top eight if South Sydney, North Queensland or the Sydney Roosters lose in the next fortnight.
Remarkably, the 12-point win at GIO Stadium was their biggest of the campaign to date, with three tries in the game’s last 20 minutes the decisive blow in what had been an edgy encounter.
Tied 18-18 after an hour, Canberra’s season felt close to the brink, but they struck when winger Nick Cotric scrapped his way over from close range, before Rapana picked a hole in the Bulldogs line for a 12-point lead.
Front-rower Joe Tapine connected with Josh Papali’i to ice the cake six minutes from time, with Canterbury’s Liam Knight picking up a consolation try with two minutes to play.
Canberra can thank Rapana for at times single-handedly keeping their season alive, punching out a mammoth 178m to go with three try assists, 10 tackle busts, three line breaks and his try.
After Raiders centre Matt Timoko opened the scoring, Canterbury dug in and showed they weren’t in Canberra to roll over, a sweeping left-edge move ending with five-eighth Matt Burton finding Blake Wilson in the corner for 6-6.
Raiders veteran Jarrod Croker marked his return from injury with a try courtesy of Jamal Fogarty’s cross-field kick, and slotted all six of his conversion attempts as well.
The Bulldogs looked an awful lot better than the side belted 42-6 by Newcastle last weekend, but didn’t have the gears to go with the Raiders when they surged late in the game.
Canberra lost winger Albert Hopoate to a rib injury and he didn’t return for the second half.
By Alex Mitchell in Canberra
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