The right boot of Jordan Rapana secured the Raiders a 26-25 golden point victory over the Dolphins in a thrilling shootout at Kayo Stadium on Saturday night.
Rapana kicked the 88th minute winning field goal after earlier booting one to force golden point in the dying minutes of regular time.
Jamayne Isaako, who had kicked the Dolphins to a one-point advantage with eight to play, had four further field goal attempts in golden point – one of which went over but was ruled out due to an illegal blocker – while Rapana had one at the end of the first period of golden point that was waved away.
It was a chaotic finish to what was an entertaining and end-to-end contest in which the margin between the two sides was never more than six points.
Isaako slots a field goal
Rapana levels the score
Canberra had taken an 18-12 lead to the sheds and looked set to overcome the Dolphins in the final quarter after the hosts lost fullback Trai Fuller to a failed HIA, adding to the earlier injury to skipper Jesse Bromwich which meant he didn't play beyond the fourth minute.
After Jeremy Marshall-King's opener on nine minutes, Canberra replied with back-to-back tries from Xavier Savage, who jumped high to claim a bomb on the full, and Ata Mariota.
A diving finish from Jack Bostock and conversion from Isaako saw the Dolphins achieve parity again for a short time, before veteran second-rower Elliott Whitehead got over to give the visitors the lead again.
Elliott Whitehead Try
A goal-line scramble that was reviewed at length by the Bunker eventually ended in a try being awarded to Jake Averillo which locked scores at 18-apiece, but just before the hour mark Kaeo Weekes had the scoreboard attendant on their feet again with the seventh try of the game.
Kurt Donoghoe's try in the corner which Isaako converted from the sideline squared scores with 11 to go, before field goals became the name of the game, with Isaako nailing his chance before Rapana replied and forced golden point, with the latter ultimately having the final laugh.
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Match Snapshot
- Jordan Rapana was responsible for 12 of his side's points thanks to a perfect night off the kicking tee and two field goals.
- Canberra got the job done despite making 15 errors to their opponent's nine.
- Dolphins skipper Jesse Bromwich didn't play beyond the fourth minute due to what the club reported as a ribs injury, while second-rower Connelly Lemuelu underwent a HIA late in the first half which he passed.
Jesse Bromwich leaves the field
- Trai Fuller underwent an HIA with 16 to play which he failed, following a heavy collision for the Dolphins' No.1.
- Dolphins playmaker Anthony Milford went on report twice at Kayo Stadium, while interchange man Kurt Donoghoe was cited for a dangerous tackle just before half-time.
- Morgan Smithies went on report on 48 minutes and Raiders teammate Joseph Tapine in being cited following an incident in golden point.
Play of the Game
Clutch when it mattered most on Saturday night, it was veteran fullback Jordan Rapana who kicked the Raiders to victory deep into golden point.
Rapana wins it in golden point
What They Said
"It hurts to put in all that effort, after losing a guy (Jesse Bromwich) early and losing Trai [Fuller] to a HIA – we had guys playing everywhere – but unfortunately didn't get the two points. We worked pretty hard to get back into the game, we had a few chances to win it, we just unfortunately couldn't ice it." – Dolphins vice-captain Mark Nicholls.
Dolphins: Round 13
"We did everything we possibly could for them [the Dolphins] to win, from the first half right through to the end of golden point. I don't know how those blokes did it, we have got a lot of busted blokes at the moment and they are playing on spirit. I thought we were the better team right throughout the first 80, we probably weren't in extra time because we just kept gifting them field position and the opportunity to kick field goals." – Raiders coach Ricky Stuart.
Raiders: Round 13
What's Next
Both sides have a bye in Round 14 before returning to action in Friday night footy the following week. The Raiders will be a chance of getting forward Corey Horsburgh back for their June 14 clash with the Cowboys in Canberra, while the Dolphins will play in the earlier game that night against the Sharks at PointsBet Stadium.