Jordan Rapana keeps Canberra Raiders in top-eight hunt

Remember when games used to be grinds, before V’landysball? Before games averaged a combined score of 46 points? Well this was a throwback. Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart built a lime green wall on the Gold Coast. It was the first scoreless first half since round one, 2019. Before six-agains ruled the airwaves. It ended up with the Raiders 12-10 winners over Parramatta on Thursday night, with fullback Jordan Rapana the hero as the fifth custodian Stuart has had to use this season. He kept the Raiders in the top-eight hunt with a brilliant display that included a try, a try-saving tackle and his usual hard running. It’s the first time the Raiders have won three in a row this season. But unfortunately everything comes at a cost for the Green Machine. They lost Josh Papalii to a self-induced concussion – where he slammed his own head into the turf making a tackle – and Josh Hodgson was also put on report for a high shot on Nathan Brown. The Eels also suffered, losing Marata Niukore to a knee injury. But the first half proved there was life without V’landysball. Parramatta dominated the early possession, with the Raiders inviting a lot of it onto themselves with loose ball handling. But they were able to defend their errors. Joe Tapine was immense, making 29 tackles in the first 40 minutes alone. They were then able to turn the tide and work their way back into the game, with the Eels then forced to defend. Parramatta were able to hold firm to keep it at nil-all at the break, but it didn’t take long for the Green Machine through after coming out of the sheds. Raiders second-rower Hudson Young took time out from being a tackling machine to produce a piece of brilliance that would normally be associated with Canberra’s English contingent. He grubbered a loose pass that landed at his feet to force a goal-line drop-out – from which the Raiders opened the scoring. Sam Williams put Corey Harawira-Naera through a hole. Then Rapana joined in on the act, darting out of dummy half to score after a Sebastian Kris half-break. Just as it looked like the fourth-placed Parra were gone, ex-Raider Blake Ferguson produced a piece of individual brilliance – bursting through three Canberrans before kicking for Dylan Brown to score. The Raiders defended six consecutive sets before Sam Williams missed a field goal that could’ve iced the result with five minutes remaining. Eels winger Maika Sivo scored a controversial try after Dylan Brown appeared clearly be offside for the Jakob Arthur bomb in the build up. Then Sivo was denied the match-winner from a desperate Rapana effort that could’ve easily been ruled against the Green Machine. AT A GLANCE CANBERRA RAIDERS 12 (Corey Harawira-Naera, Jordan Rapana tries; Jarrod Croker 2 goals) bt PARRAMATTA EELS 10 (Dylan Brown, Maika Sivo tries; Clint Gutherson goal) at the Gold Coast. Referee: Adam Gee.

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Remember when games used to be grinds, before V’landysball? Before games averaged a combined score of 46 points?

Well this was a throwback. Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart built a lime green wall on the Gold Coast.

It was the first scoreless first half since round one, 2019. Before six-agains ruled the airwaves.

It ended up with the Raiders 12-10 winners over Parramatta on Thursday night, with fullback Jordan Rapana the hero as the fifth custodian Stuart has had to use this season.

He kept the Raiders in the top-eight hunt with a brilliant display that included a try, a try-saving tackle and his usual hard running.

It’s the first time the Raiders have won three in a row this season.

But unfortunately everything comes at a cost for the Green Machine.

The Raiders’ defence was brutal. Picture: Getty Images

They lost Josh Papalii to a self-induced concussion – where he slammed his own head into the turf making a tackle – and Josh Hodgson was also put on report for a high shot on Nathan Brown.

The Eels also suffered, losing Marata Niukore to a knee injury.

But the first half proved there was life without V’landysball.

Parramatta dominated the early possession, with the Raiders inviting a lot of it onto themselves with loose ball handling.

But they were able to defend their errors.

Joe Tapine was immense, making 29 tackles in the first 40 minutes alone.

They were then able to turn the tide and work their way back into the game, with the Eels then forced to defend.

Parramatta were able to hold firm to keep it at nil-all at the break, but it didn’t take long for the Green Machine through after coming out of the sheds.

Raiders second-rower Hudson Young took time out from being a tackling machine to produce a piece of brilliance that would normally be associated with Canberra’s English contingent.

He grubbered a loose pass that landed at his feet to force a goal-line drop-out – from which the Raiders opened the scoring.

Sam Williams put Corey Harawira-Naera through a hole.

Then Rapana joined in on the act, darting out of dummy half to score after a Sebastian Kris half-break.

Just as it looked like the fourth-placed Parra were gone, ex-Raider Blake Ferguson produced a piece of individual brilliance – bursting through three Canberrans before kicking for Dylan Brown to score.

The Raiders defended six consecutive sets before Sam Williams missed a field goal that could’ve iced the result with five minutes remaining.

Eels winger Maika Sivo scored a controversial try after Dylan Brown appeared clearly be offside for the Jakob Arthur bomb in the build up.

Then Sivo was denied the match-winner from a desperate Rapana effort that could’ve easily been ruled against the Green Machine.

CANBERRA RAIDERS 12 (Corey Harawira-Naera, Jordan Rapana tries; Jarrod Croker 2 goals) bt PARRAMATTA EELS 10 (Dylan Brown, Maika Sivo tries; Clint Gutherson goal) at the Gold Coast. Referee: Adam Gee.