Raiders defy Papalii send-off to defeat Bulldogs

Canberra have defied Josh Papalii’s send-off and Jack Wighton’s sin-binning to avoid another second-half NRL fade-out and run down Canterbury 20-18.

The Raiders led 8-0 at halftime at Suncorp Stadium but, outnumbered and after a cumulative 93-8 against them in their last five games, looked set to be swallowed up again as the Bulldogs scored twice to hit the lead.

Trent Barrett’s men enjoyed a two-man advantage for three minutes after Wighton had been binned for a cannonball tackle on Adam Elliott and Papalii’s shoulder rocked Tuipuloto Katoa with 19 minutes to play.

Curtis Scott of the Canberra Raiders celebrates with team mates after scoring a try during their round 10 NRL win over the Canterbury Bulldogs Albert Perez/Getty Images

Josh Hodgson was also placed on report for twisting the arm of Luke Thompson in a tackle as Ricky Stuart’s men appeared to be unravelling.

But the Raiders rallied while down a man, Curtis Scott scoring in the right corner and George Williams nailing the conversion to reclaim the lead.

Sebastian Kris then streaked through for another – Caleb Aekins assisting for the third time – to push the Raiders eight points clear with eight minutes to play.

Dallin Watene-Zelezniak slid over the line and, two points down after the conversion, gave the Bulldogs 14 seconds to conjure a miracle that never materialised.

Tom Starling of the Canberra Raiders attempts to break through the Canterbury Bulldogs defence Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Papalii’s send-off – the NRL’s second this season – and Wighton’s sin-bin followed eight sin-bins across two games on Friday to kick-start Magic Round.

Officials had given the order to crackdown on high tackles and repeat ruck infringements, NRL football boss Graham Annesley confirming before play on Saturday it would continue as part of their latest adjustment to clean up the game.

There was a rare sense of calm in a routine first half, Corey Harawira-Naera with the only try as the Raiders’ scrambling defence and some Bulldogs fumbles prevented a reply.

They finally found the line through Nick Cotric, before the Raiders temporarily lost Wighton and conceded again when Nick Meaney hit a gap on the left edge.

They were left ruing a host of half-breaks and near misses though as the Raiders (4-6) snapped a five-game losing streak and the Bulldogs sunk to 1-9.