LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
'Crocodile Dundee' Bennett blows his top after Dolphins denied in heart-stopping golden point barnstormer
Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett was feeling more fiery than a kangaroo on a hot day after a controversial finish saw his side narrowly miss out in a golden point thriller against the Raiders.
The Canberra Raiders pulled off a miraculous 26-25 victory over the Dolphins at Kayo Stadium on Saturday night, leaving fans on the edge of their seats and players battling it out like gladiators in the Colosseum.
Raiders fullback Jordan Rapana emerged as the unlikely hero, booting not one, but two field goals in the game, showcasing skills that would make even the greats like Wally Lewis or Mal Meninga proud.
Both teams had chances to seal the deal, with the tension as thick as Vegemite on toast, but in the end, it was Rapana who stole the show with his clutch performances.
After an early blow with the loss of Jesse Bromwich to a rib injury, the Dolphins fought tooth and nail to stay in the game, displaying the kind of grit and determination that would make the likes of Darren Lockyer nod in approval.
A late try to winger Kurt Donoghoe and a spectacular sideline conversion by Jamayne Isaako leveled the score in the dying minutes, setting the stage for a nail-biting finish that had fans on the edge of their seats.
In a sudden-death showdown, Isaako once again stepped up to put the Dolphins in the lead with a field goal, but it was Rapana who had the final say with his decisive kick to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
In a game that will go down in the annals of Rugby League history, the Dolphins may have come up short, but they certainly left their mark with a performance that would make even the toughest legends of the game proud.