LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
The Raiders NSW Cup squad emerged victorious in a thrilling 36-28 match against the Sydney Roosters at GIO Stadium Canberra.
It was a seesawing battle between the two sides, both hungry for those vital competition points as the ladder begins to take shape.
The Raiders got off to a cracking start in the sixth minute, with centre James Schiller slicing through the Roosters' defence to dot down over the line and put the first points on the board.
Prop Peter Taateo then doubled down on the Raiders' lead with a powerful effort, maintaining a solid 12-0 advantage.
Despite the Roosters' valiant efforts to mount a comeback and breach the Raiders' defensive line, they were thwarted time and time again.
Before long, Schiller struck again with an intercept try, stretching the lead to 16-0.
The Roosters refused to back down, fighting tooth and nail to claw their way back into contention.
And while they managed to close the gap at points throughout the match, the Raiders ultimately held firm to secure a hard-fought victory on home turf.