LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
The Bulldogs website, bulldogs.com.au, has reported that in a hard-fought match on Sunday, the Raiders secured a 36-24 victory over the Bulldogs, moving four points clear of their rivals in the battle for the remaining top-eight spots.
Throughout the first 66 minutes of the game, the gap between the two teams never exceeded six points.
However, it was Jordan Rapana who made the crucial impact with a try that brought relief to the crowd at GIO Stadium in Canberra.
Josh Papali'i then sealed the victory with a try right under the posts.
Surprisingly, this 12-point margin was the largest winning margin for the Raiders in the 2023 season.
With only two regular season rounds left and four points up for grabs, the Raiders are now on the verge of securing a spot in the post-season.
Despite the loss, the Bulldogs put up a strong fight, particularly in the first hour of the game.
Star recruit Viliame Kikau made several impressive plays, and Jake Averillo delivered a solid performance from the back.
The Bulldogs managed to respond to each of the Raiders' first-half tries with tries of their own, with rookie wing Blake Wilson scoring on the left and Jacob Kiraz juggling the ball before grounding it just before halftime.
The accurate goalkicking from both teams resulted in a 12-all scoreline at halftime.