Canberra Raiders star Junior Paulo believes he scored a controversially disallowed try during the Green Machine's dramatic golden-point loss to Manly on Friday night.
But the prop said there's no point dwelling on the incident with his side preparing for a blockbuster clash against the Canterbury Bulldogs in Sydney on Saturday.
![Canberra Raiders v Manly Sea Eagles at Canberra Stadium Junior Paulo.](/web/20170428204750im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/r/h/2/6/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gvre97.png/1493077003194.jpg)
Paulo was ruled to be held up in the 11th minute at Canberra Stadium in a game that went to extra time before Manly prevailed with a Dylan Walker penalty goal.
"All it needs is a blade of grass doesn't it, I believe I got the ball down but maybe it just wasn't our night," Paulo said.
"Toots [Jarrod Croker] as well, he slipped over, so there were plenty of opportunities for us to win the game but you can't think too much about it, we've just got to get on with things and get back into it this week against the Bulldogs.
"They've got a big forward pack as well and a lot of strike power across the the park, so it will be a job for us middles to hold ourselves accountable for whatever happens because without our go forward the backs aren't able to do their job."
The Raiders have struggled to prevail in tight games in recent years, winning just seven of 26 games decided by less than a converted try since 2014.
Paulo said coach Ricky Stuart is working the players hard on grinding out close wins, but added their attacking style means they live and die by the sword.
![Junior Paulo's disallowed try against Manly on Friday night.](/web/20170428204750im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/r/f/c/n/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gvre97.png/1493077003194.jpg)
"We're practicing that nitty gritty sort of style of footy and being able to try and play set-for-set footy with teams is definitely one area that we're working on," Paulo said.
"Also cutting out those errors we have in our game but that comes off the back of us playing our footy, you're not going to drop the ball if you're not playing risky footy and that's our style.
![Canberra Raiders Junior Paulo says he scored disallowed try in two-point loss to Manly Sea Eagles.](/web/20170428204750im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/r/h/1/x/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gvre97.png/1493077003194.jpg)
"You've got to back yourself and that's what the guys do, but we've got to defend as well."
One try that that couldn't be denied on Friday night came from superstar winger Jordan Rapana whose latest acrobatics in the in goal earned him another contender for try of the year.
"That's something that Jordan is capable of, there's a lot of things that not every day footballers can do that Jordan can do and he's definitely got his finishing down pat," Paulo said.
"He's got a couple of tries up there already which could go for try of the year and if he keeps scoring them the middle will be happy."
Raiders five -eighth Blake Austin put the kick through for Rapana's try and joked he deserved half the praise for the winger's heroics.
"I always planned for it to sit up right at the back of the in goal and it wouldn't have looked as pretty if I didn't sit it so deep for him, it was always planned like that," Austin joked.
"Jordan is the type of player that doesn't give up on too many plays so he's a pretty special player and that was a huge effort."
The loss snapped a three game winning streak for the Raiders but Austin said the team will still take plenty of momentum into the Bulldogs clash.
"I think it's fair to say we're really comfortable with where we're at so far this season, we were heading into that game to go four in a row and it went all the way," Austin said.
"Manly had to play some really good footy to beat us, so in terms of confidence nothing has changed there and we're really excited to take on the Bulldogs."
NRL ROUND NINE
Saturday: Canberra Raiders v Canterbury Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium, 5.30pm. Live on Fox League.