Jordan Rapana's two brilliant tries highlight the attacking force that is the Canberra Raiders, but it was the ability to grind out a close win that most pleased the winger.
More Rugby League Videos
- Video duration
- 00:46
Tetevano's classic case of white line ...
Tetevano's classic case of white line fever
The Roosters could have scored a brilliant try except Zane Tetevano forgot to look to his left.
Up Next
League legend charged with child sex abuse
- Video duration
- 00:30
- Video duration
- 00:30
League legend charged with child sex abuse
League legend charged with child sex abuse
Australian rugby league "Immortal" Graeme Langlands has been charged with six counts of indecent dealing with a girl under 16. Vision: Seven News.
Up Next
Rugby League: England crush Papua New Guinea
- Video duration
- 01:30
- Video duration
- 01:30
Rugby League: England crush Papua New ...
Rugby League: England crush Papua New Guinea
England will now move to the Rugby League World Cup semi-finals against Tonga.
Up Next
Fiji defeat New Zealand
- Video duration
- 01:30
- Video duration
- 01:30
Fiji defeat New Zealand
Fiji defeat New Zealand
Fiji cause an upset win, beating New Zealand in a tryless game in Wellington.
Up Next
Fiji dominate Wales as PNG finally overcome Ireland
- Video duration
- 01:30
- Video duration
- 01:30
Fiji dominate Wales as PNG finally ...
Fiji dominate Wales as PNG finally overcome Ireland
Fiji demolish Wales in Townsville, while Papua New Guinea score an exciting win against Ireland in Port Moresby.
Up Next
Rugby League World Cup: Ireland upset Italians
- Video duration
- 01:29
- Video duration
- 01:29
Rugby League World Cup: Ireland upset ...
Rugby League World Cup: Ireland upset Italians
Ireland's Michael McIlorum scored a try in the 36-12 win over Italy during the World Cup Rugby League game and Tonga put on a demolishing display over Scotland.
Up Next
Kaufusi: I would've loved to play for Tonga
- Video duration
- 00:18
- Video duration
- 00:18
Kaufusi: I would've loved to play for ...
Kaufusi: I would've loved to play for Tonga
Kangaroos forward Felise Kaufusi says representing Australia was too good to turn down.
Up Next
Kidwell unhappy with Taumalolo's handling of withdrawal
- Video duration
- 00:50
- Video duration
- 00:50
Kidwell unhappy with Taumalolo's handling ...
Kidwell unhappy with Taumalolo's handling of withdrawal
The Kiwis coach is still yet to have a conversation with the Cowboys wrecking ball about his decision to join Tonga for the World Cup.
Tetevano's classic case of white line fever
The Roosters could have scored a brilliant try except Zane Tetevano forgot to look to his left.
Rapana's first-half capped off the platform laid by Raiders big boppers Junior Paulo and Shannon Boyd as the Green Machine gutsed out a 24-16 victory over the Sydney Roosters at Canberra Stadium on Sunday - their first win over a top-four team this season.
The 27-year-old also produced a Houdini act that completely deceived Roosters lock Zane Tetevano to save a certain try.
He ran for 156 metres and took his season try tally to 11 in front of 14,786 fans.
After Roosters captain Jake Friend marked his 200th NRL game with the opening try, Rapana scored his brace to swing the game the home team's way.
His first try came off a Joey Leilua off-load before he beat three Roosters from long range and his second when an overlap appeared to disappear before he stepped back inside to open the door again.
It prompted NRL guru Gus Gould to exclaim: "He'd slip through a keyhole, Rapana".
"We've lost a few close ones in the past, but to get that win it definitely shows we're coming along and able to grind out a match," Rapana said.
"I think I almost blew the first one [try] and [was] lucky the other one they all fell over so I just dived over the line.
"It always gives you a bit of confidence getting tries early and I'd have to say a lot of the credit comes from [Blake Austin], Elliott [Whitehead] and Joey [Leilua], who do all the hard work and I'm just there to finish it off."
But arguably his most important effort came in the second half when the Roosters appeared certain to score, trailing by just 10 points in a second-half arm wrestle.
The visitors had a three-man overlap and 30m to work in with only Rapana to beat.
He somehow convinced Tetevano to hold on to the ball and go for the try himself only to be stopped in his tracks.
"I saw it was a front-rower and thought maybe he might try and go himself here and he did, and blew it. Again, I was just lucky," Rapana said.
Rapana's double and a Jarrod Croker try, which brought up his 1500th NRL point, had set up that 10-point lead in the first half. The Green Machine dominated large parts of the second as well, but just couldn't quite land the killer blow.
Following their State of Origin omission, Canberra big boppers Junior Paulo (99m) and Shannon Boyd (91m) both almost had 100m halves.
The Roosters fought their way back into the game in the final quarter, but appeared to have blown their chance when Tetevano bombed his try.
A Joseph Manu try and a long-range Latrell Mitchell one made it a tight finish, before Raiders halfback Aidan Sezer swooped on a loose ball to score on the siren and seal the result.
NRL pundit Greg Alexander said in the lead-up to the game the Raiders were almost impossible to beat if they held onto the ball, and Raiders coach Ricky Stuart said first-half possession had been a key.
He admitted you'd have to be "Superman" not to get nervous at the end of the game.
"We had about 16 out of 19 [sets completed] in the first half and then that gives you a little bit of consistent flow of football, that helps when you've got those types of guys attacking wise [like Rapana]," Stuart said.
"We haven't had those types of stats over the last month and I thought we were more disciplined with the football tonight and then that helps you defensively."
AT A GLANCE
CANBERRA RAIDERS 24 (Jordan Rapana 2, Jarrod Croker, Aidan Sezer tries; Croker 4 goals) bt SYDNEY ROOSTERS 16 (Jake Friend, Joseph Manu, Latrell Mitchell tries; Michael Gordon 2 goals) at Canberra Stadium. Referees: Henry Perenara, Dave Munro. Crowd: 14,786.