By Joel Gould
A brave, brutal and brilliant Canberra upset Brisbane in a 20-14 win for the ages at Suncorp Stadium to end the hosts’ unbeaten start to the season.
The Raiders were hammered 53-12 the previous week by Penrith but were a different team from the start, even without suspended five-eighth Jack Wighton and inspirational prop Joe Tapine, who stayed home awaiting the arrival of his first child.
Raiders winger Jordan Rapana left the field on a medicab in the 77th minute with blood streaming from a gaping wound in his head after being hit with a knee from Broncos prop Martin Taupau, who was put on report, but not before he had played starring role
Raiders lock Corey Horsburgh was relentless and the impetus for much of their good work. His jersey was torn to shreds at half-time when he left the field, symbolic of the way he tore into the Broncos.
Queensland coach Billy Slater would have been licking his lips watching the cruncher from Caboolture strut his stuff with State of Origin around the corner.
The visitors were on fire in attack and defence and stunned the Broncos with an early try to Rapana after a sweeping backline play.
A bloodied Jordan Rapana leaves the field on medicab after a knee to the head from Martin Taupau.Credit: Getty
Rapana at his best is pure gold for the Raiders and he was on a seek-and-destroy mission to bulldoze his way over from dummy-half.
The only joy the Broncos had in the first half was a freakish try in the corner by winger Selwyn Cobbo with one hand, but it was the Raiders who led 14-6 at the break.
There were brutal collisions in a game high on physical confrontation.
Broncos back-rower Kurt Capewell was crunched early and went off for an HIA, only to return. Broncos steamroller Payne Haas skittled Raiders forward Pasami Saulo, who left the field clutching his shoulder but came back. Broncos prop Tom Flegler received an accidental elbow in the head and suffered a category one HIA.
Raiders prop Josh Papalii disappeared up the tunnel with an HIA after running into Capewell’s shoulder but came back after the break.
The second half was pulsating. Brisbane skipper and halfback Adam Reynolds set up Jordan Riki with a grubber but his opposite number Jamal Fogarty responded with a perfect bomb for Albert Hopoate to soar and score.
The Broncos kept coming and Reynolds again was instrumental in Jesse Arthars scoring in the corner in the 70th minute, but the Raiders held on for a deserved and character-laden win.
Canberra legend and co-captain Jarrod Croker played his first NRL game since round nine last year and in his 293rd match for the club landed four goals from four attempts.
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