South Sydney are all however out of the NRL finals race after copping a 32-12 defeat to the Raiders from a nightmare journey to Canberra soured even additional by Alex Johnston struggling a ruptured Achilles.
The veteran winger fell to the turf as he regarded to take a hit-up within the first half at GIO Stadium and was instantly taken off after the non-contact damage which abruptly ended his 2024 season.
After not too long ago overtaking Billy Slater into second spot on the all-time try-scoring listing, Johnston must wait till subsequent 12 months to grow to be the second participant in premiership historical past to succeed in 200 tries.
With 195 tries for his beloved Bunnies, he’s inside putting distance of Ken Irvine’s all-time document of 212.
Whereas it was a nightmare night time for the guests, Canberra gave their playoff hopes an enormous shot within the arm with their ninth win of the season to hitch the Dolphins and Dragons in a share of eighth spot.
It was an sad homecoming for former Raiders star Jack Wighton in his first match at GIO Stadium since leaving for the Rabbitohs within the low season.
Previous habits die arduous for Wighton – he wanted to return to the sheds throughout the pre-game warm-up and was comically turned away from the Canberra dressing room after taking a unsuitable flip when he ran again up the tunnel below the Mal Meninga Stand.
Canberra dominated from the outset and shot out to a 12-0 lead inside the primary 10 minutes after Jordan Rapana and Xavier Savage sliced via the South Sydney defence.
Jordan Rapana celebrates. (Picture by Daniel Pockett/Getty Photos)
When centre Seb Kris broke via down the left edge, the house facet was up by 18 earlier than Taane Milne obtained the Bunnies on the board within the thirtieth minute.
Rapana added a second earlier than Cody Walker controversially scored on the stroke of half-time when the veteran Rabbitoh appeared to propel himself over the stripe after he was tackled simply quick.
The bunker scrutinised the on-field name by rookie referee Wyatt Raymond earlier than giving it the inexperienced mild as boos rang out across the stadium.
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From 24-8 up on the break, the Raiders rumbled to a 22-point buffer a couple of minutes after the restart when Ata Mariota plunged over.
Tallis Duncan crashed his approach over and simply obtained the ball down in Elliott Whitehead’s deal with to bridge the hole by 4 with 20 minutes left however makeshift goalkicker Damien Cook dinner shanked the conversion try from subsequent to the posts to make their unlikely hopes of a comeback much more inconceivable.
The Raiders soaked up a while and prolonged their lead with a penalty purpose as they closed out what could possibly be a vital two competitors factors of their battle to make the ultimate eight.
Whitehead completed the match within the sin bin after flopping onto a deal with although it was after the ultimate siren in a farcical finish to proceedings.
Canberra have a formidable line-up of opponents standing in the way in which of their finals dream with a visit to Canterbury, a house conflict with Manly, a date with the Cowboys up north adopted by Penrith coming to the nationwide capital then away video games towards the Roosters and Dragons.
