The Raiders have claimed their second consecutive top four scalp with a 24-12 win over Souths at GIO Stadium in Canberra.
Canberra scored 18 unanswered second-half points to win the match after heading into the sheds trailing 12-4 at half-time.
The Rabbitohs scored the first try of the match in the 10th minute. Damien Cook darted out of dummy half close to the line before offloading and five-eighth Cody Walker stepped through the Canberra defence to score.
The Bunnies were in again eight minutes later when Greg Inglis beat Joey Leilua close to the line to barge his way over. Today was Inglis’ first game back after being out with a broken thumb for the past six weeks and he generally played strongly.
The Raiders hit back nine minutes before half-time when centre Michael Oldfield grounded a Josh Hodgson grubber kick just before the dead ball line.
They scored their first second half try in the 53rd minute just after Souths interchange forward Jason Clark was sin binned for a ruck infringement. Oldfield ran strongly onto a Josh Hodgson cut out ball close to the line to score his second try.
That made the score 12-10 to Souths, but the Raiders hit the front for the first time in the match in the 64th minute when five-eighth Blake Austin threw a great ball to charging backrower Sia Soliola and he scored near the posts.
Winger Nic Cotric then capped off a great performance with a determined try in the 71st minute. He burst onto the ball from dummy half and used his strength and footwork to get the ball down.
The loss is Souths third on the trot after they were also beaten by the Broncos and the Roosters in the last few weeks.
Raiders’ supporters will be wondering what might have been if they had been able to string a few more wins together this year.
Canberra Raiders 24
South Sydney Rabbitohs 12
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