Canberra Raiders 40 d. Dolphins 28 in stunning turnaround

The Dolphins have thrown away a huge lead in the nation’s capital, with Ricky Stuart’s Raiders forward pack leading the way in the come-from-behind win.

The Raiders’ vaunted forward pack have shown why Ricky Stuart might miss a few men over the Origin period in a stirring come-from-behind 40-28 victory over the Dolphins.

Hudson Young, among the most consistent second-rowers in the competition this season, dominated with 177 running metres and 29 tackles in a typically powerful performance, while Corey Horsburgh’s comeback showed no sign of slowing with 126 metres and 34 tackles.

Together, they led Canberra’s charge from a 28-10 halftime deficit to a stunning 38-28 victory in front of their home fans, snapping the Dolphins’ three-game winning run in the process.

And it’s the type of performance that could put them on opposite sides at Suncorp Stadium come May 28.

A halftime spray from Ricky Stuart helped the Raiders find their focus, but captain Joe Tapine said the young cohort rose to the challenge.

Corey Horsburgh led the charge for the Raiders. Picture: Mark Nolan/Getty Images

“A nice spray from coach,” said skipper Joe Tapine.

“He tested our character and put the challenge to us.

“I’m enjoying my time with the young fellas.

“People say they’re young and inexperienced but the way we’ve build them around our culture, they’re soak everything up. They’re all winners, and that’s what we’re trying to mould them into.”

The Dolphins looked a million bucks as they overcame an early Kodi Nikorima sin bin to lead 28-10 at the break, but the Raiders found a way to fight back and pile on 30 unanswered points in the second half.

Jamal Fogarty, who is believed to be on the verge of signing a three-year deal worth $2.1 million with Manly, put the icing on the cake with a try in the final minutes – and a 50m penalty to boot – to finish with 16 points..

CRACKDOWN RETURNS

The NRL’s high tackle crackdown reemerged in the nation’s capital, with Kodi Nikorima falling foul in the first 10 minutes.

Nikorima was sin binned in the eighth minute for high, direct contact to the head, though there’s plenty who might argue there wasn’t much force in the hit.

The Dolphins had a very strong start but fell apart in the second 40. Picture: Mark Nolan/Getty Images

But that’s irrelevant – or should be – under the NRL’s enforcement of direct contact to the head resulting in a sin bin.

It does have to be consistent, a sticking point for players and fans after a mixed bag through the weekend.

Corey Horsburgh somehow stayed on the field for high contact on Dolphins fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow on the hour-mark. Initially ruled a Raiders scrum feed after a Dolphins knock-in, replays showed the high contact, with Horsburgh put on report – but allowed to play on.

SECOND STANZA STRUGGLE

Jamal Fogarty put his contract dramas behind him. Picture: Mark Nolan/Getty Images

The Dolphins were near-impeccable through the first 40 minutes, but allowed Canberra back into the contest with poor handling, discipline, and a resurgent Raiders attack.

The visitors led 28-10 after a five-try first half, but they switched off at the break to allow Canberra a way back – and the home side didn’t need a second invitation.

While the Raiders had the bulk of the ball in the second 40 minutes, the Dolphins gave them valuable territory, while missing 26 tackles and making eight errors to two.

They ran in five tries of their own as the Dolphins capitulated, the half-time break turning them from playing like the world-beaters who smashed the Storm seven days ago, to mere pedestrians as the Raiders romped home.

Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf said the second half performance was disappointing.

“We put ourselves in a great position, we played some great footy in the first half, for whatever reason we didn’t put it together in the second half,” Woolf said.

“There’s plenty of reasons for it, plenty of effort, guys who played some big minutes and absolutely busted their guts to do everything they could for us.

“We made too many errors coming out of our own end, we didn’t quite get the fifth play right in the second half, put us under pressure and gave them too much opportunity.”.

Originally published as Canberra Raiders 40 d. Dolphins 28 in stunning turnaround