Canterbury’s week in the headlines has ended on a high, beating Canberra 14-10 in wet and wild conditions at Bruce Stadium.
The Bulldogs’ bye week was dominated by reports that centre Bronson Xerri was unhappy and could soon seek a release after being dropped for Thursday night’s clash.
But Canterbury shook off their off-field woes with Stephen Crichton’s two penalty goals proving the difference as the visitors claimed their second consecutive win to start the season, something last achieved in 2012.
Fullback Connor Tracey was the hero as he scored a try, made the break that lead to Canterbury’s other score and saved two tries with desperate tackles.Â
The latter effort on Raiders rookie Ethan Sanders saved the game for the Bulldogs in the dying seconds.Â
With rain lashing down in the nation’s capital, the Dogs weathered the Raiders’ fast start before the contest transformed into a grind as Canberra struggled to break through Canterbury’s typically rigid defence.
But after Jacob Preston scored in the 71st minute, Raiders winger Savelio Tamale set up a thrilling finish by crossing moments later.
The Raiders could be without veteran props Josh Papalii and Joseph Tapine next week.Â
Tracey (188 metres) provided the earlier score for the visitors, while Crichton (142m) was also typically busy.
Xerri’s replacement, Enari Tuala, was relatively quiet in his first start of the year, running for 77 metres and making 20 tackles.
The Raiders couldn’t cap off Ricky Stuart’s 300th match as coach with a win, although Tamale was a shining light, scoring twice, running for 239 metres, and making seven tackle busts.
Second-rower Noah Martin impressed again with a game-high 40 tackles.
Canberra’s hopes of retaining the minor premiership are already in doubt after a disappointing 40-6 loss to the Warriors in Auckland last Friday.
It took under four minutes for the Raiders to draw first blood when some crafty passes found Tamale open on the left edge, and he stormed over.
Canterbury hit back, dragging Tamale out of play before they moved swiftly down-field and Tracey crossed.
Things could have got worse for Canberra when Josh Papali’i was sent to the bin for a high tackle, but the Dogs only grabbed two points in the period.
However matters became worse for the Raiders with captain Joseph Tapine joining Papali’i on report after a high tackle.Â
As the rain intensified, the contest turned cagey as both teams coughed up errors and struggled to find any momentum.
The Raiders began to work themselves into the second half and thought they had been rewarded for their efforts when Hudson Young crashed over, but he dropped the ball.
With less than 10 minutes remaining, Tracey tore through Canberra’s middle, and moments later the ball found a barnstorming Preston who wrestled over the line.
The hosts responded immediately when Young received an offload from Sebastian Kris before finding Tamale, but Canterbury stood strong to complete the victory.
Re-live the action in our live blog below, keep up to date with all the latest stats in our ScoreCentre, and tune in to our live radio coverage.
Key Events
3h ago3 hours agoThu 19 Mar 2026 at 10:48am
3h ago3 hours agoThu 19 Mar 2026 at 10:40am
3h ago3 hours agoThu 19 Mar 2026 at 10:36am
Show all key events
2h agoThu 19 Mar 2026 at 11:41am
Signing off
That’ll do me, thanks for stopping by everybody.
Be sure to tune in again tomorrow night as we do it all again.
Take it easy!
2h agoThu 19 Mar 2026 at 11:41am
Raiders press conference
Canberra coach Ricky Stuart says the Raiders had the chances to win the game but couldn’t close them.
He seems pretty circumspect about the result.
“We won games like that last year and I don’t want it (the result) to cloud their judgement by a scenario where Sanders could have scored that try,” Stuart said.
“He scores that try and everyone is talking about our team differently. I’ll talk about them like he did.
“If they provide that effort every week I’ll be a happy coach.”
He’s sounded off about the stadium conditions as well but says the club has to get on with it because the people making the decisions “don’t care.”
“You should come into our dressing room, I thought it was raining in there,” Stuart said.
“They don’t care about the nation’s capital having a shithouse stadium.”
2h agoThu 19 Mar 2026 at 11:28am
Bulldogs press conference
Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo says he’s really pleased with the try-saves from his team, especially from Connor Tracey – says Tracey has been working hard on it.
He lauds the quality of the match as well, giving praise to the Raiders for their intensity.
Ciraldo says his team stayed focused despite the off-field distractions – referring, of course, to the Xerri saga.
Says Tuala, the man who replaced Xerri, “nearly blew up the GPS” at halftime because he was working so hard.
Ciraldo has some bandages on his hand – apparently a window broke as he was opening it late in the match. He says Bruce Stadium has a great atmosphere but it deserves an upgrade.
3h agoThu 19 Mar 2026 at 10:48amFulltime: Bulldogs 14 def Raiders 10
Canberra’s last attack just falls short with Sanders breaking through after a dummy only for Tracey to drag him down in the shadows of the posts!
The Bulldogs hold on after a sensational defensive effort. Tracey’s a certainty for man of the match, saved two tries and made the break that lead to the decisive try.
3h agoThu 19 Mar 2026 at 10:43am
76′ Dogs survive a major scare
A floating Sanders bomb bounces, Crichton kicks it forward and the Raiders recover! They’re on the attack!
But the set never quite gets there and Young’s desperate late kick is cleaned up by Salmon.
3h agoThu 19 Mar 2026 at 10:40am74′ Raiders force a big finish!
Well now! Canberra put together their best attacking pattern in ages with Kris, Young and Strange all linking together with a series off offloads that ends with Young going through and finding Tamale to score!
There’s still life in this yet. Sanders needs to convert here to bring a penalty or a two-point field goal into play…but he takes the steelwork!
Canterbury lead 14-10 with five remaining.
3h agoThu 19 Mar 2026 at 10:36am71′ BULLDOGS TRY TO PRESTON
Heyward works a nice little pass to Tracey and he’s through the middle! Galvin in support, Young drags him down but on the next play Heyward and Curran combine to put Preston over!
Calling it now – I think that’s game. I don’t think the Raiders have two scores in them.
Crichton converts and it’s 14-6 Bulldogs.
3h agoThu 19 Mar 2026 at 10:33am
69′ Raiders keep the green wall
Kris knocks on a Galvin bomb and the Dogs have a scrum feed ten out. A try here could well kill the game off.
They force a drop out with a nice Burton grubber. Curran nearly plunges over but the Raiders deny him and then Kiraz is ruled to have tapped a kick forward. Canberra hang on.
3h agoThu 19 Mar 2026 at 10:25am
63′ Raiders let Dogs off the hook
Galvin loses the ball around halfway after heavy contact from Young and the Raiders will go on the attack again. They’ve had a fair bit of footy since halftime.
A deflected kick gives them another set. Scrum in front of the posts, Canberra feed.
But three tackles later Young runs a bad line, Sanders throws a bad pass and the ball goes to ground. The Bulldogs survive again, their defence has been very strong tonight.
3h agoThu 19 Mar 2026 at 10:17am
56′ Tracey makes a try saver
A set restart and a penalty puts the Raiders right on the attack. Can they finally trouble the scorers again?
Sanders goes short to Young, he’s reaching out to score but Tracey manages to knock the ball free. Fantastic defensive save from the fullback.
3h agoThu 19 Mar 2026 at 10:14am
53′ Dogs hold the line again
Tupouniua drops it in contact and the Raiders are into the red zone for the first time since the opening ten minutes.
Sanders puts a kick in and it’s not a bad one but just trickles dead ahead of Savage’s chase.
3h agoThu 19 Mar 2026 at 10:11am
50′ Raiders let another chance go by
More set-for-set footy until the Raiders get a set restart on the last around halfway, only to drop it two tackles later.
Young is down after falling awkwardly in a tackle but he’s up and moving well again now.
4h agoThu 19 Mar 2026 at 10:01am
Second half is underway in Canberra
Raiders kick us off and we’re halfway home.
4h agoThu 19 Mar 2026 at 9:46am
Halftime: Bulldogs 8 lead Raiders 6
A Young error puts Canterbury back on the attack, a Galvin grubber forcers a repeat set and a Tamale penalty gives the Bulldogs a fresh go in the shadows of halftime.
Kikau drops it but there’s ANOTHER penalty. But the Raiders hold fast and Tamale bats a bomb dead on the last.
A weird half of footy. Canberra’s discipline was just awful, they handed Canterbury so many chances but the Bulldogs weren’t able to take major advantage except for the Tracey try.
4h agoThu 19 Mar 2026 at 9:39am
33′ Raiders have a chance…and blow it
After a lengthy period of set-for-set footy the Dogs try and shift it in their own half and Tracey puts it down.
Canberra get their first attacking chance in a good while…..and immediately blow it as Brailey knocks it on at the back of the scrum. Give me strength.
4h agoThu 19 Mar 2026 at 9:25am
19′ Discipline killing the Raiders
Another penalty against the Raiders, this time for a high tackle from Tapine. He’s on report as well.
The Raiders give away a six again, then force an error, but they’re penalised for being offside. It’s been ten minutes since they had the ball, their discipline is killing them.
Crichton takes two more and it’s 8-6 Bulldogs.Â
4h agoThu 19 Mar 2026 at 9:22amSin bin: Josh Papalii
As Hughes returns the ball from the kick off he’s absolutely smashed by Papalii and Horsburgh, Papalii’s shoulder slipped up and got Hughes straight in the face. He’s on report and in the bin.
4h agoThu 19 Mar 2026 at 9:19am
15′ Dogs level it up
Burton nails a 40/20 after catching Savage out of position and the Bulldogs are back on the attack.
Starling gets pinged for a strip in front of the posts and the Dogs take the two to level us up at 6-all.
4h agoThu 19 Mar 2026 at 9:15am12′ Dogs reply through Tracey
Tamale loses the ball on the second tackle after the clearing kick and the Bulldogs will go on the attack.
They sweep it right, Crichton pops up on the right and hits the gap, he gets dragged down but manages to pop an offload to Tracey who scores! Great reply from Canterbury.
Crichton’s kick is wide and it’s back to 6-4.
4h agoThu 19 Mar 2026 at 9:12am
9′ Bulldogs deny Raiders
Back-to-back penalties put the Raiders straight back on the attack. A frantic scramble on the last ends with Savage forcing a drop-out with a grubber.
They spread it left, Weekes looks to put Tamale over but the Bulldogs get across and drag him into touch.
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