The Raiders victory- their second in succession- avenges the 36-6 drubbing they experienced at NorthPower Stadium earlier in the 2002 NRL season.

Canberra’s Mark McLinden- playing at the halfback position for coach Matt Elliott- scored two tries, while captain Simon Woolford controlled the game with an excellent display at hooker.

The Eagles at times looked dangerous, especially in broken play, but couldn’t work through an undisciplined performance that saw them constantly turn the ball over with skill errors and penalties.

The Eagles looked like scoring the game’s first try when fullback Brendon Reeves broke through the middle of the ruck and put five eighth Luke Williamson in the clear. The play was stopped by a try saving tackle from winger Michael Robertson, who pulled down Williamson 15 metres from the tryline.

Immediately after, the Eagles received a penalty from referee Sean Hampstead for offside, but Williamson couldn’t add two points by slamming the conversion into the uprights.

A high mistake rate from the Raiders helped the Eagles enjoy the territorial advantage in the first ten minutes, but the visitors were finding it hard to crack through some swarming defence.

In the 14th minute a brilliant pass from stand-in captain Nik Kosef put winger John Hopoate behind the defence, and the Northern Eagles barnstormer had too much speed and power for Clinton Schifcofske to cross out wide.

Williamson struck the uprights with his kick from the sideline, but the ball bounced over the bar to put Northern up 6-0.

Canberra were struggling to get possession of the football, and when they did complete their sets they were let down by a poor kick-chase game.

Reeves was a handful in transition for the Raiders, making a number of strong breaks when returning the football from inside the Eagles half.

But after a penalty for offside created some space for attack the Raiders hit back through second rower Michael Hodgson. Raiders captain Simon Woolford got loose from dummy half, and after isolating Eagles front rower Danny Lima in the line, put Hodgson over for the four pointer with a brilliant short pass.

Poor discipline by Northern was allowing Canberra to build up pressure, but they managed to hold front rower Ruben Wiki up over the line for a five-metre scrum.

The Eagles defence from the scrum base left a lot be desired, allowing Raiders half Mark McLinden to step past three tacklers and score easily under the posts.

The try converted by Schifcofske, establishing a six point lead for Canberra with 13 minutes left in the half

With six minutes remaining, the Raiders Brett Finch attempted a field goal that missed to the left, the score remaining 12-6 in favor of the home side at the break.

Two more quick penalties again put the Eagles under pressure in the second half. Northern were behind 7-1 on the count, and referee Hampstead was clearly tired of their antics in defence.

Finally, after pressuring for ten minutes, the Raiders crossed for the decisive third try. Woolford again got clear from dummy half and combined with Finch to draw fullback Reeves, and found McLinden waiting in the wings to cross for his second try of the match.

Schifcofske’s third conversion put the game firmly in the Raiders grasp, leading 18-6 with half an hour remaining.

The Raiders sealed victory on the hour when Finch terrorised Eagles five eighth Luke Dorn into throwing the ball away, Phil Graham was the closest player to the ball and scored underneath the uprights.

Schifcofske’s extra two points made the difference three converted tries, before Northern scored consolation four-pointers to centre Albert Torrens and Reeves, the Eagles best player on the day.

With a minute left, Canberra centre Jason Croker scored a try to make the final scoreline 28-16.

The win lifts the Raiders to 9 competition points and puts them jut one victory outside of the National Rugby League top eight.