Down 30-26 with three minutes remaining, fullback Mark McLinden scored under the posts to give the Raiders a remarkable victory over the premiership heavyweights.

Ruben Wiki, the best player on the field, scored after the fulltime hooter had sounded to condemn the Warriors, who had battled back from 26-18 down with eleven minutes remaining to take the lead.

The stirring win gives the Raiders a legitimate shot at making the NRL top eight, while the Warriors now have no shot at catching the Bulldogs for the NRL minor premiership.

After getting the better of the opening exchanges with some enterprising play on the last tackle, the Raiders let themselves down with some poor handling inside their own territory.

The Warriors though couldn’t capitalise, and soon Canberra went into attack with the aid of three consecutive penalties from referee Stephen Richards.

The Raiders opted to go for a try rather than take an easy two points, and captain Simon Woolford put prop Todd Payten over for the game’s first try, converted by centre Phil Graham to give Canberra a 6-0 lead after ten minutes.

Soon after the Raiders had their second try, Brett Finch and Woolford exploiting space in the middle of the ruck to set up a try for winger Jamaal Lolesi, who crashed straight over the top of the cover tackle from Warriors fullback Ivan Cleary.

Joel Monaghan this time attempted the conversion but was unsuccessful, the enterprising Raiders up 10-0 over their heavily favoured opposition.

Soon after, Jones chipped and chased on the last tackle then put in another kick for centre Vinnie Anderson, who crashed over on the right hand side. Cleary again added the extras, getting the Warriors back to within 4 points of the suddenly vulnerable Raiders.

Joel Monaghan this time attempted the conversion but was unsuccessful, the enterprising Raiders up 10-0 over their heavily favoured opposition.

On Canberra’s very next set of six, rampaging second rower Ruben Wiki blew holes through the Warriors, bumping through the defence of four tacklers to set up an easy try for centre Joel Monaghan.

The Warriors looked absolutely shell shocked down 14-0 after fifteen minutes, their powerful defence shredded by the Raiders classy start to the match. Canberra were making a mockery of their lowly position on the NRL table, finding it remarkably easy to smash through New Zealand in the middle of the ruck.

PJ Marsh, who had been mercilessly exploited early by the rugged Canberra attack, then threw a forward pass in the Warriors territory to put them under even more pressure. Richards penalised the visitors for holding in the tackle, and Canberra took the safe option by adding two points to the total, putting the margin out to 16 points.

After Stacey Jones earned the Warriors repeat sets of six with an excellent kick into the Raiders in goal that had to be forced by rookie winger Mark Asbock, their first real attacking raid resulted in the 14th try of the NRL season to centre Clinton Toopi. Cleary converted the Toopi try from the touchline, cutting the deficit to 16-6 after half an hour.

The Raiders had time to collect themselves at half time, and began the second half much like they started the first. Wiki was proving to be almost unstoppable with the football in hand, his bullocking running causing havoc and forcing the Wariors backward.

In the 45th minute, a good set of six by Canberra resulted in a try to Graham, re-establishing a slender lead for the home side.

Graham couldn’t convert his own try from the sideline, but the Raiders led 20-18 and soon forced an error from Warriors interchange player Logan Swann, who kicked out on the full on the last tackle.

Raiders lock Alan Tongue was then taken high in a tackle by Warriors prop Jerry Seu Seu, the penalty goal from Graham making the score 22-18 in favour of Canberra.

In the 58th minute a Mark McLinden kick rolled deep into the Warriors in goal, a despairing dive from New Zealand winger John Carlaw keeping Lolesi from bagging his double. But the next set of six enabled Asbock to atone for his earlier defensive mistakes, his crucial try giving the Raiders a handy 26-18 lead with less than 20 minutes remaining.

Five minutes later prop Ryan O’Hara crashed over, but video referee Chris Ward was correct in awarding no try, O’Hara’s run stopped by fellow big man Mark Tookey.

With ten minutes left on the clock, recently re-signed Warriors second rower Ali Lauitiiti crashed over wide on the left to give New Zealand a chance at victory, the try converted by Cleary to cut the deficit to 26-24.

On their next set of six, Lauitiiti busted a Finch tackle to put Clinton Toopi in the clear, who then flung a desperate pass to keep the movement going. The ball was toed ahead and the Warriors claimed a try. Brent Webb appeared to be in front of the kicker, but another Warrior was held out of play, prompting an argument for a penalty try.

Ward though ruled ref’s call, and Richards was satisfied that Webb was on side.

Cleary’s conversion gave the Warriors the 30-26 lead, before Mark McLinden scored with two minutes left on the clock to tie up the scores once again.

Graham, who had missed three earlier attempts at goal, converted from right in front to give the Raiders the win.

Wiki, best on field for the night, then scored after the siren sounded to give the Raiders the stirring 38-30 victory.