Bizarre decision leads to 8-point try in Canberra Raiders win over Cronulla Sharks

Cronulla five-eighth Braydon Trindall was adjudged to have hit Rapana high as the Raiders winger was grounding the ball, and after one swift look at the replay the Bunker pulled the trigger on a rare eight-point try. In reality, Rapana would've barely even known Trindall had made contact with him in the act of scoring the try.

It gave Jarrod Croker two shots at goal and he made no mistake with either.

NSW five-eighth Jack Wighton was in excruciating pain in the Raiders' sheds at half-time when medical staff strapped up a rib injury sustained during the opening 40 minutes.

Just three nights after a bruising State of Origin game three, Wighton was already hurting before copping the notoriously painful chest knock.

Jesse Ramien wasted no time going after the Dally M Medalist in the second half, tackling him from behind to leave Wighton in all sorts of bother.

But Wighton is one of the NRL's toughest players for a reason. Just a minute later he was up the other end finishing off a brilliant Raiders try, started by excitement machine Xavier Savage in his second game.

Wighton lasted about 20 minutes of the second half clutching at his sternum after every involvement before finally leaving the field.

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If anyone was hurting more heading into this match, it was Wighton's Origin contemporary Josh Papalii, who was named to start earlier in the week but who coach Ricky Stuart shifted to the bench before kickoff.

Papalii said in the pregame he was still sore from his Origin exertions, and Stuart waited 34 minutes before unleashing him into the contest.

He certainly brought plenty of impact on both sides of the ball, and Papalii was the catalyst for Wighton's try early in the second half, dishing the offload back to Savage who carved Cronulla open.

The imposing prop gave Stuart a 26-minute stint either side of halfway before leaving the field and Papalii re-entered the game for one final

Stuart also managed to keep veteran prop Ryan James fresh for the first 60 minutes of the game. James didn't enter the fray until the final quarter of proceedings, officially replacing Wighton.

Canberra fans have always been blessed when it comes to those wearing the number one, and no nostalgia trip is complete without a little reminiscing on Gary Belcher's silk, Brett Mullins' loping stride or Clinton Schifcofske's evasiveness.

Young gun Savage is certainly doing his part to continue the trend. The 19-year-old sizzled at the back on Saturday, and scored the match sealer with six minutes left on the clock.

But it will be the courage Savage showed in the second half that would've impressed Stuart most. The young gun copped a heavy hit and appeared to injure his left shoulder, but he stayed on the field and earned his second win in as many matches.

Jarrod Croker is closing in on Johnathan Thurston as the NRL's third highest ever point scorer. His haul of 14 points on Saturday left him on 2218 career points, just four shy of Thurston's 2222.

Croker is still a productive, injury-free, season away from catching the man who is second on that list - Canterbury great Hasem El Masri who amassed 2418 points in a stellar career.

Way out in front is Cameron Smith who racked up 2786 career points across two decades - a mark which may never be toppled.

Canberra had all the ascendancy in the opening 20 minutes, and were dominating possession and territory. But when they were awarded a penalty in the 18th minute well within striking distance of the Sharks line, Canberra opted to take the two points through Croker.

Cronulla was back pedaling at the time and absolutely ripe for the picking, but Canberra let them off the hook despite extending their advantage to 10-0. It gave the Sharks a chance to recoup, and 15 minutes later they were in front. Raiders fans need not have worried.