Slipping past Parramatta Eels gives Canberra Raiders belief

But he was quick to deflect the praise from his starring role, instead saying the beauty of the Green Machine was everyone just did their job in the gutsy 12-10 victory over the Eels on the Gold Coast on Thursday night.

It took the Canberra Raiders into the NRL top eight, with the St George Illawarra and Cronulla results on Sunday to decide whether they stay there.

They've won three games in a row for the first time this year and have games against fellow top-eight contenders Newcastle and the Dragons over the next two rounds.

It's why their grinding win over the more-fancied Eels was so important, although he said the roots lay in their 30-16 victory over Manly two weeks ago.

He said Josh Hodgson (corked leg) and Ryan Sutton (ribs) had pulled up well, with Josh Papalii having to complete concussion protocols.

"It's massive. It starts way back at the Manly game," Rapana said.

"There was obviously some scrappy bits in that game [against Parramatta].

"You do that in finals footy against the big teams in the comp and you probably won't get away with it.

"On the flipside of that, the boys defended each other's errors and grinded it out."

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Rapana was sensational in the Raiders No.1 jersey.

Not only did the 31-year make the controversial match-winning, try-saving tackle to deny Eels winger Maika Sivo a try with just seconds remaining, but he scored what turned out to be the match-winning try, he ran for 212 metres, made two line breaks and made 12 tackle busts.

He also made 10 tackles as part of a first-class Canberra defensive effort.

But Rapana deflected the praise after starring as the fifth fullback option the Raiders have used this season due to multiple injuries.

"That's the beauty of this team and the players we have," he said.

"It doesn't matter where you're playing everyone just puts their head down and does the job that needs to be done.

"I enjoyed playing there - I got to touch the ball a lot more than I usually would on the wing - but I'm just glad I did a job for my teammates and for my coaches."

The Gold Coast's where Rapana grew up and the New Zealand international has enjoyed a good record playing there since he joined the Green Machine - winning five of his six games.

That family connection meant he needed 30 tickets for the game as well.

After two five-day turnarounds in the past three weeks, Rapana was looking forward to the nine-day break before their next game - against the Knights at Lang Park next Saturday.

He wanted payback against the Knights, who shocked the Raiders in Wagga Wagga in round nine.

Newcastle came back from 16-0 down at half-time to win 24-16 - a result that clearly still grated Rapana.

"Massive game. We got shown up by them down in Wagga so we want to get one back on them," Rapana said.

NRL ROUND 20

July 31: Canberra Raiders v Newcastle Knights at Lang Park, 5.30pm.