Voss heaps praise on Stuart’s Raiders after another defiant win

The Canberra Raiders have once again defied the odds to walk away with a crucial win in 2024, this time taking down the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs 24-20 in the opening game of Magic Round.

With the club celebrating the 30-year anniversary of the 1994 Grand Final win over the Bulldogs, the current-day Raiders put on a performance that represented everything the club was built on.

As the game headed to a tense halftime break, the Raiders had two players sent to the bin within four minutes of each other, gifting the Bulldogs an avenue to what seemed like an easy win.

But, Ricky Stuart’s side dug deep and shrugged off the deficit in the second half and despite, leading SEN’s Andrew Voss to label them as one of the toughest teams in the competition.

“What we have seen from Canberra this year and I said it in commentary, I’d probably have to review all ten rounds but I don’t know whether there’s a side in the competition with more fight in it than Canberra,” Voss told SEN 1170 Mower’s Club.

“Their last two (matches) have been incredible backs-to-the-walls wins and well-deserved.

“Ricky (Stuart) has had a massive week, he might get another (contract) extension on his extension, after the win last night.”

Stuart recently inked a massive contract extension with the Raiders until the end of 2029, meaning if he sees out the deal he will have be at the helm of Canberra for 15 consecutive years.

“It kept you watching didn’t it,” Voss continued.

“It was well short of being a perfect game of rugby league, for tension and just keeping you watching, it ticked every box.

“The first three tries of the match, directly from the mistakes from the opposition, three gifts.

“What about where Jordan Rapana runs into Xavier Savage and takes him, Canterbury were presented with a gift, after Canterbury had done two drop balls directly into the possession of Canberra to score.

“That was crazy.”

The Raiders face a tough challenge to maintain their spot in the top 8 as they face the Sydney Roosters next weekend.