Bulldogs let another one slip as Raiders roar home in second half

THE Bulldogs missed a golden opportunity to move off the bottom of the table after they squandered a healthy lead to go down to the Raiders 34-20 at GIO Stadium.

Kieran Foran was huge for the visitors in the first half as they headed to the sheds with a 20-12 advantage, but his opposite number Jack Wighton stole the show after halftime with two tries in six minutes to turn the game on its head.

Canberra coach Ricky Stuart was adamant during the week that his side wouldn’t have one eye on next week’s showdown with the Roosters, but it looked like they’d slipped on the proverbial banana peel when they leaked two tries to end the half.

Things got worse when Tom Starling was sent to the sin bin four minutes into the second half.

But that’s when Wighton stepped up with two powerful solo tries to help his side move to 22 competition points, level with the Roosters ahead of the grand final rematch which could decide who gets into the top four.

Bulldogs caretaker coach Steve Georgallis must be out of answers after he watched his side forget how to defend as they meekly surrendered another handy lead to remain anchored to the foot of the table with just two wins in 2020.

Having conceded two late tries to end the first half, the

Raiders were reduced to 12 men when Starling was sent to the sin bin and then lost Curtis Scott to a left foot injury moments later.

Instead of crumbling, rookie Matt Timoko came on and earned a penalty with his first touch and from there the Raiders piled on three tries in 11 minutes in a show of strength that would have pleased Stuart.