Canberra withstood a late comeback from the Storm to record an upset 24-20 win at AAMI Park in Round 8.
Blake Ferguson bagged a first-half try double as well as two conversions for the Green Machine, his second four-pointer on the stroke of halftime seeing the sides head to the dressing sheds locked at 12-all and matching the try-scoring efforts of the Storm’s Jesse Bromwich (16th minute) and Billy Slater (34th minute).
When Ferguson converted centre Jack Wighton’s try six minutes into the second stanza the Raiders led by six points, and when Reece Robinson crossed seven minutes later and Ferguson piloted over his fourth goal of the match, the visitors held a commanding 24-12 lead.
However, Melbourne dug deep, with Justin O’Neill’s try in the 58th minute bridging the gap to eight points, before Mahe Fonua made things interesting with a try in the 62nd minute.
Cameron Smith’s inability to convert either of his side’s second-half tries proved the difference.
The Raiders dominated the second half, with an impressive 89 per cent completions, two line-breaks to the Storm’s one, and just seven missed tackles compared to the home team’s 15.
The Raiders’ outside backs made 21 tackle busts between them, with fullback Robinson running for a game-high 178 metres.