Canberra Raiders

NSW Origin representative Jack Wighton was the star for Canberra, scoring a try and setting up another as they fought back from 16-0 down to scored three unanswered tries.

However, the big news out of the match was the injuries to Manly's Martin Taupau (back), Haumole Olakau’atu (arm) and Dylan Walker (knee).

Olakau'atu is believed to be the most series of the injuries and will undergo x-rays for a suspected broken arm.

The Raiders had to overcome the late withdrawal of halfback Sam Williams after he failed a COVID test before the match and hooker Matt Frawley was ruled out as he was deemed a close contact.

Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad was thrust into the playmaking role, while rookie Adrian Trevilyan got his chance to start at hooker and showed the class that made him a schoolboy star.

Croker underwent revolutionary stem-cell surgery on his knee this off-season in a bid to save his rugby league career.

The 31-year-old centre barely missed a game in his first 12 NRL seasons but the past 18 months have been plagued by injuries.

A shoulder reconstruction after the 2020 season was followed by debilitating knee pain which led to several minor surgeries on his meniscus, and platelet-rich plasma injections.

But those solutions proved temporary and Croker went under the knife last October in a bid to fend off medical retirement.

Touted as an early contender for the premiership, Canberra must beat the Roosters on Thursday and hope the Sharks lose against Melbourne on Friday to ensure the simplest of passages to finals football.

Canberra and Cronulla could both lose, but The Green Machine would need the Storm to rack up a big score to bring them back into finals contention.

The Storm have rested seven players from last week’s loss to Parramatta against a Sharks side that’s in poll position.

“If you’ve earned the position of rest players this week, well good on you,” Stuart said.

The Raiders issued a statement on Monday to say the board had decided to take the action, effective immediately, after it had "carefully considered the statements made at the 'show cause' hearing with Curtis on August 17 and the material supplied afterward". 

Scott was signed by the club at the start of 2020 on a four-year deal when he was granted an early release by Melbourne.

The NRL issued Scott with a breach notice on Tuesday alleging the 23-year-old had brought the game into disrepute.

There were no police charges laid over the May 30 incident but the NRL's Integrity Unit has now completed an investigation.

Scott has been stood down by the Raiders club since Round 14 and that time served will count towards his NRL suspension.

Scott has been advised that an existing $15,000 suspended fine for a separate incident will also be activated if this new breach notice is confirmed.

Just days after committing to playing their games in Australia, the Warriors were unable to fire on attack as the green machine scored four tries to one.

Canberra led 6-0 at half time.

The Warriors were headed towards becoming the first team in 100 years of rugby league to go scoreless in their first two games of a season until a penalty try in the 75th minute ensured they would put points on the scoreboard for the first time this year.

The saying goes that behind every good man is an even better woman and Stuart believes Masepa Papalii is that someone.

The pair were sweethearts for several years before tying the knot in late 2018. Season 2019 not only saw Papalii shift from lock to front row, it gave the 27-year-old a third Mal Meninga Medal (for the Raiders' best player) in four years.

Papalii scored six tries, made 61 tackle busts, 31 off-loads, ran for 3830 metres at an average just shy of 150 in each of his 26 games.

Canberra beat several NRL clubs to land Bateman's signature and paid an undisclosed transfer fee to Super League club champions Wigan in order to recruit the England international on a three-year deal.

Likened to England teammate Elliott Whitehead for the ability to play in the back row or as a centre, Bateman faces stiff competition in the Raiders forward pack with Whitehead, Iosia Soliola, Joseph Tapine and Josh Papalii to battle for starting positions.

The 25-year-old has been predicted to light up the NRL when he arrives on Australian shores in December.

The Roosters could have gone a game clear on top of the ladder with a win at GIO Stadium.

Instead, their poor record in the nation's capital continued, where they haven't won since 2010.

The Roosters are locked in a three-way battle at the top of the table for the minor premiership with Melbourne and South Sydney.

The Storm are ahead because of their superior points difference.