I’ll tell ya, some games you watch, and some games you live. Round 10 at GIO Stadium was the latter. A full-blown, heart-thumping, beer-spilling epic that had us all questioning our parlays by the final whistle.

It was a crisp Saturday afternoon, the kind where the Canberra sun plays peekaboo with the clouds, and the scent of hot chips mingles with freshly cut grass. The crowd, a sea of green and blue, buzzed with anticipation. The Raiders, riding high on a winning streak, were set to clash with the Bulldogs, who were looking to cement their top-of-the-table status.

First Half: Raiders Rampage

From the get-go, the Raiders came out swinging. Zac Hosking opened the scoring in the 3rd minute, setting the tone for what seemed to be a one-sided affair. Kaeo Weekes and Xavier Savage followed suit, slicing through the Bulldogs’ defense with ease. By the 37th minute, Hudson Young had added another, and Jamal Fogarty’s conversions had the Raiders sitting pretty at 20-0.

The Bulldogs looked shell-shocked. Passes were going astray, tackles were missed, and the usually vocal Dogs fans were eerily quiet. Halftime couldn’t come soon enough.

Halftime: The Turning Point

In the sheds, Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo must have delivered a sermon for the ages. Stephen Crichton later revealed, “Coach gave us a bit of a spray… We just wanted to change our mindset, come out with a little bit of an edge.”

Second Half: Bulldogs’ Blitz

Whatever was said worked wonders. Crichton himself ignited the comeback with a try in the 44th minute. Two minutes later, Jaeman Salmon crossed the line, followed by Marcelo Montoya in the 50th. Max King joined the party in the 57th, and by the 63rd, Viliame Kikau had bulldozed his way over. Jacob Kiraz sealed the deal in the 71st minute. Crichton’s boot added the extras, and just like that, the Bulldogs had turned a 20-point deficit into a 32-20 lead.

The crowd was in disbelief. Raiders fans stared in stunned silence, while Bulldogs supporters danced in the aisles. It was a comeback for the ages, equaling the biggest in Bulldogs history.

Post-Match: Emotions Run High

The final whistle blew, and the Bulldogs erupted in celebration. Crichton, the architect of the revival, was swamped by teammates. Salmon’s try celebration, referencing a past feud with Raiders coach Ricky Stuart, added a spicy subplot to an already fiery encounter.

As I nursed my fifth pint at the local pub, recounting the day’s events to anyone who’d listen, I couldn’t help but marvel at the unpredictability of rugby league. One half, the Raiders were untouchable; the next, the Bulldogs were unstoppable. It’s games like these that remind us why we love the sport—raw emotion, unyielding passion, and the ever-present possibility of the extraordinary.

– Ian

Rather get these updates in your inbox?