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Jordan Rapana has nailed two field goals to lead the Raiders to a dramatic 26-25 victory over the Dolphins in the second period of golden point in Redcliffe.
However, Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett railed against "all the mistakes" that went against his team during the latter stages of an absorbing contest.
The two sides scored four tries each in a thrilling contest at Dolphins Stadium, before Jamayne Isaako nailed a field goal with eight minutes to go.
Rapana, who had never scored a field goal in his 208-game NRL career before Saturday, then stepped up for the Raiders to send the game to golden point.
"Jordan, he's an unbelievable competitor," Raiders coach Ricky Stuart said.
"He's just a warrior. I love coaching him. He's the hardest man in the world to coach, but the boys love playing with him."
Some desperate defence from the Raiders — and a controversial penalty for blocking — held the Dolphins out throughout a dramatic first period of extra time.
Isaako had one field goal chalked off after Max Plath was pinged for blocking, a second deflected wide by Joe Tapine, and Rapana made a desperate tackle to deny Isaiya Katoa a try.
Rapana missed a field goal attempt in the first period of extra time, but made no mistake with his second effort to send the Raiders faithful home happy.
However, Bennett was far from pleased, questioning why the Dolphins field goal was chalked off when the Raiders' was allowed to stand.
"You'll have to wain until Monday when Graham Annesley gives his report about all the mistakes they made," Bennett said in his press conference.
"The Joe Tapane [incident] at the end, was that any worse than what Max Plath did [at the play the ball]?
"I've got two players knocked out tonight. No reports. No penalties. Both were head highs, they both had to go off the field.
"Connelly got knocked there with a pretty forceful head high … and there was no action taken there, and there was the other one with Herbie Farnworth. No action was taken.
"Both times they get sent by the doctor in The Bunker for head assessments because they were hit in the head.
"My players need some answers. That's the only satisfaction we'll get."
Earlier, the Dragons overcame a 10-0 first-half deficit to beat the Panthers thanks to four second-half tries in soaking conditions in Penrith.
The Panthers, without five Origin stars and the injured Nathan Cleary, were 10-0 up at the break thanks to tries to Paul Alamoti and 19-year-old Jesse McLean.
However, the Dragons, without three of their own Origin stars, powered back into contention in a blistering second period that completely turned the tables on the three-time defending premiers.
Right from the restart, winger Sione Finau made a stunning break, and the Dragons fed off his start to score four unanswered tries.
Toby Couchman, Tyrell Sloan, Mathew Feagai and Raymond Faitala-Mariner all crossed to blitz past Penrith at a sodden Panthers stadium.
Kyle Flanagan confirmed his father, coach Shane Flanagan, gave the team a hefty spray at half time, with Shane adding later that journalists did not what to know what he said at half-time.
"It wasn't pretty, was it?" he said, looking at a nervously-laughing Jack de Belin.
"I was really disappointed with the way we played in the first half … It was awful," he added.
"We just didn't give ourselves a chance.
"We needed the break and I needed to get them into the room and to their credit they responded really well.
"You've probably only got two or three [sprays] per year, and I've used one.
"I'm just glad I've got a team with a bit of character, some other teams might have felt it was a bit too hard."
Look back on how all the action unfolded in our live blog.
Wayne Bennett slams 'all the mistakes' the referees made
Wayne Bennett is not a happy Dolphin.
"You'll have to wain until Monday when Graham Annesley gives his report about all the mistakes they made," he says in his press conference.
"The Joe Tapane [incident] at the end, was that any worse than what Max Plath did [at the play the ball]?
"I've got two players knocked out tonight. No reports. No penalties. Both were head highs, they both had to go off the field.
"I can't answer those questions.
"Connelly got knocked there with a pretty forceful head high … and there was no action taken there, and there was the other one with Herbie Farnworth. NO action was taken.
"Both times they get sent by the doctor in the bunker for head assessments because they were hit in the head.
"My players need some answers. That's the only satisfaction we'll get."
Mark
Nicholls
does not want to get drawn on whether the Dolphins didn't get the rub of the green.
Jordan Rapana nails two field goals to win golden point classic against Dolphins
Jordan Rapana's final five minutes were really quite something.
He has nailed two field goals, saved a try with a last-gasp tackle in golden point and led his side to a dramatic victory over the Dolphins.
There was controversy throughout, especially at the end of the contest, where the Dolphins felt they had the game won only to see a player get pinged for blocking at the field goal.
Jamayne Isaako missed two other attempts at match-winning field goals for a Dolphins team that lost skipper Jesse
Bromwich
to what is being described as a rib injury inside five minutes.
Jordan Rapana had never kicked a field goal in 208 NRL appearances
Before tonight.
Now he has kicked two.
Extraordinary
GGGGOOALlllll Raiders
- Micko
THE DOLPHINS ARE FUMING!
The Dolphins say there was a player knocked out of attempting to charge the ball down.
Marshall-King even got a touch to the ball but felt that he was blocked and held!
RAIDERS WIN!
RAPANA NAILS THE KICK!
3' to go: ISAAKO MISSES!
Oh my goodness! Another chance goes begging for the Dolphins - their fourth in golden point!
This time it's Isaako misses to the left and sends the ball onto the roof of the Dolphins Leagues club.
And it gives the Raiders a seven tackle set.
4' to go: SIX AGAIN FOR THE DOLPHINS!
The Raiders markers were not square and it's going to be a six again!
Five minutes down, we're still going
That's half time in golden point.
There were three attempts at scoring in that five minute period.
For the Dolphins we've had a penalty that scrubbed off a field goal. A charged down kick. A desperate tackle.
Then, a missed attempt for the Raiders.
Extraordinary.
86' RAPANA MISSES THE KICK!
There are five seconds remaining!
He's missed it JUST to the right!
There is one minute remaining in golden point
This is incredible drama.
The Raiders will have a chance here after moving the ball up field off the back of that seven tackle set.
85' IS KATOA FOULED!
OH MY GOODNESS!
Isaako can't get a kick away so the ball goes to Katoa, who grubbers through to himself, he is hit by Jordan Rapana with the shoulder as they compete for the ball.
Katoa is furious and thinks he was fouled - I'm not sure he was...
Katoa knocks the ball on I think.
84' THE RAIDERS GET A HAND ON THE FIELD GOAL!
Joey Tapine got his hand up and deflected the drop kick just past the outside of the post!
And now the Dolphins will have another go from the goalline drop out!
THE RAIDERS KICK IT LONG!
83' RAIDERS KNOCK ON!
Simi Sasagi
puts the ball on Kenneath Bromwich's foot as he got to marker!
It's a knock on!
The Dolphins will have another go!
82' PENALTY CANBERRA!
THERE ARE BLOCKERS FOR THE FIELD GOAL ATTEMPT!
MAX PLATH IS PINGED JUST AS ISAAKO NAILS THE FIELD GOAL!
82' MAX PLATH WITH THE CHARGE DOWN!
This sets up the Dolphins!
Max Plath threw up his arms, ran for the ball and then dived on it with such desperation!
81' We're underway in golden point!
Hold onto your ponchos, we're going in...
Dolphins will be without Trai Fuller
Herbie Farnworth is still off for his HIA for another five minutes or so.
Could that be crucial?
Dolphins and Raiders go to golden point!
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