Canberra Raiders continue perfect start with win over Broncos

Canberra Raiders sent a strong message to the NRL with a dominant 32-22 victory over the Brisbane Broncos at GIO Stadium, continuing their unbeaten start to the 2025 NRL season.

The $4.25 rugby league betting outsiders led by debutant Matty Nicholson and an inspired forward pack, the Raiders took control early and never let up, handing Brisbane a “reality check” after their emphatic Round 1 win over the Roosters.

Nicholson announced himself in style, crossing for his first NRL try in just the eighth minute before adding another just before halftime to help Canberra take a 16-10 lead into the break.

Coach Ricky Stuart was full of praise for the English recruit, revealing Nicholson had been bitterly disappointed to miss out on selection in Vegas but responded in the right way.

“The way he handled being left out of Round 1 was first class. It’s why I picked him this week, and he didn’t let us down,” Stuart said.

NRL Round 2 Highlights: Canberra Raiders v Brisbane Broncos

Veteran prop Josh Papalii also had a big night, pouncing on a loose ball from Sebastian Kris to score his 65th career try.

His performance, along with that of Corey Horsburgh, set the tone in the middle, as the Raiders pack outmuscled a Brisbane side that looked sluggish in the Canberra heat.

Horsburgh’s influence was particularly evident when he attracted three defenders before offloading to Matt Timoko for a crucial second-half try.

For the Broncos, winger Jesse Arthars kept his side in the contest with a hat-trick, while Selwyn Cobbo added another late, but the visitors were second-best for much of the night.

Reece Walsh had an evening to forget, making four errors and struggling to inject himself into the game as the Raiders’ defensive pressure kept Brisbane’s attacking weapons quiet.

Brisbane coach Michael Maguire admitted his side was caught off guard.

“They jumped into us at the start, and we didn’t react hard enough or fast enough,” he said.

“We didn’t capitalise on our chances, and that’s what happens in this competition if you’re not at your best.”

He also shouldered some of the blame for the performance, adding, “I learned a lot tonight, and I’ll be taking responsibility for making sure we improve.”

Raiders halfback Jamal Fogarty credited the club’s preparation after the Vegas trip, saying their high-performance staff ensured they recovered quickly and hit the ground running.

“The belief in our squad is strong, and we just have to keep backing it up each week,” he said.

With two wins from two games, Canberra is emerging as a genuine contender, and their passionate home crowd is responding.

Over 18,000 fans turned out for the Raiders’ first home game of the year, their biggest Round 2 attendance since 1999.

The test will now be whether Stuart’s side can maintain their momentum as the season progresses, with the top NRL bookmakers still having the Raiders priced at $41 to win the premiership.

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