Canberra Raiders stun Dolphins with massive comeback win

The Canberra Raiders have pulled off one of the biggest comebacks of the 2025 NRL season, storming home from an 18-point halftime deficit to defeat the Dolphins 40-28 at GIO Stadium in Canberra on Sunday afternoon.

After trailing 28-10 at the break, the Green Machine produced a breathtaking second-half blitz, piling on 30 unanswered points to rocket into third place on the NRL ladder.

It was a chaotic clash defined by momentum swings, sin-binnings, and some scintillating attacking footy as Ricky Stuart’s men found another gear when it mattered most.

The drama started early when Dolphins five-eighth Kodi Nikorima was sin-binned in just the eighth minute for a high shot, becoming the 16th player to cop a yellow card in Round 8 as the NRL’s crackdown on head contact continued.

Despite being down to 12 men, the Dolphins responded in style, running in five first-half tries to seemingly have the contest under control.

However, the second half told a different story entirely. Roared on by a passionate home crowd, Canberra’s forwards dominated the ruck, while playmakers Jamal Fogarty and Jack Wighton orchestrated the comeback with clinical precision.

The Raiders regained the lead in the 72nd minute through an Elliott Whitehead try and never looked back, sealing the famous victory with two late four-pointers.

The Dolphins, who had looked electric in the opening 40 minutes with tries from Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Herbie Farnworth, completely lost their way under the Raiders’ sustained pressure.

Unforced errors and missed tackles crept in, allowing Canberra to ruthlessly turn the tide.

For the Raiders, the comeback was a testament to their resilience and growing confidence in 2025.

Josh Papalii led from the front with a monster second-half stint, while outside backs Sebastian Kris and Jordan Rapana capitalised on every opportunity out wide.

With the win, Canberra will carry enormous belief into next week’s Magic Round blockbuster against the Roosters, while Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins are left to lick their wounds after a second-half collapse that could haunt them for weeks to come.

The Dolphins’ defensive frailties — conceding 30 points after halftime — will be a major concern for Bennett as he looks to arrest a worrying trend after a bright start to the season.

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