CANBERRA remain favourites for the wooden spoon despite a courageous 20-16 win over Penrith last night.
Despite losing luckless fullback William Zillman to another season-ending knee injury, the Raiders scored three tries to two to prevail over a disappointing Panthers outfit.
However, the Raiders remain top pick for the spoon, with betting agency TAB Sportsbet installing them $5.50 favourites immediately after the full-time siren. Penrith and Souths are on the next line of betting, at $6.50.
"Even though they got up tonight, they are still the popular pick, particularly after losing Zillman," TAB Sportsbet's Glenn Munsie said.
Making his return after writing off his anterior cruciate ligament at the end of last season, Zillman will require another reconstruction after the same knee buckled just before half-time.
Early in the game he showed just how big a loss he will be when he scored from a brilliant 80-metre solo effort, racing away for the opening try from a sizzling kick-return.
Zillman had only recently expressed interest in exercising the option in his contract that allows him to test his value on the open market, despite being contracted to the Raiders next year.
Scott Logan was also unable to return for the second half.
The prop, who was reported for a high shot on Jarrod Sammut in the second minute, injured his cheekbone later in the half.
The Raiders trailed 16-14 at half-time but hit the front when Marshall Chalk scored in the 54th minute.
The second-rower found himself loitering out on the wing in a reshuffled line-up, finishing a clever set play after a series of decoy runners. It turned out to be the winning play in a scrappy game in which both sides fluffed numerous scoring chances.
After conceding an early penalty goal, the Raiders streaked ahead courtesy of two quick tries in the space of seven minutes. The first, in just the fifth minute, was a combination of shocking defence and Zillman's brilliance.
Moments later Bronx Goodwin extended the lead when he completed a slick back-line movement that would have made the great Green Machine sides of yesteryear proud.
The advantage was short-lived, however. The Panthers edged in front right on the half-hour mark after two slick tries of their own.
Rhys Wesser scored the first, finishing off a second-man play when he sliced through off a Maurice Blair pass. There was some controversy over their second, which came after a Sammut 40-20 kick. Brad Tighe broke through the tackles of Todd Carney and Joel Monaghan from close range. But there was doubt about the centre's ball grounding.
The Panthers looked to have gone further in front when Sammut regathered two of his own kicks to plant the ball down next to the posts, but the lightweight playmaker's efforts amounted to nought when a support player was ruled to have been in front of the kicker.
The match threatened to explode just before the break when tackled hooker Luke Priddis kicked out and collected Raiders prop Troy Thompson in the head.
CANBERRA 20 (M Chalk B Goodwin W Zillman tries J Carney 4 goals) bt PENRITH 16 (B Tighe R Wesser tries J Sammut 4 goals) at CUA Stadium. Referee: J Robinson. Crowd: 7,503.
