2023 NRL Round 13: Raiders 33, Rabbitohs 26

May 27, 2023

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South Sydney Rabbitohs and Canberra Raiders were looking to overcome round 12 losses at Accor Stadium on Saturday night.

Result

Canberra Raiders 33
Tries: (5) Corey Horsburgh 13th; Albert Hopoate 17th, 22nd, 73rd; Tom Starling 58th
Goals: (5) Jarrod Croker 15th, 23rd, 34th, 60th, 75th, 78th
Field Goal: (1) Jamal Fogarty 79th

South Sydney Rabbitohs 26
Tries: (5) Jed Cartwright 6th; Alex Johnston 28th, 50th; Isaiah Tass 45th; Damien Cook 68th
Goals: (3) Blake Taaffe 47th, 52nd, 69th

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In the lead-up to the game South Sydney centre Campbell Graham withdrew from the New South Wales Origin camp with a sternum problem and was initially selected to take the field against Canberra. However, Graham missed the game through injury.

It was the first time the Raiders had played at Accor Stadium since their 2019 Grand Final defeat to the Sydney Roosters by 14-8.

The game had it all. South Sydney rallied from being behind 18-8 at half-time to striking twice in the first 12 minutes of the second half with Cody Walker involved in giving his side the lead.

Jack Wighton showed his future club that he is a match winner with the first of two pivotal moments resulting in a break down the sideline with Jarrod Croker in support finding Tom Starling to give the Raiders back the lead.

Shortly after a dramatic moment for Corey Harawira-Naera who appeared to have a seizure on field, with the players forming a shield as the medical staff attended to him. He was reported to be conscious and speaking to the staff as he left the field in the medicab.

This event shook the Raiders who surrendered the lead with Walker’s kick for New South Wales Origin reject Damien Cook putting the Rabbitohs with their nose ahead.

But it would be Wighton who would set up the winning try with a break down the left side, finding Jordan Rapana in support to send Hopoate over for his first National Rugby League hat-trick.

Canberra’s victory moved them into seventh spot and equal with South Sydney on 16 competition points, however with a differential of minus 50.