Raiders into the eight after thrashing a poor Manly side

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Canberra Raiders v Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles

The Canberra Raiders are into the top eight for the first time since Round 3, thrashing the Manly Sea Eagles by 42 points this afternoon before their vocal home fans at GIO Stadium this afternoon.

With a top eight spot up for grabs, the Raiders had to get off to a better start than they did six days ago. It seemed that they answered the call early. Off the back of a quick tap from Jordan Rapana, the Green Machine crossed for the first try when Wighton's pass landed perfectly on the chest of Rapana to give the Raiders the early lead.

Manly were able to work in the game and pose several questions of the Raiders defence. But their final tackle options left a lot to be desired and it was one of these options that cost them big time. Hudson Young was able to pick up the loose ball and run away before linking up with Jack Wighton before finding Xavier Savage and the young fullback crossed for his fifth try of the year and extend the margin to ten. With the possession stats so lopsided, the Raiders soon had their third when a clever kick from Jamal Fogarty was batted back by Sebastian Kris and Hudson Young was jolly on the spot to collect his tenth of the season and their third of the afternoon.

Three minutes later, Manly were preparing to wave the white flag when Wighton found Young then Rapana before getting a wonder ball to Kris before linking up with Tom Starling crosses for try number two of his season and Canberra were out to a 22 point lead. The carnage continued on the next set when Fogarty put another cross kick up which was batted back by Wighton who got it to Rapana who kicked it to Foran who spills it straight into Jamal Fogarty's lap and the Raiders have another one to take a 28-0 lead into the sheds.

After a temporary stop in the scoring rampage, Canberra kicked off their charge for positive for and against territory when Hudson Young crashed over for his second from point-blank range to give the Green Machine a 34 point lead. Despite the dominant margin, you could see the Raiders were hunting for more, knowing that they'll need a win next week and hope that the Broncos don't put the Dragons to the sword next week.

Manly's best attacking play of the afternoon was rewarded when Josh Schuster went deep into the line before finding Kieran Foran who got a great ball to Brad Parker, before the centre got a magical pass away to Ethan Bullemor to stop Manly having the duck-egg next to their name. Unfortunately, their joy was short-lived when Koula put down a regulation bomb and Albert Hopoate crashed over to restore the 34 point margin.

This was extended minutes later when Corey Harawira-Naera found Sebastian Kris to allow the centre to join in on the scoring parade. Off the ensuing set, CHN was backing up in support to dive over in the corner to make it three tries in the space of five minutes. From there that was the end of their scoring, but the Canberra Raiders are into the top eight for the time being with an emphatic victory.