Valentine's day has seemed to move to August 17 as a 26 point haul from Valentine Holmes helped the Cowboys to a 42-4 demolition over the Raiders.
Both sides were looking to bounce back from embarrassing losses and it was the Raiders who opened the scoring first inside five minutes when Jake Clifford made an immediate impact on his return to the Cowboys side.
The Raiders had two attacking opportunities but turned the ball over and ill-discipline hurt as Scott Drinkwater threw a beautiful cut out pass to Valentine Holmes who scored. The Dragons bound centre converted his own try for a 12-0 lead inside 20 minutes.
Repeat sets on the Cowboys line gave the Raiders another big attacking chance having already blown at least three but this time some twinkle toes footwork from Seb Kris to keep himself inside the field of play and get the ball down in the corner. Jamal Fogarty missed the conversion to keep the score at 12-4.
The Cowboys then put on a points scoring fest on either side of the halftime break with Kyle Feldt scoring after Jake Clifford found space, then Tom Dearden scored after again the Cowboys split the soft Raiders defence.
Leading 24-4 at the break, the Cowboys added another two tries on the other side of the break as Valentine Holmes sealed his hat-trick inside 50 minutes with two more tries one off a Raiders error and then beating the static Raiders defence in the air.
It was all going the home-side's way as an error at the back from the Raiders gave the Cowboys an attacking scrum and it was a stroll in the park for Kyle Feldt to score out wide. A seventh conversion for Valentine Holmes put the score out to 42-4.
Nothing went right for the Canberrans as they blew another three attacking opportunities with two errors and then Danny Levi being offside chasing through a Jamal Fogarty kick denying Canberra anymore points.
Neither side tested the scoreboard in the last twenty minutes and the Cowboys held on for a 42-4 win.
Next week, the Cowboys have the bye before a clash with the Melbourne Storm; Canberra return home but it doesn't get easier with the defending three time premiers, the Penrith Panthers coming to the ACT for a Saturday afternoon battle.