NRL: Raiders win sends Warriors packing

Tom Learoyd-Lahrs of the Raiders celebrates with fans after victory over the Panthers. Photo / Getty Images

Canberra will live to fight another day after hanging on for a nailbiting 24-22 upset of Penrith in Saturday night's NRL qualifying final at CUA Stadium.

In a four-tries-apiece affair, ironically it was a miss by the competition's leading goalkicker Michael Gordon which proved the difference.

The Raiders, though, were arguably the better side, denied twice by forward passes and once controversially when inspirational captain Terry Campese's brilliant run to the line was disallowed for obstruction.

The win keeps the seventh-placed Raiders' premiership hopes alive, while sending the fifth-placed Warriors packing after their loss to the Gold Coast on Friday night and the Sydney Roosters' victory over the Wests Tigers.

Canberra's claim to be this year's Parramatta remains intact with the green machine recording their ninth win in 10 games, becoming the first NRL side this year to win six straight the process.

It was also Canberra's first finals win since 2000, ironically also a victory over the Panthers.

The Raiders led 18-12 at halftime and extended that lead to 12 just three minutes after the break when speedster Reece Robinson beat three cover defenders after Panthers star Michael Jennings had spilled a ball at his own end.

Canberra might have put a nail in the Panthers' coffin in the 57th minute but for a controversial no try ruling from video referee Russell Smith.

Smith ruled Penrith defender Nathan Smith was impeded by a decoy runner as Campese beat four defenders and crossed.

It proved costly when Penrith winger Sandor Earl was awarded a ref's call try three minutes later after outleaping two Raiders defenders, replays proving inconclusive as to whether he grounded the ball.

In a brilliant sideshow, though, Earl's best was yet to come.

He somehow managed to plant the ball while in mid-air outside the field of play in the 67th minute for one of the year's most remarkable tries and get his side to within two points at 24-22.

The second-placed Panthers had some good news before kick-off with star Luke Lewis named after overcoming a calf injury, but blockbusting second-rower Frank Pritchard left the field with a leg problem in the 25th minute and Trent Waterhouse (arm) followed early in the second half.