The Jersey Flegg Newcastle Knights suffered a 18-14 loss to Canberra at GIO Stadium on Friday night.
In a game where promising centre Bradman Best made his 20s debut at the age of 17, it was an exciting encounter and strong start for the Knights.
Ofa Manuofetoa opened the scoring for the visitors with a scoot from dummy-half close to the line.
Toby Marks nailed the conversion for a 6-0 lead before the home side hit-back moments later to level things up.
Kalyn will stay in place
With 10 minutes before the break, the Raiders were in again, busting the young Knights through the middle to take a 12-6 lead.
Best made his 20s debut off the bench with five minutes of the first half remaining.
He made a tackle break on his first carry but it was the other centre who scored the first try of the second half.
Lewis Hamilton crossed but the shot for goal was unsuccessful, reducing the difference by two.
While the Raiders crossed again to push the lead out 18-10, Ben Talty sliced through the line courtesy of a brilliant short ball from Bayden Searle.
The conversion was unsuccessful with the Raiders leading by four points.
Grant Anderson appeared to have levelled the game with one-minute left on the clock when he found his winger unmarked but the pass was called forward.
With no more time left on the clock, the Raiders hung on by four.
