The Toyota Forklift Raiders are back in the winners circle after a tight 33-26 win over the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Accor Stadium.
In what was a see-sawing game, a Albert Hopoate hat-trick helped secure the win for the Raiders.
South Sydney opened the scoring in the seventh minute after a right side movement found centre Jed Cartwright, who went over for his first NRL try.
Blake Taaffe missed the conversion, leaving the score at 4-0.
The Raiders bounced back with some special play, with Josh Papalii making a break up the middle of the field before passing to Pasami Saulo who continued the run. The next play saw Corey Horsburgh slam the ball on the try-line to score.
Jarrod Croker converted to give the Raiders a 6-4 lead.
Albert Hopoate extended the lead to 10-4 just two minutes later, going over in the corner for a four-pointer.
Hopoate scored his second of the night in the 23rd minute off the back of a great line-break by Horsburgh through the middle of the field. Croker added the two points, bringing the score to 16-4.
Sebastian Kris succumbed to a knee injury in the 26th minute, with Jordan Rapana moving to fullback and Nick Cotric coming on to the wing.
The Rabbitohs got one back in the corner with winger Alex Johnston scoring, closing the gap to 16-8 after 30 minutes of play.
Croker added another two points through a penalty goal in the 35th minute, with the scoring remaining at 18-8 at half-time.
South Sydney were first on the scoreboard in the second half, with a great pass from Cody Walker finding centre Isaiah Tass who found his way to the try-line.
Taaffe converted to tighten the score-line to 18-14 after 48 minutes of play.
A charge-down by the Raiders ended in the Rabbitohs regaining possession, and Souths winger Johnston scored a play later. Taaffe converted from the sideline to give Souths a 20-18 lead with 28 minutes remaining.
The Raiders regained the lead after a Wighton cut-out pass to Croker, who made a break down sideline and found Tom Starling who scored.
Croker kicked the conversion to put the visitors back ahead 24-20.
There was a lengthy delay in play while Corey Harawira-Naera was helped off the field on the medi-cab.
Damien Cook hit back for Souths, scoring off a Walker kick. Taaffe converted to put the home side back ahead 26-24.
Hopoate got his hat-trick after a Jack Wighton line-break found Rapana, who then found Hopoate. Croker converted to put his side ahead by four points with four and a half minutes to go.
Croker extended the lead to 32-26 after a penalty goal.
A field goal by Jamal Fogarty sealed the win for the Raiders, bringing the score to 33-26.
