Keith Richards, cockroaches and Ricky’s Raiders – they just can’t be killed

The great irony is that before the miracle came madness.

Raiders star Hudson Young attempted an ill-advised flick pass as his teammates jostled and schemed for a last-minute shot at field goal in Mudgee.

And veteran No.7 Jamal Fogarty could only offer a grimace at recalling his rushed 76th-minute shot at goal, which would have spared Canberra fans the heart palpitations they have become so accustomed to.

Rare lapses threatened to sabotage Friday’s last-gasp triumph over Penrith, a match Canberra never led until they ran 95 metres with the final play of the game.

Ethan Strange and Kaeo Weekes racing the length of the pristine Mudgee paddock will be a leading contender for the Peter ‘Chippy’ Frilingos Headline Moment of the Year honours come Dally M night (Mark Nawaqanitawase suddenly has competition).

Which is why the Raiders remain 2025’s undisputed clutch masters. Kings of the comeback, too. When the human race eventually dies out, it’ll be cockroaches, Keith Richards and this Canberra side still alive and kicking.

Of the 76 games this season where the margin has been six points or fewer in the final five minutes, Canberra have won nine and lost two.

No other side comes close to that type of late-game mastery, though Melbourne have prevailed four times in the past five weeks in tight contests.

And best for long-suffering Dragons fans not to dwell too long on their 5-9 record with games there to be won.

But if there is hope to be had, they might take it from Canberra shedding the unflattering ‘Faders’ tag – earned after blowing numerous double-digit leads and fluffing their lines at the death.

“I’d like to think that we’d be able to win before it gets to the final five minutes, but you do take a fair bit of confidence from winning a clutch game,” Fogarty says. “Especially because in previous years, we’ve probably lost too many games in those moments.

“We’ve always set up for field goals and practiced how we want to do them and Sticky mentioned last week that this could either win us a game if we execute it properly, or cost us one too at this time of the season, so it’s something we need to keep working on and improving.”

The Raiders have outscored their opposition in 16 of 22 second halves this year because they’re fit, fast and full of belief.

Fogarty and Stuart both point to a particularly gruelling pre-season, when pundits were predicting wooden spoons and bottom four finishes, and Stuart was quietly keeping the predictions in his back pocket.

Canberra have reeled in deficits no fewer than 12 times this year – knocking off the Titans and Dolphins in April after conceding 16 and 18-point leads.

The Sharks, Dolphins, Storm, Warriors, Roosters, Wests Tigers, Knights, Dragons and now Panthers have all been beaten in the final few minutes.

Canberra now are odds on to claim their first minor premiership since 1990 and the days of Stuart, Daley, Meninga and co. And just as useful,crucial golden point wins over Penrith and Melbourne to draw upon come finals time.

Had Nathan Cleary’s field goal sailed through the central-west air with even the slightest shift in trajectory, only half an inch to the right was all that was needed, this is a different story.

And even with two golden point losses in as many games, anyone questioning the game’s best halfback and his ability to ice a contest hasn’t been paying attention for the past five seasons.

But Penrith have been one of the greatest sides rugby league has ever seen, and Melbourne their closest competitor in the past five years, because they just don’t lose these games. It’s the opposition that blinks first, then panics, then implodes.

It takes an extraordinary effort to outlast the Storm and Panthers.

And when the Raiders beat Melbourne at Magic Round, Fogarty knocked over both critical shots at goal – first to convert Kaeo Weekes’ late try in driving rain at Suncorp, and then the golden point penalty goal that followed.

“There’s my lesson right there, and the lesson for the team in general out of getting the win [against Penrith],” Fogarty says.

“I rushed that shot [in Mudgee] and I knew it straight away. But there’s been times this year like the game against Melbourne where I’ve taken my time, calmed myself down and stuck to the process that works.

“That’s the same for all of us. We’ve had great coaching all year and as players we have really bought into that and trusted the work we’ve put in. It comes out when the pressure’s on.”

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