A controversial penalty called on Broncos forward Martin Taupau has cruelled the Broncos of a late chance to level the scores in a subsequent 20-14 loss to the Raiders.
With just under four minutes remaining on the clock, Taupau chased through a bomb put up by Adam Reynolds and in the process, accidentally collected Raiders winger Jordan Rapana in the head with his knee.
The collision caused blood to rapidly gash from the head of Rapana who then immediately dropped the ball.
‘Game-defining decision’: Controversial penalty cruels late chance for Broncos
Brave and brilliant Raiders end Broncos' unbeaten run
A brave, brutal and brilliant Canberra upset Brisbane in a 20-14 win for the ages at Suncorp Stadium to end the hosts' unbeaten start to the season.
The Raiders were hammered 53-12 the previous week by Penrith but were a different team from the start, even without suspended five-eighth Jack Wighton and inspirational prop Joe Tapine, who stayed home awaiting the arrival of his first child.
Raiders winger Jordan Rapana left the field on a medicab in the 77th minute with blood streaming from a gaping wound in his head after being hit with a knee from Broncos prop Martin Taupau, who was put on...
Rapana leads Raiders to Broncos upset despite sickening blow
If Jordan Rapana was rocks last week, this week he was a finely polished diamond.
But unfortunately for him he finished the game seeing stars.
This was the quintessential Ricky Stuart ambush - getting the Green Machine up from conceding 50 points last week to beating the undefeated Brisbane Broncos this week.
