Canberra’s 38-12 victory over North Queensland, inspired by a hat-trick to journeyman Michael Oldfield, has been soured by a knee injury to captain Jarrod Croker.
The Raiders blasted the Cowboys with four second-half tries in below-zero temperatures at GIO Stadium on Saturday night but they could be without Croker for an extended period.
The star centre dislocated his knee early in the match, attempted to play through it for about 20 minutes before going to the bench in pain just before halftime.
Croker’s absence seemed to flatten the Raiders after dominant start as North Queensland recovered to close the gap to 14-12 at the break.
Canberra was forced to defend multiple attacking efforts from the Cowboys early in the second half before the floodgates opened.
Oldfield crossed for his second try in the 65th minute and did it again five minutes later by intercepting a Cowboys pass, running the length of the field to put the Raiders up 26-12 to seal their eighth win of the season.
The Raiders opened the scoring in style through winger Jordan Rapana, who was playing his first game in three weeks after recovering from a hamstring injury.
Rapana crossed for his second late in the second-half to put the Raiders 18 points clear, while Blake Austin and Aidan Sezer, who filled in kicking duties for Croker, were also able to get among the points.
Star winger Nick Cotric filled in at fullback in the absence of suspended Jack Wighton and injured Brad Abbey.
Lachlan Coote and Gavin Cooper scored the Cowboys’ tries as the pre-season premiership favourites slumped to their 13th loss of the season.