<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>340456</docID> <postdate>2025-03-15 22:21:26</postdate> <headline>Raiders out-muscle Broncos to extend winning start</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-340457" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250315131587673506-original-resized-1.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="601" /></p> <caption>Englishman Matty Nicholson (r) was impressive in a two-try NRL debut for Canberra against Brisbane. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Jacob Shteyman</strong> in Canberra</span></p> <p><strong>Matty Nicholson, the latest Englishman to roll off the Canberra production line, has scored a brace on debut to lift the Raiders to a 32-22 NRL win over fancied Brisbane.</strong></p> <p>In front of a boisterous Canberra crowd on Saturday night, the Raiders were convincing against a Broncos side that had looked unstoppable in their round-one drubbing of the Sydney Roosters.</p> <p>With their team now 2-0 following their opening big win over the Warriors in Vegas, the 18,000-plus Raiders fans in attendance will be brimming with optimism about the young side's chances this season after claiming one of the biggest scalps in the competition.</p> <p>Despite a Jesse Arthars hat-trick keeping the score relatively respectable, the home side looked assured against Brisbane's attacking guns.</p> <p>Following the departure of the experienced Elliott Whitehead and Jordan Rapana over the off-season, it was unclear who would step up for the Green Machine, with coach Ricky Stuart opting to promote from within rather than target big-name signings.</p> <p>But he would be more than pleased with the performances of his two new recruits: Nicholson and Savelio Tamale.</p> <p>It took Nicholson just eight minutes of NRL football to notch his first, shrugging off Broncos enforcer Pat Carrigan en route to the opening try of the game.</p> <p>The former Wigan man scored his second to push the Raiders out to a six-point lead into the interval, as he follows the likes of Whitehead, John Bateman, Josh Hodgson and current teammate Morgan Smithies on the Super League-to-Canberra pipeline.</p> <p>Rookie winger Tamale also impressed on his home Raiders debut.</p> <p>The former Dragon pushed the margin beyond three tries in the second half, beating three defenders to score his maiden NRL try on the left edge.</p> <p>While Canberra's recruits made their mark, so did some stalwarts.</p> <p>After Nicholson's opener, veteran prop Josh Papalii notched his 65th career try, latching onto Sebastian Kris' bat-back off a Jamal Fogarty bomb, ensuring he has scored in every NRL season since 2011.</p> <p>He led a masterful performance from the Raiders' forward pack in the absence of captain Joe Tapine.</p> <p>Reece Walsh, Ben Hunt and Adam Reynolds were kept unusually quiet by the Raiders' muscular defence.</p> <p>Tom Starling continued his impressive form in the Raiders' No.9 jersey, dislodging the ball from Jordan Riki's grasp early on with a powerful hit on the larger man.</p> <p>The diminutive hooker extended his side's lead after halftime, picking up the crumbs after his dummy-half kick was blocked by a Broncos defender and scampering under the outstretched arms of Selwyn Cobbo to the line.</p> <p>Corey Horsburgh again showed how much of a loss his absence was for the Raiders last season.</p> <p>The fiery Queenslander soaked up three defenders before offloading five metres from the tryline to Matt Timoko, who finished with aplomb.</p> <p>Cobbo gave the Broncos some hope with 15 minutes to go, pulling off a smart one-handed catch and put-down to finish off a Reynolds cross-field kick.</p> </body>