Panthers defeated by spirited Raiders performance

An Xavier Savage double helped the Raiders to send English veteran Elliott Whitehead off a winner as the Panthers crashed to back-to-back to losses in the eve of the finals.

Savage scored the first and last tries as Canberra outlasted Penrith to snatch a 22-18 win after the speedster backed up an intercept by centre Matt Timoko near his own line to cross in the 71st minute.

Despite losing 42-4 in North Queensland last weekend, the Raiders were determined to farewell Whitehead with a win after nine seasons with the club.

Whitehead, who is returning to Catalans next season, was in tears at fulltime.

The loss leaves Penrith in danger of losing their top two spot and they could drop to fourth if the Roosters beat the Titans and the Sharks defeat the Dragons on Sunday.

The boot of Raiders halfback Jamal Fogarty was a feature of the opening exchanges as the home team took advantage of the windy conditions, with Panthers winger Brian To'o tested by a series of swirling kicks.

The tactic paid dividends when Canberra flyer Xavier Savage beat To'o to a Fogarty bomb in the sixth minute and tiptoed his way down the touchline to score the opening try in the sixth minute.

Panthers hooker Luke Sommerton got the visitors on the board when he ran from dummy half to score in the 10th minute after a penalty against Danny Levi as ill-discipline threatened to cost the Raiders.

Defending their line after conceding six consecutive penalties or re-starts, Canberra hit back through five-eighth Kaeo Weekes off a Joseph Tapine offload in the 23rd minute.

However, after earlier being denied by a spectacular Seb Kris cover tackle, Daine Laurie was awarded a try even the Penrith winger didn't think he had scored after managed to just get the ball down despite the best efforts of Albert Hopoate.

James Fisher-Harris had the chance to put the three-times premiers further ahead before halftime only to fumble the ball in-goal, but Rapana was penalised for a high shot and Dylan Edwards added the two points.

After undergoing a HIA, Fisher-Harris returned to score a spectacular try for a front-rower after backing up a break by lock Isaah Yeo in the 46th minute to put Penrith ahead 18-10.

However, the Raiders were far from done and Kris kept them in the game when he burst down the sideline before sending Hopoate racing over to score in the 60th minute.

Canberra hit the front nine minutes before fulltime when centre Matt Timoko intercepted a pass from Panthers playmaker Jarome Luai and found Savage in support.