Canberra fullback Jordan Rapana has kicked an 88th-minute golden point field goal to seal a 26-25 win over a brave Dolphins side in one of the great NRL thrillers.
The veteran had never landed a field goal in his career, but kicked two.
"That was a win on a lot of guts," Raiders coach Ricky Stuart said.
"I just said to (captain) Elliott Whitehead we weren't going to talk about the field goals because Rapa' will be doing it for the next six months.
"But honestly, Jordan he's an unbelievable competitor. He's just a warrior. I love coaching him. He's the hardest man in the world to coach, but the boys just love playing with him."
There was controversy over the match-winner with Dolphins hooker Jeremy Marshall-King claiming he was interfered with at the play-the-ball by prop Joe Tapine.
Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett was furious Tapine was not earlier penalised for a high shot on gun centre Herbie Farnworth, who left the field in the 76th minute.
Second-rower Connelly Lemuelu also copped one high and passed his HIA.
Dolphins winger Jamayne Isaako notched a 72nd-minute field goal for a 25-24 lead but Rapana responded five minutes later to level.
Isaako thought he'd won it in golden point when he nailed a one-pointer only for lock Max Plath to be penalised for blocking.
Tapine charged down another Isaako shot, Rapana saved a try when Dolphins half Isaiya Katoa chased his own grubber and then Rapana missed another shot at field goal in the final seconds of the first period of extra time.
Isaako hooked a one-point shot early in the second period of extra time before Rapana stepped up.
"Well you'll have to wait until Monday when (NRL elite football boss) Graham Annesley gives his report about all the mistakes they made," Bennett fumed.
"The Joe Tapine one at the end there (with the interference on Marshall-King), was that any worse than what Max Plath did? I've got two players knocked out tonight, and no reports, no penalties, both were head highs, and they both have to go off the field.
"As I said, we'll have to asked them, I can't answer those questions because I don't have the answers."
The Dolphins suffered a massive blow in the fourth minute when captain Jesse Bromwich left the field with a rib injury and did not return.
They suffered further carnage in the 65th minute when fullback Trai Fuller exited after an accidental knee to the jaw from Tapine.
The Raiders led 18-12 at halftime after half Kaeo Weekes and winger Xavier Savage shone.
The Dolphins scored a bizarre try after the break when half Katoa passed and it hit forward Connelly Lemuelu on the leg. Canberra knocked on in-goal and centre Jake Averillo swooped to level at 18-all.
Weekes then put on a blistering turn a speed up the other end to put the Raiders back in the lead.
Katoa set up the first try with a scintillating 40/20.
From the ensuing play Marshall-King burrowed over from close range.
Weekes lofted a tantalising bomb that Savage brilliantly leapt high over Fuller to snaffle and level at 6-all.
Second-rower Ata Mariota crashed over from close range before Dolphins winger Jack Bostock hit back.
Raiders skipper Elliott Whitehead touched down over soon after.