That one came down to the wire! The Canberra Raiders have continued to assert their dominance at the top of the NRL ladder, taking down the St George Illawarra Dragons. “The Milk” have now won seven games in a row, their last loss coming in Round 10 against the then-ladder leaders Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. With two byes still to come and five of their last seven games against current bottom-eight teams, are the Raiders all but guaranteed the minor premiership?

That one came down to the wire!

The Canberra Raiders have extended their impressive winning streak to seven games after edging out the St George Illawarra Dragons in a tense clash, reaffirming their position atop the NRL ladder. “The Milk” are firing on all cylinders, having not lost a game since Round 10, when they fell to the then-leaders, the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.

With two byes remaining and a relatively soft run home—five of their final seven games coming against bottom-eight sides—the Raiders are in a commanding position to secure the minor premiership. Their consistency in attack and resilience in tight finishes have been key to their surge, while the spine, led by Jamal Fogarty before his departure and now anchored by a rejuvenated Tom Starling, continues to deliver under pressure.

While the NRL is rarely predictable, Canberra’s form, favorable draw, and points buffer make them genuine front-runners for the minor premiership. However, teams like the Panthers and Storm are still lurking and capable of late-season surges.

If the Green Machine can maintain their composure and avoid complacency, their path to finishing first is clear. The challenge now is not just to finish strong—but to carry this form into a deep finals run.