Superman, I mean Bateman, answered the Raiders' SOS to fly out of an English telephone box and inspire the Green Machine to a nail-biting 12-10 win against the Canterbury Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night.

Oh, and you're not bad either Jarrod Croker.

It breaks a three-game losing streak and returns the Raiders to the NRL top four - although Newcastle will go back above them thanks to the bye.

Having missed just four weeks with a fractured eye socket and returning to England to visit family and friends, Bateman called Raiders coach Ricky Stuart to let him know he'd be good to against the Bulldogs.

Stuart didn't believe him, but that didn't matter.

He came out and played a gutsy 80 minutes to inspire the depleted Green Machine to a much-needed win in an effort that embodied the 3 Deep Down song about the man of steel.

Bateman ran for 118 metres and made 35 tackles.

They were without three State of Origin players and three other stars due to injury, but they dug dep to get the two points.

Young Raiders forward Hudson Young was put on report for an eye gouge on Bulldogs prop Aiden Tolman, but there didn't appear to be much in it with Young not looking at Tolman when his hand was in contact with his eye - although Tolman remonstrated after the tackle.

Stuart praised all 17 players for their effort, but said Bateman was not only producing on the field himself - he was inspiring the young players around him as well.

"That's him. There's no way he was not going to have an 80-minute effort," Stuart said.

"Having the Englishmen has been wonderful for the club and their experience has probably been very valuable for the younger boys now learning how to play first grade.

"But I'm not getting excited. We've had a tough month and we need to go again."

In just his second NRL game, Sebastian Kris scored his maiden try and it came out of the playbook of two Raiders players on the sidelines - Jordan Rapana (knee) and Joey Leilua (neck).

A lovely high ball from Sam Williams was batted back by Michael Oldfield, with youngster Kris showing good hands to catch it and charge over to open his account.

Just minutes later, enter Bateman stage left edge.

Again showing his soccer skills, the England international - fresh off the plane from the Ol' Dart - soccered ahead twice and then sprinted to touch down in the corner.

He outgunned teammate Bailey Simonsson to do so, despite the young Canberra flyer looking best placed to get there first.

Bateman almost had another moments later when he darted towards the tryline on the fifth tackle, only to be held up just short.

Bulldogs five-eighth Foran looked dangerous on the left edge as he continued his impressive return from a few years ruined by injury and off-field drama.

He teamed up with with halves partner Jack Cogger down the Bulldogs' right to get the home team on the board and then played a role in levelling the score shortly after.

Bulldogs winger Christian Crichton was able to get on the outside of counterpart Oldfield before putting it back inside for Marcelo Montoya to score.

The momentum was with the Bulldogs - until Croker produced a game-changing, one-on-one strip with 10 minutes remaining.

Horsburgh earned a penalty the following tackle and Croker put the visitors back in front from the tee.

Bulldogs prop Sauaso Sue produced a try-saving tackle on Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, but Nicoll-Klokstad returned the favour with one on Montoya when the Bulldogs flyer was away with just seconds remaining.

The Raiders travel to the new Parramatta Stadium for the first time to face the Wests Tigers on Friday, while the Bulldogs host St George Illawarra on the following Monday.

AT A GLANCE

CANBERRA RAIDERS 12 (Sebastian Kris, John Bateman tries; Jarrod Croker 2 goals) bt CANTERBURY BULLDOGS 10 (Jack Cogger, Marcelo Montoya tries; Rhyse Martin goal) at ANZ Stadium. Referees: Grant Atkins, David Munro. Crowd: 7213.