Roosters coach Trent Robinson made us wait until the 59th minute before unleashing the returning Sonny-Bill Williams on this match.
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And he lasted just 12 minutes.
His first hit-up fired up the 3000-strong crowd, and attracted Elliot Whitehead, Hudson Young and Tom Starling who put a heavy shot on the superstar.
Otherwise, there wasn't much else to report for the Sydney journalists who traveled down the Hume Highway to cover his much-hyped return.
It was almost a busier first half for Sonny-Bill Williams, trying to keep himself warm on the chilly Canberra Stadium away bench.
Papa hurts shoulder
This was clearly the most disturbing moment of the match for Raiders fans.
Midway through the first half, Papalii copped a heavy shot from Isaac Lui and Freddy Lussick. He immediately grabbed his right shoulder, and was slow to his feet in playing the ball.
Soon after he came from the field and didn't return.
Early indications suggest it's an AC joint which could cost Papalii several weeks on the sideline.
For a Raiders side which has valiantly battled an horrific injury toll all season, this might just be the straw that breaks the camel's back.
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Ricky's selection Roulette
It's almost as if Raiders coach Ricky Stuart just throws 17 names into a hat on match-day morning and picks his starting 13 at random. Such is the versatility of his squad.
He pulled another surprise against the Roosters, using Semi Valemei to replace the injured Curtis Scott, and not last week's first game Matt Timoko.
Valemai played on the left wing, with Jordan Rapana deployed at right centre, inside Nick Cotric.
Papalii started for the first time in a few weeks, as did Ryan Sutton and Joe Tapine.
Tom Starling also started at hooker despite being wearing number 14.
Twinkletoes Teddy
Josh Papalii labeled James Tedesco the world's best player during the week, and warned his teammates that containing him and not Sonny Bill was the key to winning this game.
Papalii was right to be concerned - just five minutes in he took on the Raiders' line from close range, scampering between John Bateman and George Williams to open the scoring.
Midway through the second half he helped himself to a double with a brilliant piece of individual play, grubbering to himself, before slicing inside and scoring unopposed, under the posts.
Tedesco looked dangerous with every touch, bouncing off Raiders' would be tacklers like a pinball.
World's best? Yes. And he proved the difference on Saturday night.
Kick diffusal
The Roosters' kicking game gave Canberra all sorts of headaches.
Stuart clearly identified Daniel Tupou as a danger man in the air, hence the move to shift Rapana over to that side of the field to help Cotric contain him.
Both men were powerless midway through the first half when Kyle Flanagan kicked for his tallest teammate, ,and Tupou took an AFL-style mark over Cotric to score his side's second try.
While that was almost impossible to defend, the Raiders gave themselves plenty more headaches throughout the night by leaving several of Flanagan's dangerous kicks uncontested.
James Buckley
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
