The Seiffert Oval scoreboard read 38-20 at full-time in a game Goulburn had led for the most part until the 64^th minute, when a Charlie Woolford try finally edged the home side in front.

Josh Baker, Cyprian Ale and Atu Tupou then iced the cake as Goulburn wilted, but not before giving the competition favourites an almighty scare.

"I don't know if we were over confident or thought someone else was going to do their job, but it was a bit of a lull until Julius [Tupou] came off the bench," injured Blues coach Terry Campese said.

"We gave him one job and he executed perfectly, just to bring our attitude and his carries. The boys were behind it and everyone stood up after that.

"We still haven't had the perfect game or played consistently for the 80 minutes. I was impressed with some of the attitudes today, especially in defence, there was that one that stood out where Parso [fullback Matthew Parsons] chased their winger down from the other side of the field.

"There's that willingness to be there in defence and that's what wins big games. It ended up being a good performance but definitely on the edge of your seat up there in the box."

Campese is still six weeks away from returning after injuring his posterior cruciate ligament in round one.

Representative stars Jake Wheeler and Isaiah Latu are also out injured, but the Blues' depth is strong this season and the Queanbeyan club is already standing out as the competition heavyweight.

The result marked Goulburn's first loss of the year, but captain Tyson Greenwood said there were plenty of positives to be garnered.

"We read in the prequels that they were the benchmark and we were the red-hot challengers, and 60 minutes in we're up by two," Greenwood said.

"It's a shame we went to sleep there in the back 20, you take that first 60 into account, we were definitely the better team.

"We're never going to be the biggest team in the comp but my boys have got massive hearts and if we can just capitalise on our hearts and put it all together on the field we'll be a good team."

Goulburn emerged from COVID-19 a new club, and Greenwood was confident they would play finals football this year.

"At the start of the season we said we were a top four team, we proved that today," Greenwood said.

"COVID ruined footy for this league, with the year off everyone's struggling to get back on our feet. We're like 90 per cent local boys and the local boys have just stood up and they've really taken it upon themselves to be first-grade footballers.

"We've put together a good team here. It'd be good to get rid of those little niggly things and we'll definitely be a class side."

CANBERRA RAIDERS CUP ROUND 3

Queanbeyan Roos 26 (T Rupapera 2, K Pagura, S Vuki, J Dent tries, L Ingram 3goals ) def Woden Valley Rams 12 (L Eveston, A Agnew tries, J McDonald 2 goals)

Yass Magpies 42 (B Barrie 4, W Peace, J Mecham-Crane, M Vanisi, C Harris tries, S Davis 5 goals) def Tuggeranong Bushrangers 40 (T Mariota 2, O Schmidt 2, J Haywood-Whiley 2, K Walkington-Meads, J Arranz tries; J Heyman 4 goals)

Queanbeyan Blues 38 (M Parsons, C Ale, C Manuolevao, C Woolford, R Holani, J Baker, A Tupou tries, J Mitchell 5 goals) def Goulburn City Bulldogs 20 (S Cummins, D Stephens, M Sherer tries, I Walker 4 goals)

Gungahlin Bulls 32 (T Eldridge 2, K Kenny, T Holten-Williams, C Smith tries, L Thomson 4 goals) def West Belconnen Warriors 30 (K Rushton, B Graham, J Elliot, J Ayers, K Wilson, E Peters tries, B Graham 3 goals)