They beat the Sharks 34-18 at the Gold Coast on Saturday night, but it was soured by injuries to Dally M Medallist Jack Wighton (chest) and Xavier Savage (shoulder).

A stray Sione Katoa boot caught Wighton in the chest, as he tried to stop the Sharks winger's first-half try.

Wighton went into the game with padding on the chest and was clearly in pain when examined at half-time.

The pain became too much and he was forced off with 20 minutes remaining with scans likely to decide whether he'll be fit to face Parramatta on Thursday night.

Savage might've started his NRL career in bizarre fashion, but the Raiders have uncovered a future star in the 19-year-old fullback.

The Queenslander showed the electric pace he's known for from his junior days on the athletics track.

He repeatedly threatened to split the Sharks line open and did so to lead to a Wighton try.

Savage capped the display with a try of his own as his left arm hung limp by his side, having picked up a shoulder injury that forced him to finish the game on the wing.

"There's a super star in the making," Kangaroos legend Steve Roach said on the Fox Sports commentary.

The Raiders got off to a flyer with a rare eight-point try - although the Sharks were harshly done by with five-eighth Braydon Trindall put on report for a high shot on Jordan Rapana as the Raiders winger opened the scoring.

Rapana took advantage of a nice Corey Harawira-Naera offload and a strong Xavier Savage run.

Trindall shouldn't have too much to worry about from the match review committee - although there's always the NRL's crackdown on head-high contact that could throw a spanner in the works.

But the Raiders didn't take advantage despite dominating early possession and only went into the sheds level at half-time thanks to Jarrod Croker's boot - as he draws within four points of Johnathan Thurston, who sits third on the all-time point-scorers list.

Tries to Sharks Jesse Ramien and Katoa had it 12-all at the break.

While he was clearly struggling, it didn't stop Wighton from capping off some electric Savage speed to put the Raiders back on top - but only briefly as a Ronaldo Mulitalo try put the Sharks up by two.

But tries to Hudson Young, Savage and Semi Valemei brought the Raiders back into top-eight contention.

AT A GLANCE

CANBERRA RAIDERS 34 (Jordan Rapana, Jack Wighton, Hudson Young, Xavier Savage, Semi Valemei tries; Jarrod Croker 7 goals) bt CRONULLA SHARKS 18 (Jesse Ramien, Sione Katoa, Ronaldo Mulitalo tries; Braydon Trindall 3 goals) at the Gold Coast. Referee: Grant Atkins.