The Canberra Raiders U20's need only one point from their final two games to secure a Holden Cup finals berth after defeating the fifth-placed Parramatta Eels 28-12 on Sunday afternoon.
The win at GIO Stadium sees the Raiders move three points clear of the ninth-placed Newcastle Knights.
The Raiders were the first to score when Jack Hickson crossed the try line in the right corner of the ground for his 13th try of the season.
A Canberra set play sparked by Spaander saw the ball moved quickly to the right. Cotric drew in the Parramatta winger before passing to the unmarked Hickson who scored unopposed.
Canberra continued to pile on the pressure and managed to score next to the posts when Jack Murchie latched onto a deft grubber kick.
Mai-Leifi almost scored for Parramatta. The winger who has scored 20 tries this season, made a break down the western touchline, but desperate defence from the Raiders kept the Eels scoreless.
However, the Parramatta centre Aukofolau ran onto a short pass to barge over the try line to give the Raiders a 10-6 lead at halftime.
After an even start to the second half, the Raiders scored two tries in quick succession. Andre Niko managed to stay in field to plant the ball in the corner before Sebastian Kris scored from broken play.
Jack Williams secured the win for the Raiders after the ball shifted quickly to the right. Zac Woolford made no mistake from the tee, his fourth successful kick, to make the score 28-6.
Parramatta scored a late consolation try through Amone after the lock dived underneath the posts to score.
Raiders 28 (Tries: Hickson, Murchie, Niko, Kris, Williams; Conversions: Woolford 4/5) defeated Eels 12 (Tries: Aukofolau, Amone; Conversions: Doolan 2/2)
