Raiders score off massive line drop-out

The Canberra Raiders have overcome one of the biggest line drop-outs of the season to open the scoring against the Penrith Panthers.

The Raiders looked like they had lost the momentum of a repeat set of six early in the first half in the round 25 clash at GIO Stadium when Panther Jamie Soward launched a monster 80-metre bomb from his own try line.

The line drop-out easily flew past the halfway line before taking a wicked bounce and, deceiving the Raiders players, rolled back to the home side's own 20-metre mark.

But the mammoth punt failed to deter the Raiders, marching up the field before launching the try-scoring play on the fourth tackle.

Young halfback Sam Williams received the ball on a switch play, found a gap in the Panthers' defence and sprinted through to the line.

Both the Raiders and the Panthers are playing for pride only with both clubs resigned to missing out on the top eight.