A brilliant try to winger Reece Robinson has helped Canberra clinch a 16-14 victory over the Canterbury Bulldogs in their final rugby league trial in Wagga Wagga on Saturday.

The Raiders held a 12-10 lead at halftime, but after a second half arm-wrestle, seemed to have lost the ascendency when the Bulldogs’ Michael Lett scored in the corner with eight minutes to go.

But just moments later, Robinson broke the line almost 40 metres out to gift the Raiders a thrilling victory in their final hit-out before their season opener against Melbourne in Canberra on March 3.

Both sides fielded close to full strength teams, with Bulldogs’ skipper Michael Ennis and the man tipped to lead the Raiders in 2012, Terry Campese, the only notable omissions.

Campese was a late withdrawal with a groin strain, but Raiders officials stressed it was a different injury to the one that ruled him out in round 13 last year, just eight minutes into his comeback from a knee reconstruction.

They said the star five-eighth’s appearance simply wasn’t worth the risk.

In his absence, Sam Williams and Travis Waddell shared playmaking duties for the match.

Canberra scored first through Shaun Berrigan and Jarrod Croker, the latter impressive in his first game of 2012 after suffering a bump to his knee in training earlier in the pre-season.

The Bulldogs quickly reined in the lead following four-pointers to Joel Romelo and Josh Morris, flying down the wing.

The second half – once ground staff were able to remove a throng of local Wagga kids from the field – proved to be a more gritty battle.