There were costly errors, an injury scare and bombed tries aplenty at Suncorp Stadium but when Jordan Rapana and Josh Papalii went to the sin-bin within minutes of each other on Friday night, the Bulldogs appeared ready to pounce on the 11-man Raiders.
Canterbury ran in three tries in five minutes either side of half-time to cash in while the Raiders were without the full complement of players.
But former NSW second-rower Young, one of the best support runners in the NRL, bagged a pair of tries that roused the Raiders from 20-12 down and sealed a hectic win for the Raiders.
Young ran the perfect line to grab Ethan Strange's beautiful short ball and give the Raiders first points after the contest reverted to 13 on 13.
He charged over again on the back of a Kaeo Weekes line break to give the Raiders what was ultimately a game-winning four-point lead.
Matt Burton was among the scorers in a gallant effort from Canterbury but was found wanting late on. (Dave Hunt/AAP PHOTOS)
Penrith's Liam Martin appears destined for one second-row spot in the Blues' Origin side, but the other is far from certain, with Haumole Olakau'atu and Angus Crichton appearing Young's biggest competition for a berth either in the starting side or on the bench.
Canberra's first two tries came gift-wrapped by Canterbury errors. Connor Tracey first spilled a bomb into the hands of Xavier Savage before Seb Kris capitalised when a two-man tackle dislodged the ball from Jacob Kiraz's grasp.
A similar moment of madness gifted the Bulldogs' first. Rapana and Xavier Savage collided cleaning up Drew Hutchison's grubber kick and gave Jacob Preston free passage to the ball.
The Bulldogs did themselves few favours in the first half. Tracey and Preston bombed tries down the right side, before Josh Addo-Carr sprayed a kick dead when he had only Rapana to beat in the back-field.
Rapana was ruled to have knocked Addo-Carr off the ball in a professional foul and so went to the sin bin, closely followed by Papalii, who laid a hip-drop style tackle on Bulldogs second-rower Viliame Kikau moments before the half.
Canterbury's best player this season threw the ball away in agony and went off with his ankle issue, but returned to finish the game.
Josh Papalii's 10 minute spell left the Raiders to hold on with 11 men. (Dave Hunt/AAP PHOTOS)
Young's fellow NSW Origin hopeful Matt Burton had some solid moments, though it was halves partner Hutchison whose boot produced more points. When the game was on the line late, Burton came up short on answers.
Illegal pressure on kickers has been a hot-button issue this season, with Rapana the latest player to come under fire when the game was in the balance in its final minutes.
Rapana attempted to charge down Reed Mahoney's chip as the hooker made a break, but kicked out at him.
He was spared a second trip to the sin bin and the Bulldogs bungled the late chance on the attack afforded by the penalty, all but sealing their fate.
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