Raiders defeat Warriors to end home losing streak

The Raiders rewarded the loyal Canberra fans with their first home win in over three months, beating the hapless Warriors 20-18 at GIO Stadium.

Ricky Stuart’s men had lost four games in a row and looked a completely different team, dominating the visitors in the opening minutes of Friday night.

But after taking an early lead, they were again guilty of sloppy spelling mistakes, defensive lapses and sometimes lacklustre attacking play.

Only a wayward goal from Warriors five-eighth Chanel Harris-Tavita could save the Raiders from an upset as they were outscored by four tries to three by the visitors.

Three conversions and a penalty from Canberra’s Jamal Fogarty made the difference.

“We were lucky, we were really lucky,” Stuart said after full time. “We probably didn’t respect the position we were in and that’s what killed us.

“Nobody will feel sorry for us if we get beaten and we were unlucky, so I don’t feel sorry for anyone. I’ll take the two points.”

Canberra winger Xavier Savage was part of a problematic right flank for Stuart as two of the New Zealanders’ tries came on his side of the field.

But after NSW Warriors forward Mitch Barnett levelled the score at 14-14 with 20 minutes to go, it was Savage who finished off a Kaeo Weekes kick for a crucial four-pointer, converted by Fogarty, who was returning from a long-term biceps injury.

“Don’t look at Xavier and blame him when it comes to defensive issues,” Stuart said.

“There was a lot more going on in Xavier.

“I thought Xavier was very good tonight. He has to stay good, but he is developing into a very good footballer.”

Warriors mainstay Addin Fonua-Blake scored shortly after Savage’s try, but when Harris-Tavita had the chance to equalise he messed up a simple conversion just to the left of goal, while first-choice marksman Adam Pompey was injured.

Harris-Tavita was visibly devastated by the loss and ran straight to the sheds as soon as the final whistle blew.

“It wasn’t the scoring that defined us tonight,” Warriors coach Adam Webster said.

“We have to start better, 14-0 is not good enough. We were just chasing the rest of the game.”

Pompey limped off at half-time with a knee injury after a tough first half for the visitors, with defender Taine Tuaupiki also suffering a head injury in the opening minutes.

By that point the Raiders had already taken the lead thanks to two tries in five minutes from Hudson Young, who was back in the team after a groin injury.

The Warriors wingers struggled under Fogarty’s high shots, with Tuaupiki and Dalene Watene-Zelezniak blowing the ball into the wind in the first half.

But the Raiders were all too often guilty of simple spelling mistakes.

After winning another set 10 metres out from Canberra’s try-line, the Warriors scored just before half-time through Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who had moved up to fullback in Tuaupiki’s absence.

The Raiders seemed to offer little inspiration in the second half, with the Warriors scoring 3 times less than the other 2.

Only Fogarty’s trusty boot saved them from a fifth home defeat in a row and kept them in contention for the top eight. The next game on the schedule is a home game against South Sydney which they can win.