Raiders’ NRL fortunes turn around over NZ

Two-try hauls to Reece Robinson and Jarrod Croker pushed Canberra to a comprehensive 32-12 victory over the Warriors for their first home win of the season at Canberra Stadium on Sunday.

The Raiders led all day against last year’s NRL grand finalists, setting up victory with a four-try opening half and then outscoring the Warriors again after the break three tries to one.

It was an impressive performance that pleased even coach David Furner, particularly coming off the back of last week’s stinging 22-6 defeat to North Queensland.

Skipper Terry Campese admitted the loss had embarrassed the playing group, while others had gone so far as apologising to fans.

But with the win against the Warriors, Furner said his squad had proved they’d learnt their lesson.

“I just like the way they reacted today,” he told reporters after the match.

“The attitude was pretty evident in our defence and we scrambled quite well.

“And to restrict a team like the Warriors to two tries – yeah, it was good.”

The Warriors will meanwhile be forced to regroup after consecutive losses following their defeat to Sydney Roosters last week.

They looked out-of-sorts for much of the match, with coach Brian McClennan admitting fatigue was an influential factor.

The Warriors’ gaps in defence were most evident in the first half and they could have easily gone into halftime scoreless had it not been for Campese dropping a kick-off just before the break.

Ben Henry capitalised in the dying minutes of the half to allow the visitors to go into the break just 16-6 down.

“That first quarter we were under the pump again – and it’s been a regular thing that’s happened,” McClennan said.

“We were getting fatigued … but I’m still pleased – I know the players are trying.”

Things don’t get any easier for the inconsistent Warriors, who head back home to New Zealand to host a greatly improved South Sydney next Sunday.

With Campese playing on with swollen knees, the Raiders only have to deal with one major downside from the match – Croker’s goalkicking.

He finished with just two conversions from seven attempts, but Furner simply put it down to a bad day at the office.

“He’s very consistent,” Furner said.

“I’ve been in those positions before and you just have those days as goalkicker.

“He’ll learn from that.”

The Raiders travel to Brisbane for their next clash with the Broncos on Friday.

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