Raiders crush NZ to maintain hope

CANBERRA boss Ricky Stuart lauded his players’ focus after they kept their slim NRL final hopes alive in a 36-16 victory over the hapless Warriors.

Hammered left, right and centre for a listless display in last week’s loss to bottomplaced Newcastle, the Warriors looked far more energetic and motivated at home but erred at key moments to suffer their sixth straight NRL defeat.

They stayed in the hunt until the 60th minute, when – down 18-10 – tries to Raiders rightedge duo Joey Leilua and Jordan Rapana killed off the contest. Backing up solid wins over the Rabbitohs and Sharks, Canberra’s victory keeps them within four points of the eighthplaced Cowboys.

However they must win their final three matches against Penrith, Newcastle and minor premiers Melbourne to have a chance to sneak into the eight.

“If we didn’t prepare to come over here and play a footy team that’s under a fair bit of scrutiny – some individuals who have been singled out – and if we didn’t prepare to play a tough team, we would’ve been beaten,” Stuart said. “We’re just slowly creeping up on what we need to get to.”