Warriors kick on to thrash Raiders in NRL

Coach Andrew McFadden says the Warriors' ability to keep their foot on the gas is the most pleasing part of their 54-12 NRL win over Canberra.

Warriors celebrate Shaun Johnson's try.

The Warriors have ended their losing run at Eden Park with a 54-12 thumping of Canberra. (AAP)

Coach Andrew McFadden hailed his players' ability to kick on as they broke their Eden Park drought in dominant fashion on Saturday with a 54-12 thumping of Canberra.

Up 24-6 at halftime, the Warriors went on the score nine tries to two, with influential halfback Shaun Johnson ending with a 26-point haul.

McFadden admitted the margin was unexpected, but there was plenty of satisfaction from the performance.

"Although we got off to a good start, I think we went into our shell a bit and got a bit complacent," he said.

"So it was most pleasing, after halftime, we came out fired up and we really put the nail in the coffin."

It was a second heavy defeat in a row for the Raiders, after they went down to Manly 54-18.

But realities of the NRL meant there was little sympathy from McFadden for a club where he was a player and later part of the coaching staff.

"It's a tough sport and it could happen to us next week - we hope it doesn't," he said.

"But they will bounce back. They're in a bit of a spot at the moment, but you can guarantee in this competition that they will turn that around."

Canberra coach Ricky Stuart apologised for what his side produced and said it showed the Manly defeat wasn't a one-off.

"We have to get out of this rot very quickly," he said.

"It's unacceptable."

Stuart said he didn't have answers at the moment, but added that the Raiders' predicament wasn't the result of any lack of hard work.

"Our edge defence was absolutely diabolical as it has been for the last two weeks," he said.

"That quality of skill was better in the first six weeks. I don't know why it has all gone out the window."

Johnson underlined his outstanding display by scoring two intercept tries, one from 90m, creating another with an underarm offload and landing all nine shots at goal.

He equalled his points tally in the Warriors' 50-16 win over the Raiders last August, when he grabbed a hat-trick of tries.

Centre Konrad Hurrell also impressed, responding in emphatic manner to the leaking of a sex tape that led to him being fined by the Warriors.

The Tongan international, who received a big cheer from the 18,165 crowd when his name was announced at the start of the match, scored off a scintillating 60m run.

He continued to prove a handful, creating a try for Jayson Bukuya and ending the match with more than 200 metres run.

The Warriors, who had lost in their five previous appearances at Eden Park, raced to 18-0 in as many minutes through tries to Ben Matulino, Hurrell and Johnson.

The Raiders replied via the first of Jarrod Croker's two touchdowns, but the home side restored the margin when winger Ngani Laumape crossed from a slick scrum move.

The second half was virtually all the Warriors as Johnson again, Sam Tomkins, Manu Vatuvei twice and Bukuya all touched down.

Croker dotted down in the final minute to give the Raiders small consolation.


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Source: AAP


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