Warriors boss Andrew Webster described himself as “big-time proud” after his side handled a finals-like atmosphere in Canberra to spoil Jarrod Croker’s 300th-game party.
The Auckland-based side weathered an early barrage with a gutsy defensive effort before piling on five straight tries to blow the Raiders away in a 36-14 win at GIO Stadium.
A try-of-the-year candidate from Dallin Watene-Zelezniak helped the New Zealanders turn things around and maintain their charge towards a first finals appearance since 2018.
What was meant to be Canberra's celebration of Croker - just their second player to reach 300 games - quickly turned sour.
First-year coach Webster said his team showed a stomach for big games that could hold them in good stead should they reach the post-season.
“Two points are up for grabs and the only thing we want to celebrate is to play in big games,” he said.
“If you handle these occasions well, and then you get yourself to the playoffs, in the big games you're going to be in better shape to handle those moments.
“We were excited about the full house, excited about the occasion.
“We didn't use (Croker’s 300th game) as motivation ... we knew we were going to have to weather the storm early because there's a lot of emotion.”
Canberra failed to capitalise on a dominant opening 20 minutes in which they camped on the Warriors’ line, the visitors' resolute defence keeping them level until Jack Wighton gathered his own kick and crossed.
Watene-Zelezniak’s acrobatic catch and put-down of halfback Shaun Johnson’s kick levelled things up despite Mitch Barnett spending 10 minutes in the sin bin for a high shot, before fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad scored early in the second half to set the Warriors procession in motion.
Canberra will be questioning how they once again rolled over on home turf in embarrassing fashion, conceding four tries in 18 minutes in the second half as they fell to pieces.
The hosts scored a late consolation through Josh Papali’i before a lazy pass from fullback Sebastian Kris was picked off for a comical Johnson try.
The Raiders add this 22-point defeat to 41- and 28-point losses at home this year to Penrith and Manly respectively.
Canberra coach Ricky Stuart denied the occasion had got to his players, admitting losing on Croker’s night was a bitter pill to swallow.
“I feel sorry for the boys, probably more than I do for Toots (Croker), because they just wanted to make sure they got a win for him,” Stuart said.
“They're really hurting. There's no problems with effort, and if anything they probably over-tried in certain parts of that second half ... and started to dig a bigger hole for ourselves.
“(The Warriors) played good football but we just kept giving them a free passage out of their end of the footy field.
"They're a good attacking team so you just can't keep giving them that amount of football.”
Canberra old boy Nicoll-Klokstad came back to bite the hand that used to feed him, scoring a brilliant second-half try in a best-on-ground display that included 178 metres run and four tackle busts.
Johnson had another fantastic night in what’s quickly becoming a vintage season, scoring a try and finding three assists to again drive his side to victory.
Stony-faced through the week-long build-up to his milestone, Croker wiped away tears after entering the field hand-in-hand with his three-year-old son as 21,082 fans stood and applauded.
