Canberra lost the battle with the Sydney Roosters at Aussie Stadium, but they won the war.

The Raiders were beaten 20-16 by the National Rugby League premiers after Roosters centre Shannon Hegarty scored a try in the last two minutes, but in doing so they erased any doubts over their ability to be successful in September and early October.

"I could be bitter and disappointed about it but I'm not," Canberra coach Matthew Elliott said.

Canberra were level or in front of the premiers for all but eight minutes of the match, but the Roosters again showed their love for a fight with a performance which had coach Ricky Stuart lauding his players.

They scrambled a try in the final two minutes of the opening half to draw level at 14-14 at the break and then found a way to win when the cause looked all but lost.

Brad Fittler's spiral bomb was dropped by Clinton Schifcofske with two minutes remaining, the Roosters won the scrum and seconds later Hegarty crossed in the corner.

Video referee Tim Mander awarded the try and the Roosters were in a share of the competition lead with Canberra and Penrith.

"They're the sort of games you prefer to be playing rather than sitting on the sideline," Stuart said.

"I never think we're gone.

"That's one thing I give credit to the guys for ... we won today on mental character and toughness more so than skill.

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