The New Zealand Warriors celebrated influential captain Steve Price's return from injury with a 24-16 win over the Canberra Raiders in their NRL clash on Saturday night.

The Warriors prevailed despite the Raiders' dogged defence, which held out wave after wave of advances by the home side.

Canberra made better use of their fewer forays into the Warriors territory and stayed in the game before the clock wound down.

Standoff Nathan Fien got the Warriors 12 points in front early in the second half after Sione Faumuina broke through the Radiers' defence.

But the Raiders stormed back into the game with two quick tries.

First captain Jason Croker weaved his way through traffic to set up an overlap on the other side for David Howell scored in the corner.

Then Michael Robertson got another one down just inside the sideline but Clinton Schifcofske hit the post on the conversion attempt to leave the Canberra side two points down.

Desperate Raiders defence kept out repeated Warriors attempts to score until Wairangi Koopu grabbed a spilled bomb kick near the sideline, slipped and passed from ground level to Francis Meli, who scored.

Jones' conversion gave the Warriors a crucial eight-point advantage which they took to the siren.

The Warriors had taken a 12-6 lead into the break after dominating the first half in all but the scoreline.

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