Pint-sized Canberra lock Alan Tongue handed his team an 18-14 win over the Warriors in their NRL clash at Canberra Stadium, scoring a late try to deny the visitors victory.

The Warriors appeared to have the match all wrapped up before a knock-on by halfback Nathan Fien changed the game's momentum and suddenly Canberra was again in the running.

The persistent Tongue chipped the ball over the Warriors' line and dodged the defence to dive on the ball under the posts, putting the Raiders ahead for the first time in the match.

Raiders skipper Clinton Schifcofske converted the try to settle the score at 18-14 in Canberra's favour.

Earlier, it seemed the Warriors would finally hit positive numbers on the table after being stripped of four competition points in the off-season for breaching the NRL's salary cap.

It wasn't until the 38th minute that the Warriors finally broke through Canberra's defence when fullback Brent Webb scored.

The Warriors had earlier put two points on the board courtesy of a penalty goal to centre Tony Martin in the 16th minute, giving the visitors a 6-0 halftime lead.

Canberra, whose defence had improved dramatically after last week's 30-12 loss to the Bulldogs, responded with a try of its own in the 48th minute when dummy half Tongue dived through the Warriors' defence.

But the Warriors' Wairangi Koopu put his team ahead after Martin made a break and sprinted down the field before offloading for the backrower to score.

Canberra centre Craig Frawley made a stunning try-saving tackle on Warriors winger Todd Byrne in the 58th minute, catching the flyer centimetres before he crossed Canberra's line.

Martin added another penalty goal in the 61st minute for a 14-6 lead but Canberra hooker Lincoln Withers crossed for his team's second try in the 68th minute, with Schifcofske's goal making it 14-12 in the visitors' favour.

With just four minutes remaining, Tongue crossed for his match winning try.

But it wasn't all good news for the Raiders with reserve Alan Rothery placed on report for a high shot on Martin in the 36th minute and penalised for another high tackle in the 61st minute on Fien.

Warriors winger Patrick Ah Van suffered a shoulder injury in the 15th minute.

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