Canberra have withstood a feverish Sydney Roosters comeback to narrowly claim a 37-28 victory in their NRL clash at Canberra Stadium.

The Raiders led 32-12 when Todd Carney scored his second try in the 42nd minute and appeared set for their second win of the season but the winless Roosters rallied with three tries in 20 minutes to force a tense finish.

Winger Colin Best scored out wide in the 76th minute, however, to seal a six tries to five victory for the Raiders in front of 15,862 fans.

Tireless Raiders captain Alan Tongue added a field goal on the fulltime siren to complete the victory.

In a game that belied the battle of the wooden spoon billing, the Roosters can feel let down by their own poor finishing with internationals Anthony Minichiello and Braith Anasta both guilty of butchering two certain tries by dropping the ball.

Minichiello dropped Anasta's pass when headed for the corner in the 70th minute, although he set up Anthony Tupou's try seconds later, while Anasta juggled and put down Craig Wing's pass when over the line in the first half.

Raiders five-eighth Carney was man of the match after scoring two clever individual tries, booting four goals and overcoming concussion late in the game to lead the Raiders after halfback Michael Dobson left the field in the first half with back soreness.

Winger Adrian Purtell also bagged a brace for the Raiders, both opportunistic tries as the first came from a benefit of the doubt ruling by video referee Phil Cooley when it appeared a double movement.

Purtell's second on the stroke of halftime, handing the Raiders a 26-12 lead, came after Minichiello fumbled a misguided pass from Anasta and Best toed the ball on and Purtell kept it on the boot until diving on the ball in goal.

Carney stepped over two minutes after the break but instead of the Raiders running away with the contest the winless Roosters rallied, spurred on by hooker Wing.

Wing carried three defenders over the line in a barging run in the 51st minute, then Sia Soliola scored after winger Brett Kelly dropped a cross field bomb.

Tupou's try then reduced the deficit to 32-28 but the home side hung on.

The Raiders have concerns with Dobson (back), Neville Costigan (neck) and Michael Weyman (wrist) all picking up injuries while the Roosters will sweat on the judiciary after Nate Myles was put on report for a high shot on William Zillman.

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