Coming off a four-game losing streak, Ricky Stuart's men looked a changed side as they dominated the visitors in the opening minutes on Friday night.
But after bursting out to an early lead, they were again guilty of careless handling errors, defensive lapses and at times insipid attacking play.
Only Warriors five-eighth Chanel Harris-Tavita's wayward goal-kicking spared the Raiders' blushes, as they were outscored by the visitors four tries to three.
Three conversions and a penalty from Canberra's Jamal Fogarty made the difference.
Hudson Young scored twice in the first 10 minutes before the Warriors fought back. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)
Canberra winger Xavier Savage, in his first NRL game since round 11, was part of a problematic right edge for Stuart, with he and fellow centre Matt Timoko at fault for at least three of the Warrior' tries.
But after the Warriors' NSW forward Mitch Barnett crashed over to level the scores at 14-14 with 20 minutes to go, it was Savage who got on the end of a Kaeo Weekes kick to score a crucial four-pointer, duly converted by Fogarty on his return from a lengthy biceps injury.
Warriors prop Addin Fonua-Blake scored two minutes later but with a chance to draw level again, Harris-Tavita made a hash of a simple conversion just to the left of goal, with first-choice sharpshooter Adam Pompey off injured.
Pompey limped off the field at halftime after a bruising first period for the visitors, who also lost fullback Taine Tuaupiki to a head knock in the opening 10 minutes.
By that point the Raiders were already out to a 12-0 lead after two tries in five minutes from Hudson Young, back in the side after a groin strain.
Jamal Fogarty's kicking allowed the Raiders to prevail despite being outscored four tries to three. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)
The Warriors' outside backs struggled under Fogarty's lofty bombs, with Tuaupiki and Dalene Watene-Zelezniak spilling catches in the swirling breeze in the opening half.
But the Raiders were all too often guilty of simple handling errors themselves.
After winning a repeat set 10 metres off Canberra's try-line, the Warriors scored just before halftime through Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who had been shifted to fullback in Tuaupiki's absence.
The Raiders looked uninspired in the second half, outscored by the Warriors three tries to one.
Only Fogarty's trusty boot saved them from a fifth straight home loss and kept them in the race for the top eight, with a winnable home game against South Sydney next on the agenda.
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