Raiders

Ottio remains a constant memory in Canberra where he was a squad member alongside Lions stars Josh Hodgson, Elliott Whitehead and Blake Austin, before passing away due to severe heat stroke suffered while training in Port Moresby almost two years ago.

On the tiny island of Tatana, not far from the PNG capital, his Canberra teammates paid tribute to the 23-year-old who died just days before taking up a deal with Widnes Vikings.

Disappointment is the only word Warriors coach Stephen Kearney could conjure post-match after his side's remote finals aspirations dreams were all-but buried at Mount Smart stadium last night.

They'll remain 12th by the end of the weekend but can't fancy their hopes on current form, combined with a tough run home and ongoing injury problems for Kodi Nikorima and Karl Lawton.

Coach Stephen Kearney delivered his lacklustre players a rocket at the break and was still steaming at fulltime.

The halfback is off contract at the end of next season and the Warriors have told Johnson he is free to explore offers from other clubs.

Canberra chief executive Don Furner said the club has not made any approaches to Johnson.

News Corp Australia reported earlier this month that the Raiders had been making discreet moves to bring Johnson to Canberra for next season.

"What happens is the manager rings you up and says would you like Shaun Johnson and 'do you think he would be a good player at your club?' and you don't say no," Furner said.

The absence of form hooker Josh Hodgson to a one-game suspension looked like costing Canberra dearly as a disorganised Raiders outfit was stunned by an early blue and gold avalanche but the Green Machine sparked into life in the second half as skipper Jarrod Croker's virtuoso performance helped his outside man Brenko Lee to a stunning four-try haul.

Manly's loss was compounded by injuries to Daly Cherry-Evans (ankle) and Brenton Lawrence (pec) in the first half before losing Jamie Lyon to a leg injury shortly after the break.

Following a couple of error-riddled games in recent weeks, Canberra fullback Jack Wighton bounced back in the best way possible with a try, two assists and a pair of try-saving tackles to help his side knock off the Sea Eagles at home for the first time since 2004. 

Both the Storm and the Knights will be out for NRL Telstra Premiership redemption when the two sides meet at AAMI Park on Saturday afternoon.

Despite being dominated by Canberra for most of the match, the Titans somehow managed to score 18 straight points in the final 15 minutes to close out the match, after displaying very little in attack for the opening 65 minutes of the match.

New recruit Aidan Sezer starred for the home team, scoring two tries and stepping up in the absence of Blake Austin who was forced off the pitch midway through the match with a medial ligament injury.