Bateman urges Raiders pack to help halves in defence

Luke Bateman has laid down the challenge to the rest of the Canberra Raiders pack to do more in help defence, as the side looks to break through for its first win of the season against the New Zealand Warriors.

The Raiders have leaked 60 points during the first fortnight of the Telstra Premiership, with opposition teams targeting the left and right edge of the side's defence.

Seven of the tries scores against the team this season have been from out wide, with Bateman urging the rest of the side to help halves Sam Williams, Aidan Sezer and Blake Austin.

"I don't think it's their tackling ability, I think if anything we as middles probably need to help them out a little bit more," Bateman said.

"It's a tough place to defend the edge when you're defending your try line, you don't have much to work with.

"And if you get stranded there without any help coming from inside it makes it very tough.

"So, I think in making the tackle they’re fine, I just think we need to take a bit of the pressure off them from the middle."

Bateman got through plenty of work last weekend to lead the side with 43 tackles, with more traffic expected to be sent his way against the Warriors.

Warriors coach Stephen Kearney has named Leivaha Pulu to start in place of Isaiah Papali'i, who is out for six weeks with a knee injury.

Agnatius Paasi comes into the bench with Simon Mannering still out with  a shoulder injury while hooker Jazz Tevaga replaces bench utility Sam Cook.

Bateman has the utmost confidence the Raiders do not need to revamp their entire game plan to get the monkey off their back.

"The way we've prepared both weeks, we don't need to change anything," he said.