In a match where both sides were guilty of errors at different times, some individual brilliance and tough goal-line defence helped the Raiders score a 32-16 win to remain unbeaten after four rounds of the Group 11 season.

With regular halfback Matt Toole out with an ankle injury, Peckham switched from hooker to the number seven jersey and showcased the versatility he's been renowned for during his bush footy career.

One moment stood out during the second half after the Magpies had got back within six points and had started to build some momentum.

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Peckham had floated towards the left edge and while it appeared he held up play for the briefest of moments before stepping back through a gap and racing away to put Clayton Couley over under the posts, he said there was a very simple reason he decided to go back to the inside.

"I couldn't see," he said with a smile, looking towards the afternoon sun over the Apex Oval grandstand.

"I looked left and couldn't see because of the sun but I was able to look back in the middle and saw him (Couley) there and he was in a better spot than some of the other boys."

Regardless of whether he was fooling the defence or making life easier for himself, the moment was an important one as Matt Naden's conversion put the Raiders up by 12 points with just 10 minutes to go.

A late try from Pone Tongia then sealed the win for the Raiders.

Peckham is one of a number of new faces at the club, having previously played for Wellington and Oberon, and while he's enjoying his football at the moment he knows the Alex Ronayne-led Raiders can still get better.

"I'm loving it. I got through a full pre-season so I'm a bit fitter than I have been in other years. I'm really enjoying it," Peckham said.

"Aka (Ronayne) is still working on what's the best team but it's good so far."

Macquarie was without Toole and props Oliver Gordon and Nick Harvey on Sunday and while they never trailed in the match they were never truly comfortable until those final 10 minutes following Peckham's play for Couley.

Forbes had long periods of possession at times, especially late in the first half, but the Raiders defence held firm for the most part while the Magpies were also a little overzealous at times and pushed a pass that wasn;t there as they chased a first win of the season.

"We're playing like a frustrated side at the moment," beaten coach Cameron Greenhalgh said.

"We're searching for that first win and we're coming up short. I'm frustrated and the players are as well but it's not far off.

"We're getting better each week but it needs to come sooner rather than later now."

The Magpies were once again slow out of the blocks on Sunday and the Raiders scored in the first set of the game after a shift left put Tongia into space and he was able to put Sam Coe over.

Tony Clevin danced along the sideline to finish another long-distance effort soon after to make it 12-0 inside 10 minutes.

But Forbes soon earned some sustained periods of possession and got into the board when lively fullback Mitch Andrews wrestled over from close range and it was soon level when Jordan Hartwig got across from dummyhalf.

That proved to be as good as it got through as a strong Jack Kavanagh run and pass put Raiders winger Tyler Bamblett in eight minutes from the break and then some strong defence made sure it remained 16-12 going into the sheds.

Much like the second half, Macquarie began the better and went over through Filisione Pauta to make it a 10-point game but soon after they were a man down as Tongia was sent to the sin-bin for a professional foul.

The Magpies again were a little hurried while Tongia was off but eventually Traie Merritt powered through a gap 20m out with 14 to go to give his side some hope.

But it was shortly after Peckham produced his smart play to extend the lead and Tongia pounced on a spilt kick close to the tryline in dying stages to wrap up another two points.

"It was our defence," Peckham said of the difference on Sunday.

"We gave away a few penalties and we made some errors but we got stuck in in defence and finished off the game really well."