Joshua Knox previews the clash between the Canberra Raiders and the New Zealand Warriors on Saturday afternoon in the nation’s capital. Here’s what we have to look forward to.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Canberra Raiders Vs New Zealand Warriors
Venue: GIO Stadium
Date: Saturday July 23, 3:00pm
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Related: NRL Team List Tuesday
Embed from Getty ImagesRaiders: 1. Xavier Savage 2. Nick Cotric 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Albert Hopoate 6. Jack Wighton 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Zac Woolford 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Adam Elliott 14. Tom Starling 15. Ryan Sutton 16. Emre Guler 17. Corey Harawira-Naera 18. Adrian Trevilyan 19. Elijah Anderson 20. Brad Schneider 21. Ata Mariota 22. Peter Hola
Jordan Rapana misses out due to suspension and James Schiller succumbs to injury with Nick Cotric and Albert Hopoate taking their spots on the wing. Elliott Whitehead returns and shifts Corey Harawira-Naera to the bench.
Embed from Getty ImagesWarriors: 1. Chanel Harris-Tavita 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Jesse Arthars 4. Adam Pompey 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Daejarn Asi 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Tohu Harris 11. Euan Aitken 12. Josh Curran 13. Jazz Tevaga 14. Reece Walsh 15. Bunty Afoa 16. Aaron Pene 17. Jack Murchie 18. Eliesa Katoa 20. Edward Kosi 21. Ronald Volkman 22. Freddy Lussick 23. Jackson Frei
In a big shake-up, Reece Walsh has been demoted to the bench with Chanel Harris-Tavita taking over at fullback. Daejarn Asi returns at five-eighth ahead of Ronald Volkman. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak returns from Covid protocols to replace Edward Kosi on the wing.
Referee: Chris Sutton
MATCHDAY PREVIEW
The Raiders return home off the back of their biggest win of the season, knocking off the Melbourne Storm 20-16 in Melbourne. Despite losing Jordan Rapana to the sin bin in the second half, the Raiders scored the match winner through James Schiller who scored while they were a man down. It leaves the Raiders in tenth position and just one win outside of the top eight which is huge for the side who many wrote off at the beginning of the season. The return of skipper Elliott Whitehead is a big in for Canberra who will be looking to continue on winning ways back in the nation’s capital.
The Warriors fell to the Parramatta Eels 28-18 last start keeping them in 12th position with their season on life support. The New Zealand based club will need a major miracle from here and will be purely playing for positions over the next few weeks. Coach Stacey Jones has made a huge call by benching the outgoing Reece Walsh who has been one of the clubs best this season. It turned many heads and only time will tell if it proves a master stroke or an embarrassment.
The battle of the front rowers is worth the admission price alone with in form duo Josh Papali’i and Joseph Tapine up against Tohu Harris and Addin Fonua-Blake. The big bodies will dictate this one with whichever side getting a roll on through the middle should see the benefit of being able to spread the ball at the back end of sets,
Embed from Getty ImagesINTERESTING FACT
The last four clashes between these sides have produced over 40 points with both sides loving an expansive style of play. This one should be no different on a Saturday afternoon in Canberra. Back rower Hudson Young has crashed over in the last two meetings between these clubs and will be eyeing another to add to his tally.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Raiders by 8.
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