Josh Mercer previews the Saturday afternoon clash between the New Zealand Warriors and the Canberra Raiders.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
New Zealand Warriors vs Canberra Raiders
Venue: Moreton Daily Stadium, Redcliffe
Date: Saturday, April 30, 3pm
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Related: NRL Team List Tuesday
Embed from Getty ImagesWarriors: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Rocco Berry 3. Jesse Arthars 4. Adam Pompey 5. Viliami Vailea 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Matt Lodge 11. Euan Aitken 12. Bayley Sironen 13. Jazz Tevaga 14. Taniela Otukolo 15. Bunty Afoa 16. Eliesa Katoa 17. Jack Murchie 18. Edward Kosi 20. Ben Murdoch-Masila 21. Daejarn Asi 22. Pride Petterson-Robati 23. Junior Ratuva 24. Valingi Kepu 25. Jackson Frei
A number of changes to the side for this week. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (concussion) and Josh Curran (knee) are out with injuries while Edward Kosi is named at 18. Viliami Vailea, Rocco Berry, Move into the backline, with Bayley Sironen starting in the back row. Jack Murchie and Eliesa Katoa come onto the bench.
Embed from Getty ImagesRaiders: 1. Jordan Rapana 2. Nick Cotric 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Semi Valemei 5. Xavier Savage 6. Jack Wighton 7. Brad Schneider 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Ryan Sutton 14. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 15. Corey Harawira-Naera 16. Adam Elliott 17. Corey Horsburgh 18. Harry Rushton 19. Matt Frawley 20. Jarrod Croker 21. Emre Guler 22. Trey Mooney 23. James Schiller 24. Peter Hola
Elliot Whitehead (lip) comes back into the side after his training injury, Harry Rushton moves out of the starting line.
Referee: Chris Butler
MATCHDAY PREVIEW
It wasn’t a good weekend for either side last weekend as they were both soundly beaten during ANZAC round. This is a good chance for both teams to get back to the win column.
When Joe Tapine scored not long after Stephen Crichton, it looked like the Raiders were going to match it with the defending premiers. However, it wasn’t to be. The Panthers ran away with the game in the second half.
What can be said about the Warriors. They went try for try with the Storm in an entertaining first half. Unfortunately, injuries hit them hard, and the Storm ran in 54 points. They can take some positives out of the first half but watching the second would be like a nightmare.
This is a game between two sides that have plenty of talent. Games they aren’t expected to win, they do but, games they shouldn’t win they some manage to. It has the makings of a good clash for two teams that need to get their season back on track.
The match between front-rowers Addin Fonua-Blake and Josh Papalii should be a classic, with whoever gets their team on the front foot should win them the game. http://gty.im/1393577861
Embed from Getty ImagesINTERESTING FACT
Out of 42 games between these two teams, the Raiders lead with 22 wins.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Warriors by 8.
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