Check out the match preview and prediction for the round 19 clash between the Dragons and Raiders.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
St George Illawarra Dragons Vs Canberra Raiders
Venue: WIN Stadium
Date: Friday July 7, 8:00pm
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Dragons: 1. Paul Turner 2. Mathew Feagai 3. Moses Suli 4. Zac Lomax 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Talatau Amone 7. Jayden Sullivan 8. Francis Molo 9. Jacob Liddle 10. Blake Lawrie 11. Ben Murdoch-Masila 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Jack de Belin 14. Moses Mbye 15. Michael Molo 16. Toby Couchman 17. Dan Russell 18. Sione Finau 19. Ryan Couchman 20. Zane Musgrove 21. Max Feagai 22. Billy Burns
Raiders: 1. Sebastian Kris 2. Albert Hopoate 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Matthew Timoko 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Jack Wighton 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Emre Guler 9. Zac Woolford 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Ata Mariota 14. Tom Starling 15. Trey Mooney 16. Nick Cotric 17. Peter Hola 18. Matt Frawley 19. Danny Levi 20. Hohepa Puru 21. Xavier Savage 22. Clay Webb
Referee: Peter Gough
Embed from Getty ImagesMATCHDAY PREVIEW
Tyrell Sloan is out with a calf injury and will be replaced by Paul Turner who plays his first game for the Dragons. Moses Suli returns from a head knock, while Jayden Sullivan shifts to halfback in place of Ben Hunt who is on Origin duty, with Talatau Amone coming in at five-eighth. Dan Russell will make his NRL debut off the bench.
For the Raiders, Ata Mariota makes the move from prop to lock to replace Corey Horsburgh who has been called up to the Queensland squad. Emre Guler is set to start at prop, while Pasami Saulo is out after failing a HIA last week. Trey Mooney and Peter Hola are the new men on the bench.
The season keeps going from bad to worse for the Dragons, who copped a 52-16 drubbing from the Sharks last week, after allowing 48 points to the Warriors the week before. They are now in a battle to avoid the wooden spoon, with only the Tigers sitting between them and last place.
It doesn’t get any easier as they take on a Raiders side who scored their tenth win of the season last week. It will take something special from the Dragons to win this battle, as they have lost their last nine games without Hunt. If they are any chance of winning this match, they need to drastically improve their defence. St George have conceded 100 points in their last two games, and only the Bulldogs have allowed more points this season.
Canberra held on for yet another close win last week, overcoming the Titans 26-22. The Green Machine now sit in 5th spot on the ladder, on equal points with the Storm and Sharks above them. Another win here against an opponent they should beat and their prospects of a top four finish get even stronger.
This week provides a great opportunity for the Raiders to improve their points difference (-65) which will be key at the end of the season, as long as they turn up with the right attitude.
LAST TEN MATCHES
Raiders 7, Dragons 3
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Raiders by 18 points.
Follow Nothing But Rugby League on Facebook
