Check out the match preview and prediction for the final round clash between the Dragons and Raiders.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
St George Illawarra Dragons Vs Canberra Raiders
Venue: Netsrata Jubilee Stadium, Sydney
Date: Saturday, September 7, 3:00 pm
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Dragons: 1. Tyrell Sloan, 2. Zac Lomax, 3. Moses Suli, 4. Jack Bird, 5. Mathew Feagai, 6. Lyhkan King-Togia, 7. Ben Hunt, 8. Francis Molo, 9. Jacob Liddle, 10. Jack de Belin, 11. Luciano Leilua, 12. Jaydn Su’A, 13. Tom Eisenhuth, 14. Connor Muhleisen, 15. Toby Couchman, 16. Blake Lawrie, 17. Raymond Faitala-Mariner, 18. Hamish Stewart, 19. Michael Molo, 20. Savelio Tamale, 21. Max Feagai, 22. Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga
Raiders: 1. Kaeo Weekes, 2. Albert Hopoate, 3. Matthew Timoko, 4. Sebastian Kris, 5. Xavier Savage, 6. Ethan Strange, 7. Jamal Fogarty, 8. Josh Papali’i, 9. Tom Starling, 10. Joseph Tapine, 11. Hudson Young, 12. Simi Sasagi, 13. Morgan Smithies, 14. Danny Levi, 15. Corey Horsburgh, 16. Ata Mariota, 17. Trey Mooney, 18. James Schiller, 19. Zac Woolford, 20. Emre Guler, 21. Jed Stuart, 22. Adam Cook
Referee: Wyatt Raymond
Embed from Getty ImagesMATCHDAY PREVIEW
For a team fighting for a top-eight spot, the Dragons have let their finals chances slip out of their hands with back-to-back losses. Last week’s loss to the Eels will probably hurt the most, as it is a game they were expected to win.
In what Fox League commentator Warren Smith called the strangest games of rugby league seen in a long time, the Eels were all over the Dragons from the get-go. It looked like the Eels would rack up a cricket score when they were up 44-12 with over 10 minutes remaining, but the Dragons didn’t lay down for the rest of the game, piling on 28 points. Time was the enemy, however, as the Dragons lost 44-40.
Moses Suli returns from a knee injury, taking his place in the centres alongside Jack Bird. Lyhkan King-Togia has been named at five-eighth. Jacob Liddle returns after sitting out the Eels loss for personal reasons. Connor Muhleisen moves to the bench. Blake Lawrie also comes onto the bench.
The Raiders’ fortunes over the last two weeks have been entirely different to the Dragons, as they have beaten two premiership heavyweights. Against the Roosters, the Raiders showed their metal to hold them at bay, even losing captain Elliot Whitehead to the sin bin twice. In the end, the Raiders ran out winners 14-12.
Jamal Fogarty returns this week after missing the Roosters win with a hamstring injury. Ethan Strange also returns, being named at five-eighth. Kaeo Weekes moves to fullback. Simi Sasagi has been named in the back row, Jordan Rapana is injured, and Elliot Whitehead has been suspended. Trey Mooney has been named on the bench.
A key match-up for this game will be in the halves. Lyhkan King-Togia has only played three NRL games from the bench. No doubt Ben Hunt will take the pressure off King-Togia in his first start and get him to play his natural game while Hunt organises the team. Another good match-up will be between the fullbacks. Weekes and Tyrell Sloan have proven they can come up with big plays when needed, but they also have mistakes in them. For these two, this should be the start of many exciting battles.
Two men, one from each side, hold the record for most goals kicked in a match. Clinton Schifcofske (2005) and Jamie Soward (2007) have kicked nine goals.
For fans still holding on to hope, the winner of this match can still make the top eight, but only if the Knights and Dolphins have a draw.
Head-to-head stats can be found at Number Crunch Stats.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Check out all the NRL Predictions here.
Raiders by 8 points.
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