Raiders vs Tigers (Sun 2pm, GIO)
Last Five: Raiders 4 wins, Tigers 1 win
Canberra have the edge in this game considering the recent history between these two clubs.ย The average winning margin in their last four outings has been 43 points in favour of the Raiders, with the Green Machine averaging 52 points to the Tigers 9.ย They will be seething after surrendering the two points at Penrith last week.ย For the Tigers it’s definitely a mental game to overcome a bogey side.ย It’s a game where Robbie Farah and Benji Marshall need to lead from the front.ย A loss would be lights out on the Tigers season, a season that offered so much promise.ย I think the game will be closer than the last few.
PREDICTION: Raiders 42 Tigers 20
Storm vs Sharks (Sun 4:10pm, AAMI)
Last Five: Sharks 3 wins, Storm 2 wins
With today’s announcement that Billy Slater will hang up his boots at season’s end, Melbourne will be pumped for a big performance in front of their AAMI Park faithful on Sunday against the Sharks.ย Last Friday night was a rare Melbourne effort, totally dominated in the second half as South Sydney applied wave after wave of pressure.ย Cronulla are reeling from their own disaster at home against Manly, going down in golden point.ย When these two teams met earlier this year it was the beginning of the controversial clampdown on discipline, with Matt Cecchin providing a moment in his 300 game career by sending Cameron Smith to the sin-bin.ย Expect fire this week between these two sides, but the Storm slightly ahead with the home advantage.
PREDICTION: Storm 14 Sharks 12
