Andrew Pelechaty previews the Saturday night clash between Canberra and Brisbane.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Canberra Raiders Vs Brisbane Broncos
Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra
Date: Saturday August 26, 7:35pm
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Raiders: 1. Jordan Rapana 2. Albert Hopoate 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Matthew Timoko 5. Nick Cotric 6. Matt Frawley 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Zac Woolford 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Corey Horsburgh 14. Tom Starling 15. Emre Guler 16. James Schiller 17. Ata Mariota 18. Pasami Saulo 19. Brad Morkos 20. Jack Wighton 21. Sebastian Kris 22. Adrian Trevilyan
Broncos: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Corey Oates 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Ezra Mam 7. Jock Madden 8. Thomas Flegler 9. Billy Walters 10. Payne Haas 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan 14. Tyson Smoothy 15. Brendan Piakura 16. Kobe Hetherington 17. Corey Jensen 18. Jesse Arthars 19. Keenan Palasia 20. Martin Taupau 21. Tristan Sailor 22. Deine Mariner
Referee: Adam Gee
Embed from Getty ImagesMATCHDAY PREVIEW
While this is a big top eight clash, with the finals a fortnight away, it could also be a big mismatch.
Though Canberra are still sixth (with a 13-9 record), their last month has been poor.
They squeezed out tougher-than-expected wins over the Wests Tigers and Canterbury-Bankstown, lost to the Warriors in New Zealand, and were demolished by Melbourne. Amazingly, they’ve won all 13 games by a margin of 1-12. Their 36-24 win over the Bulldogs last weekend was their biggest win of the season.
By contrast, Brisbane (17-5) are flying: they’re jostling with Penrith for the minor premiership and have won six straight, including a last start 54-10 win over Parramatta at The Gabba.
This is a big game for the Raiders as they farewell Jarrod Croker and Jack Wighton from Bruce Stadium (assuming Canberra don’t earn a home final). Though Canberra’s had a poor record in milestone home games this year: losing to the Warriors in Croker’s 300th and losing to Newcastle after their Raiders NRLW side won their inaugural home game.
While optimistic Raiders fans will point to the Easter Saturday game at Lang Park – where Canberra knocked off the previously unbeaten Broncos 20-14 – it’s hard to see Brisbane having another off night.
Even Canberra’s four straight home wins against Brisbane are deceptive: two of the wins (2020 and 2021) came when Brisbane were at rock bottom.
Canberra often play their best when nobody expects them to win: and a win against either Brisbane or Cronulla-Sutherland all but secures a finals spot, but lose both and they could miss the finals completely (especially with their -108 differential).
For Brisbane, a win here all but seals a top two finish and two Lang Park finals. Brisbane haven’t had a home final since 2018 (resulting in a big loss to St George Illawarra).
Canberra’s team list raises a few questions: Wighton and Sebastian Kris are both named on the extended bench, with Matt Frawley retained at five-eighth and Croker and Matthew Timoko in the centres. You can only assume Wighton and Kris (both suffering hamstring injuries) will be given as much time as possible to prove their fitness before a late switch. Albert Hopoate – who has a rib injury – has also been named, with James Schiller as a possible cover on the bench. Corey Horsburgh has been named despite his head knock against Canterbury. Though Xavier Savage – who this time last year was Canberra’s first choice fullback – could feel hard done by not getting a recall after his NSW Cup hat-trick last weekend.
Brisbane’s team list is more straightforward, as Jock Madden comes in for Adam Reynolds. This is just the third game Reynolds has missed, with Madden replacing him on both occasions. Corey Oates will play his 200th NRL game, and while it’ll be dwarfed by the Croker and (possibly) Wighton fanfare, it’s still a brilliant achievement.
The key for Canberra is their start: they’ll be fired up and will want to get out to an early lead (unlike Croker’s 300th, where the Warriors absorbed the early pressure and ran away in the second half). If Brisbane can weather the early emotion, they should ease to a comfortable win.
LAST TEN MATCHES
Broncos 6, Raiders 4
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Broncos by 10 points.
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