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First Grade
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Rabbitohs v Raiders Preview
NRL.com
ANZ Stadium
Sunday 2pm
http://nrl.com/News/Latest/tabid/10244/default.aspx?id=52506
THIS is a watershed time for the Canberra Raiders.
They have pushed themselves into sixth position on the NRL ladder and their run home is the easiest of any side in contention for a finals berth.
After facing the Rabbitohs in this match they have the Cowboys (currently last) and the Bulldogs (currently second last) and as such they are expected to win all three and finish no lower than they already are.
Three wins would move them to 32 competition points and could even be good enough for a top-four spot if results in other games go their way.
But Wests Tigers’ fans can vouch that having an easy run home doesn’t guarantee anything.
Last season the Tigers should have cruised into the finals but they didn’t even qualify… complacency can be a killer.
Does the Green Machine have the ruthless attitude to take out their ‘weaker’ opponents?
The first of those is a Bunnies side brimming with confidence after an upset win over Manly.
They come into the match with the same side as last week, having just added Michael Greenfield as an 18th man.
The Raiders, fresh from demolitions of Penrith and Newcastle, have a handful of changes.
Winger Justin Carney is out injured with Brett Kelly coming in as his replacement.
Hooker Glen Buttriss returns which pushes Alan Tongue to lock, Joe Picker to the second row and Josh Miller to the bench and with Tom Learoyd-Lahrs out suspended, Nigel Plum and Ben Jones have been added to a six-man bench.
Watch out Rabbitohs: At least the Bunnies can take solace in the fact that in-form Raiders’ centre Colin Best is coming to Redfern from next season on.
Best is now averaging a massive 132 metres a match, has 15 line breaks (ranked 4th in NRL) and 12 tries (4th in NRL).
His 89 tackle breaks also rank him ninth in the NRL and make him a very dangerous prospect in this match that will have plenty of open spaces.
Watch out Raiders: The Bunnies are throwing caution to the wind and are out to have a good time so it will take some fortitude to stop getting into a game of touch football.
Nathan Merritt is finding space often, he now has 11 tries and just as many line breaks for the year and the likes of Beau Champion, Jamie Simpson, Craig Wing and Chris Sandow are having a blast trying moves out wide.
Then there is Issac Luke and John Sutton in the middle, while even prop Roy Asotasi is showcasing his skills.
The only way for the Raiders to combat this sort of fire is with intense defence.
If they whack the Rabbitohs hard enough the Bunnies boys might just realise they’re playing for next-to-nothing and retreat into their holes.
Where it will be won: Defence.
We all know both of these teams can throw the ball about and score points but the side that puts some extra effort into the ‘tough’ side of the game will come out on top.
The Raiders have let 446 points past them this season, or 21.2 points a match, while the Rabbitohs have leaked 562 points, or 26.8 a match.
In big games it is rare you will come out on top if you let in more than 20 points and the Raiders need to have that mentality from here on in.
There is no point winning their remaining three games 32-28 if it means they are belted in the finals against stronger opposition.
They need to keep their attacking flavour but tighten up defensively to ensure they aren’t cracked often.
The Rabbitohs need to tighten up also.
They were lucky to get away with victory last week having leaked 32 points against Manly and chances are they won’t be as lucky again.
The History: Played 40; Rabbitohs 15, Raiders 25.
The Raiders have won six of the past eight against the Rabbitohs, including a 38-10 win earlier this season.
There have been two matches at ANZ Stadium between the clubs with the ledger currently at 1-1.
Conclusion: While plenty love the fairytale story of the under-strength Raiders making a play for the finals it is in matches like this that they have fallen apart in recent years.
They have a 3-7 away record this season and that quite simply isn’t good enough for premiership contenders.
If they are to make true believers of us all then they must take the Bunnies apart.
It’s a result they should get, but Souths showed last weekend that they are far from finished for the year.
While the finals are beyond them, boosting their win column is something still firmly on their mind.
Take the Raiders, but don’t be surprised if they fall.
Match officials: Referee – Jared Maxwell; Sideline Officials – Mohamad Fajajo & David Abood; Video ref – Graeme West.
Televised: Fox Sports 2 – Live 2pm.
* Statistics: NRL Stats.
NRL.com
ANZ Stadium
Sunday 2pm
http://nrl.com/News/Latest/tabid/10244/default.aspx?id=52506
THIS is a watershed time for the Canberra Raiders.
They have pushed themselves into sixth position on the NRL ladder and their run home is the easiest of any side in contention for a finals berth.
After facing the Rabbitohs in this match they have the Cowboys (currently last) and the Bulldogs (currently second last) and as such they are expected to win all three and finish no lower than they already are.
Three wins would move them to 32 competition points and could even be good enough for a top-four spot if results in other games go their way.
But Wests Tigers’ fans can vouch that having an easy run home doesn’t guarantee anything.
Last season the Tigers should have cruised into the finals but they didn’t even qualify… complacency can be a killer.
Does the Green Machine have the ruthless attitude to take out their ‘weaker’ opponents?
The first of those is a Bunnies side brimming with confidence after an upset win over Manly.
They come into the match with the same side as last week, having just added Michael Greenfield as an 18th man.
The Raiders, fresh from demolitions of Penrith and Newcastle, have a handful of changes.
Winger Justin Carney is out injured with Brett Kelly coming in as his replacement.
Hooker Glen Buttriss returns which pushes Alan Tongue to lock, Joe Picker to the second row and Josh Miller to the bench and with Tom Learoyd-Lahrs out suspended, Nigel Plum and Ben Jones have been added to a six-man bench.
Watch out Rabbitohs: At least the Bunnies can take solace in the fact that in-form Raiders’ centre Colin Best is coming to Redfern from next season on.
Best is now averaging a massive 132 metres a match, has 15 line breaks (ranked 4th in NRL) and 12 tries (4th in NRL).
His 89 tackle breaks also rank him ninth in the NRL and make him a very dangerous prospect in this match that will have plenty of open spaces.
Watch out Raiders: The Bunnies are throwing caution to the wind and are out to have a good time so it will take some fortitude to stop getting into a game of touch football.
Nathan Merritt is finding space often, he now has 11 tries and just as many line breaks for the year and the likes of Beau Champion, Jamie Simpson, Craig Wing and Chris Sandow are having a blast trying moves out wide.
Then there is Issac Luke and John Sutton in the middle, while even prop Roy Asotasi is showcasing his skills.
The only way for the Raiders to combat this sort of fire is with intense defence.
If they whack the Rabbitohs hard enough the Bunnies boys might just realise they’re playing for next-to-nothing and retreat into their holes.
Where it will be won: Defence.
We all know both of these teams can throw the ball about and score points but the side that puts some extra effort into the ‘tough’ side of the game will come out on top.
The Raiders have let 446 points past them this season, or 21.2 points a match, while the Rabbitohs have leaked 562 points, or 26.8 a match.
In big games it is rare you will come out on top if you let in more than 20 points and the Raiders need to have that mentality from here on in.
There is no point winning their remaining three games 32-28 if it means they are belted in the finals against stronger opposition.
They need to keep their attacking flavour but tighten up defensively to ensure they aren’t cracked often.
The Rabbitohs need to tighten up also.
They were lucky to get away with victory last week having leaked 32 points against Manly and chances are they won’t be as lucky again.
The History: Played 40; Rabbitohs 15, Raiders 25.
The Raiders have won six of the past eight against the Rabbitohs, including a 38-10 win earlier this season.
There have been two matches at ANZ Stadium between the clubs with the ledger currently at 1-1.
Conclusion: While plenty love the fairytale story of the under-strength Raiders making a play for the finals it is in matches like this that they have fallen apart in recent years.
They have a 3-7 away record this season and that quite simply isn’t good enough for premiership contenders.
If they are to make true believers of us all then they must take the Bunnies apart.
It’s a result they should get, but Souths showed last weekend that they are far from finished for the year.
While the finals are beyond them, boosting their win column is something still firmly on their mind.
Take the Raiders, but don’t be surprised if they fall.
Match officials: Referee – Jared Maxwell; Sideline Officials – Mohamad Fajajo & David Abood; Video ref – Graeme West.
Televised: Fox Sports 2 – Live 2pm.
* Statistics: NRL Stats.
