Raiders v Wests Tigers Preview
Big League
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CONSIDERING the position both clubs find themselves in at this early stage of the year this clash in the nations capital takes on a little more significance this Sunday.
Both sides sit on two wins and two losses after the first month, with the Tigers (10th) just ahead of the Raiders (11th) thanks to for-and-against.
A win will keep the victors amongst the top sides and could possibly catapult them into the top eight, while a loss is likely to send the vanquished towards the abyss at the bottom of the ladder.
Both sides were humiliated last start; the Tigers let the Panthers prowl in Campbelltown while the Raiders couldnt compete with the Titans at their Skilled Park fortress.
Its been two losses in a row for Tim Sheens side, which welcomes Robbie Farah back from injury in the number seven jersey. This pushes John Morris to five-eighth and Tim Moltzen to centre. Beau Ryan is the casualty from the side. Young winger Peni Tagive is also out, replaced by Shannon McDonnell, while Dean Collis comes onto the bench in favour of Rhys Hanbury.
For the Raiders, brain-snap merchant Michael Weyman starts his six-week hiatus for punching Daniel Conn but thankfully for the home side they can replace him with Scott Logan who returns from injury. Ryan Hinchcliffes broken thumb means he goes and in comes Lincoln Withers, while a six-man bench has been strengthened by Ben Jones, David Milne and Tom Learoyd-Lahrs.
Watch out Raiders: Robbie Farah returns to the Tigers line-up and considering the talk hes being touted as a possible New South Wales halfback, hell be pumped to perform in the number seven jersey against fellow aspirant Todd Carney. From his three matches at hooker Farah has two line breaks, two tries and a try assist but with some more room to move one-off the ruck he could be deadly.
Watch out Wests Tigers: Just as Farah will be keen to outpoint Carney, the Raiders playmaker will see this as an opportunity to put what he no doubt sees as an insult to bed.
Specialty number sevens across the competition are up in arms at the thought of a hooker being chosen in the sky blue ahead of them and Carney has the first chance to notch a win for his fellow halves. The Goulburn junior knows hell need to lift from the form that has produced just two try assists so far, but this challenge could prove the perfect catalyst.
Where it will be won: Defensively the Wests Tigers need to improve significantly if they are to be a force in this years premiership. With 146 missed tackles already this season they are the second worst-performing team in that area and they go up against a Raiders outfit ranked first with just 95 missed tackles.
The Raiders know their limitations and therefore are much disciplined in defence, making 92.3 per cent of their tackles. The Tigers are only making 86.6 per cent of their tackles, giving their opposition way too many opportunities.
While the Raiders dont have the attacking nous of some other outfits, they do have more than enough talent to capitalise on breaks.
The History: Played 15; Raiders 8, Wests Tigers 7. The history is pretty even between the sides; even at Canberra Stadium, the Raiders hold only a slender 5-3 advantage.
If you are desperate for a trend the Tigers won both matches in 2005, the Raiders both in 2006 and then the Tigers won last season. So, either they are going in lots of two, which means another Tigers win or they are trading calendar years, which means 2008 in the year of the Raider.
Conclusion: The Raiders are always a 12-points better team at home and the Wests Tigers have been very sketchy over the past fortnight so this game is really tight.
Its a game that both teams will be expecting to win so its one that could easily go down to the wire. The last six matches between the sides were all decided by 12 or less points, two of which were golden-point games, so its anybodys guess.
In fact, the biggest winning margin Canberra has ever had over the Tigers is just 20 points and the Tigers have never been more than 14 points ahead at fulltime. So expect a cracker.
Match officials: Referee Sean Hampstead; Sideline Officials Matt Cecchin & Gavin Reynolds; Video ref Tim Mander.
Televised: Foxsports 2 Live 2pm
* Statistics: NRL Stats.
