'15 | Heritage R19 | Sat 3pm | CAN 20-21* CRO | GIO

[Timmah]

1. Jack Wighton 2. Edrick Lee 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Sisa Waqa 5. Jordan Rapana
6. Blake Austin 7. Kurt Baptiste
8. Paul Vaughan 9. Josh Hodgson 10. David Shillington 11. Josh Papalii 12. Iosia Soliola 13. Shaun Fensom

Interchange: 14. Joseph Leilua 15. Frank Paul Nuuausala 16. Jarrad Kennedy
19. Shannon Boyd

1. Michael Gordon 2. Sosaia Feki 3. Gerard Beale 4. Ricky Leutele 5. Valentine Holmes
6. Jack Bird 7. Jeff Robson
8. Andrew Fifita 9. Michael Ennis 10. Sam Tagataese 11. Luke Lewis 12. Wade Graham 13. Paul Gallen

Interchange: 14. Ben Barba 15. Chris Heighington 16. David Fifita 17. Jayson Bukuya
18. Matt Prior

Referees: Ashley Klein, Chris Butler
Sideline Officials: Jeff Younis, Phil Henderson
Video Referees: Shayne Hayne, Daniel Irvine


Holden Cup Under 20's R19
SAT 10:40AM | Raiders v Sharks @ GIO Stadium

VB NSW Cup R19
SAT 12:40PM | Mounties (CAN) v Newtown (CRO) @ GIO Stadium​

 

[kia ora storm]

Raiders by 2...

 

[GongPanther]

A great match for the punting fans,as they can foresee that Blake Austin will be in for another hat-trick of dogs eyes.

Raiders by 22.

 

[PenrithPanther45]

Raiders 34-22

 

[I Bleed Maroon]

Realistically the Raiders should clean up, but who the hell knows which Sharks team will turn up.

 

[Russell Crowe's Band]

we will grind a victory out.
sharks by 2

go the grind

 

[Rhyno]

Raiders by 14

 

[gorilla with a shotgun]

Not sure why there is so much neutral Raiders love. Sharks fowards looked really good on Sunday.
Tagatese is a better version of FPN.
Raider's missing their halfback who is 3rd in try assists this year
The only thing that may save us is how disjointed the Sharks look in attack. Gallen always gets in the way of Ennis. Bird just runs across the field hoping for something to happen etc

 

[gorilla with a shotgun]

Also i'm not sure how this is a heritage/rival game. I like the Sharks and they played their heritage game last round.

 

[canberra_raiders2k2]

Baptiste at 7.

Should be interesting. I assume we will be running on the 5th more often this week lol.

 

[Card Shark]

Big swing in favour of the Raiders but I think we are in with a big chance on Saturday - it's probably our best away ground in recent times, except perhaps Penrith.

 

[Pete Cash]

I feel that Hodgson will play halfback if Stuart sticks with the team as named.

 

[txta2]

Sharks by 8

 

[Godeangogogogo]

Cronulla's Jack Bird has been on the receiving end of some Blake Austin magic and is determined not to let it happen again as the Sharks' finals hopes go on the line.

The two will go head-to-head when the Sharks meet Canberra on Saturday in a crunch NRL clash which will have a big bearing on the top eight chances of both sides.

The last time Bird and Austin opposed each other the Canberra five-eighth put on three tries for Country against City earlier in the year in a performance which put him on the representative radar.

Bird said the Sharks would go a long way to beating the Raiders by shutting down Austin with both sides desperate for two points.

"I played against him in City versus Country and he scored three tries there," Bird said. "We all know what he's capable of. We've just got to keep an eye on him.

"He's on the other side (of the field) to me but he tends to roam a bit."

The Sharks and Raiders go into the clash in ninth and 10th respectively and a win could catapult either side into the eight while a defeat would see them lose ground at a key moment.

Extra responsibility will fall on Austin with Canberra halfback Sam Williams out for up to six weeks with a pectoral injury and will be replaced by Kurt Baptiste.

The Sharks have won four of their last five and have opposition teams looking over their shoulders as they continue to knock on the door of the top eight.

Bird said he not only considered the Sharks a top eight side, he believes they should be in the top four.

"We've got the team to make the top four, I reckon," Bird said. "There were just a few losses there that just cost us.

"We're not far off. We're in ninth spot and equal sixth, it's just for and against is playing against us.

"If we keep winning we'll move up the ladder and hopefully we can get up to the top eight soon"

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald

 

[PenrithPanther45]

Sharks by 4

 

[blacklock]

If sharks grind they win. If the game is open with many points raiders win. The sharks defense should at least not be as woeful as Newcastle last week

 

[Card Shark]

Our defence certainly can be woeful but I hope it's not too often.

 

[Ibleedblue]

Can't wait for this game. Some really good individual match ups, both sides hunting for a finals spot, afternoon game. Should be a good game.

Raiders to win

 

[Hutty1986]

This will be a good'un

 

[skeepe]

Great kick!