Good morning, good day, and happy game day to all my fellow South Sydney members and fans. I've woken up today incredibly pumped for what feels like a massive game day and an incredibly important one. Wherever in the world you are, get up, get your colours on, belt out a Glory, Glory, and get ready for a big day.
Tonight, we take on the Raiders down there in the freezing cold Canberra in some Sunday night Footy. A crucial game, an incredibly, extremely important one where we're either going to have our already unlikely dream ended, or we'll march on, and the run will continue for another week. That's right, lose, and I think we're 100% gone. But win tonight and we still remain saying who knows? There's a lot on the line for both sides actually because Canberra are fighting for the eight too.
Make no mistake, this is still going to be a big test in the nation's capital tonight. If we were full strength, I'd maybe say we've got this in the bag, but given who we're missing, it's looking like it's going to be a really tough contest and a big challenge for us to overcome at their home ground. The biggest challenge is going to be the forward battle and I think that decides the game tonight. It will be a tight game played through the middle and whoever gets the upper hand there, will probably win this. And to be honest, that's what makes me most nervous about the Raiders tonight because their forward pack is actually insane. Papali'i, Tapine, Whitehead, Young; they're literally all beasts, and all rep quality players. That's scary. Of course, they have a pretty decent halves pairing and backline too, but it's certainly the pack where we need to watch the most.
So, it's over to our boys to combat that. They've warmed to the occasion in previous games, and you know what? I'm going to back them in to do the same here. A big part of that is on Davvy, Kep, Keaon and Tom tonight, but they can do it. That's the key.
The big storyline today is Jackie Wighton's first game back in Canberra against his old club, and we need, and I expect a massive game from him. He'll be charged with emotion and the reaction of their crowd will only add to that. However, Jackie can't do that if our forwards don't stand up, so it all comes back to that. I can't wait to see him get stuck in though.
I think we can do this, we just need to get our defence right, that's the biggest area of improvement needed as it's taken a step back recently, and of course hold the ball and I still think we have enough strike and firepower to get this done.
Keaon's 100th tonight too so huge congrats to him! I hope we do it for him with him leading the way!!
We're wearing a Red and Green racing stripe-like jersey tonight, and I hope we play like a racing car.
Let's go today lads! We can do this! Statement time baby yooohoooo!!!
Enjoy your gameday folks and enjoy the buildup.
Glory, Glory.