Match Discussion: Round 18 vs Canberra @ GIO Stadium Canberra, Bruce / Ngunnawal

[League Unlimited News]

NRL 2024 - Round 18
Canberra Raiders v Newcastle Knights
GIO Stadium Canberra, Bruce / Ngunnawal (TICKETS)

Sunday 7 July 2024
NRL kickoff 4:05pm
Broadcast live on Nine, 9Now, Fox, Kayo.

1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Jordan Rapana 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Albert Hopoate 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Adam Cook 8. Josh Papali'i 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Morgan Smithies 14. Danny Levi 15. Ata Mariota 16. Trey Mooney 17. Simi Sasagi 18. Sebastian Kris 19. Zac Woolford 20. Emre Guler 21. James Schiller 22. Hohepa Puru

Out: Jordan Martin (bench)
In: Simi Sasagi (bench), Sebastian Kris (reserve), Zac Woolford (reserve), Emre Guler (reserve), James Schiller (reserve), Hohepa Puru (reserve)
Changes: Jordan Rapana (fullback to wing), Albert Hopoate (wing to centre), Adam Cook (centre to halfback), Kaeo Weekes (halfback to fullback)

1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Enari Tuala 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Will Pryce 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Leo Thompson 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Adam Elliott 14. Fletcher Sharpe 15. Jacob Saifiti 16. Brodie Jones 17. Dylan Lucas 18. Mathew Croker 19. Jack Hetherington 20. Jack Cogger 21. Krystian Mapapalangi 22. Thomas Cant

Out: Phoenix Crossland (hooker)
In: Kalyn Ponga (fullback), Leo Thompson (front row), Dylan Lucas (bench), Jack Cogger (reserve), Krystian Mapapalangi (reserve), Thomas Cant (reserve)
Changes: Fletcher Sharpe (fullback to bench), Jacob Saifiti (front row to bench), Jayden Brailey (bench to hooker)

Referee: To be advised
Sideline Officials: To be advised
Video Referee: To be advised

HEAD TO HEAD - 1988 - 2024​

	TOTAL	CBR	NTL	DRAWN
ALL MATCHES	58	30	26	2
GIO	28	20	7	1

LAST FIVE MEETINGS​

YEAR	ROUND	RESULT	VENUE	CROWD
2022	Round 23	CBR 28-22	MJS	16768
2023	Round 4	NTL 24-14	MJS	15106
2023	Round 22	NTL 28-6	GIO	15487
2023	Elim Final	NTL 30-28	MJS	29548
2024	Round 1	CBR 28-12	MJS	22378

BIGGEST WINS​

YEAR	ROUND	RESULT	VENUE	CROWD
1994	Round 18	CBR 52-16	Marathon	22945
2002	Round 4	NTL 52-6	EnergyAus	17256

NEXT FOUR MATCHES​

	Round 19	Round 20	Round 21	Round 22
CBR	(BYE)	WARRIORS (H)	SOUTHS (H)	CANTERBURY (A)
NTL	MANLY (A)	BRISBANE (H)	(BYE)	PENRITH (A)

LAST THREE MATCHES​

	Round 15		Round 16		Round 17
CBR	N QLD	L 16-34	W TIGERS	L 24-48	MELB	L 6-16
NTL	PENRITH	L 18-26	(BYE)		PARRA	W 34-26

STATE OF PLAY: 2024 SEASON​

	POSITION	PLAYED	BYES	W-L-D	FOR	AGAINST
CBR	12th	15	2	7-8-0	302	391
NTL	11th	15	2	7-8-0	282	329

 

[ryan.a87]

Are we confident Lucas and Thompson are back for this one?

 

[perverse]

If we win this, the door to the finals swings open again for mine. This'll be a tough match, and it's big in the context of the race for the bottom half of the 8.

We can probably afford to lose another 3 matches this year... maybe 4? Can't let this be one of them.

 

[Zoidberg]

Next 3 are vs Raiders (A), Manly (A), and Broncs (H).
I feel like we need to win 2/3 before our next bye to have a good shot at finals.

 

[Woody90]

I’m not going to say whether I think we can win this or not until I see if AOB picks Cogger in the side.

It really should be Riley Jones but I just can’t trust Cogger won’t have a reappearance.

 

[Yosh]

Next 3 are vs Raiders (A), Manly (A), and Broncs (H).
I feel like we need to win 2/3 before our next bye to have a good shot at finals.

All look beatable at the moment. DCE won't be there for the Manly game right? Broncos are in a slump and that's Ponga's return game right?? Let's win all 3!

 

[Zoidberg]

All look beatable at the moment. DCE won't be there for the Manly game right? Broncos are in a slump and that's Ponga's return game right?? Let's win all 3!

I’d be happy with winning all 3.
In regards to KP coming back, I think it could be either Manly or Broncos or even the game after the bye. Not really heard much about how his recovery is going except he is working hard. As long as we don’t bring him back early and risk aggrevating it.

 

[perverse]

I’d be happy with winning all 3.
In regards to KP coming back, I think it could be either Manly or Broncos or even the game after the bye. Not really heard much about how his recovery is going except he is working hard. As long as we don’t bring him back early and risk aggregating it.

There have been whispers that he's a week ahead of schedule. If the season on the line, I wouldn't be surprised if we rush him back.

 

[Zoidberg]

There have been whispers that he's a week ahead of schedule. If the season on the line, I wouldn't be surprised if we rush him back.

I’ve seen that somewhere too. Might depend on the result this weekend. Although Yosh is right, Manly will be missing some key players for that game due to Origin.

 

[Apey]

Are we confident Lucas and Thompson are back for this one?

Toohey says Crossland out (Cat 1), Lucas and Thompson likely to be back.

 

[macavity]

Hoping Riley Jones gets a run off the bench instead of Cogger.

 

[Yosh]

Cogger at 14 offers nothing. We need someone to properly relieve Brailey. Jones looked pretty exciting in preseason.

 

[PhilGould]

Ponga back early with Sharpe going to #14 according to the bloke on the other forum

 

[Yosh]

Wowzers!

 

[ryan.a87]

Has he even been doing contact training?

I know he was running last week. Sounds too soon

 

[perverse]

Ponga back early with Sharpe going to #14 according to the bloke on the other forum

Massive news in the context of our win last week, and our season overall. Please stay fit KP.

It's been hard to watch at times, and as always one or two truly awful efforts as a team, but overall the squad should be proud and take a lot of confidence out of what they've managed to get done without KP. I'm sure a lot of us shut up shop mentally for the year when he went down, but the club didn't and as we sit here with 9 rounds left, the season isn't a waste. The door is very much open to have a crack at some finals games.

 

[macavity]

Ponga back early with Sharpe going to #14 according to the bloke on the other forum

Surely not, he’s not Jesus

 

[Woody90]

Ponga back early with Sharpe going to #14 according to the bloke on the other forum

WTF?????

AOB was very coy when asked about him in the presser.

 

[Apey]

Find that hard to believe and even then I'd be worried about him getting injured again. Obviously the club knows better than me but I'd be saving him another week. We can beat Raiders without him.

 

[Knight Tales]

Sharpe will be our 14 next year so we might as well get him started there. He will hurt tired sides.