R23 Sat - Canberra v Warriors

[Timmah]

SUPER SATURDAY

CANBERRA v WARRIORS
Canberra Stadium, Bruce ACT :: Saturday 18 August
Gates open 5:15pm, Premier League 5:30pm
First Grade Kickoff 7:30pm
Live on FOXTEL, Check Local Guides. LeagueUnlimited LIVE UPDATE.

GET TICKETS HERE.

JARED MAXWELL
Sideline Officials: Jason Walsh, Matt Cecchin
Video Referee: Russell Smith

Canberra Raiders lineup
1. David Howell
2. David Milne, 3. Phil Graham, 4. Colin Best, 5. Brett Kelly
6. Terry Campese, 7. Todd Carney
8. Dane Tilse, 9. Ryan Hinchcliffe, 10. Scott Logan
11. Matt Bickerstaff, 12. Glen Turner
13. Alan Tongue (C)

Int - 14. Lincoln Withers, 15. Trevor Thurling, 16. Neville Costigan, 17. Michael Weyman,

Reserves - 18. Tom Learoyd-Lahrs

Warriors lineup
1 WADE McKINNON
2 MICHAEL CROCKETT, 3 JEROME ROPATI, 4 SIMON MANNERING, 5 MANU VATUVEI
6 MICHAEL WITT, 7 GRANT ROVELLI
8 SAM RAPIRA, 9 NATHAN FIEN, 10 STEVE PRICE (c)
11 RUBEN WIKI (vc), 12 LOGAN SWANN
13 MICHEAL LUCK

Int - 14 WAIRANGI KOOPU, 15 EVARN TUIMAVAVE, 16 EPALAHAME LAUAKI, 18 GEORGE GATIS

Reserves - 19. TODD BYRNE
​

LOWER GRADES
PREMIER LEAGUE Raiders v Auckland Lions, 5:30pm
JERSEY FLEGG Raiders Bye

 

[gong_eagle]

Raiders v Warriors preview

http://nrl.com/News/MatchReports/MatchReportsArticle/tabid/336/NewsId/6621/Default.aspx

Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Well it appears the young Raiders’ charge towards the finals was plundered by a rampant Bulldogs outfit last Sunday and although they are still in the “mathematical chance of making it” category it would take a miracle of mammoth proportions for them to be involved past the regular season.
They’ll need to win their remaining three games comfortably and hope other teams above them fall into bottomless pits.
The Warriors on the other hand are pushing hard for a top-four berth and are one of the form teams of the competition, coming into this clash having not lost since round 17.
Canberra coach Neil Henry has selected David Howell at fullback for the match, with Marshall Chalk out and David Milne coming onto the wing.
Inspirational captain Alan Tongue returns from injury which leaves Jo Picker out in the cold while halfback Michael Dobson is out of the side – not for the first time this season.
This sees Terry Campese come into five-eighth with Todd Carney moving to halfback. Other changes include Trevor Thurling in for Josh Miller and Tom Learoyd-Lahrs added to an extended bench.
For the Warriors, in-form fullback Wade McKinnon is back after missing the Titans match through injury sending Todd ‘Skinny’ Byrne to the bench while winger Michael Crockett returns to the side despite being formally charged with sexual assault through the week.
Watch out Raiders: Ruben Wiki loves playing in front of the Canberra faithful having been a favourite son at the Raiders for 12 seasons from 1993-2004.
While he may not be the damaging player he once was, he still contributes plenty to the Warrior cause and will be out to ensure his kava-drinking mates have something to celebrate when hitting the Canberra nightlife.
Wiki still manages around 100 metres a game but more importantly can come up with the plays that matter to lift the troops to bigger and better things.
He is still defensively sound having missed just 19 tackles this year – a very respectable mark for a man playing in the engine room.
Watch out Warriors: David Howell and Trevor Thurling will be desperate to get a try to their names as the season gets closer to an end.
Neither player has grabbed a four-pointer this season and as footy tradition states – no tries in a season equates to a nude run around your home ground.
Considering the near freezing temperatures in Canberra this is more than enough motivation to get on the scoresheet.
The Raiders might be without a finals berth to play for but they are still a proud bunch of footballers and they will not surrender without some sort of fight – although you could be forgiven for thinking they did just that last week.
Where it will be won: With defence – which spells trouble for the Raiders. Canberra’s defence has massive problems and unless they can fix them for around an hour and a half on Sunday they could be in for a long afternoon.
Their right-side defence has been abysmal all year – conceding 49 tries now but what could prove just as telling is their inability to defend well even when they have the opposition pinned in their own half.
The Raiders have conceded 15 tries from over halfway this year while the Warriors are sporting an NRL-high 22 tries scored from that region.
The History: Played 20; Raiders 11, Warriors 9. The Warriors have only won once from seven attempts when travelling over to Australia’s capital city.
Conclusion: The Warriors should dispose of the Raiders easily on form but they’ll need the right mental attitude for this game or risk a loss and possibly a home final.
With some disruption during the week thanks to the Michael Crockett case, the Warriors might just be mentally unstable enough for the Raiders to pounce.
It’s long been a problem for the Warriors; they can sometimes fold like a cheap deck of cards when pressure is applied however this team has seemingly turned that around.
The Raiders have performed okay at home this year with a 6-4 record, which is the fifth best of home sides in the NRL but they have their work cut out for them if they are to improve those figures.
Match officials: Referee – Jared Maxwell; Sideline Officials – Jason Walsh & Matt Cecchin; Video ref – Russell Smith.
Televised: Foxsports 3 –Delayed 9.20pm.
* Statistics: NRL Stats.

 

[Timmah]

Statistically speaking... from Big League magazine

Head to head
Overall 20, Canberra 11-9
At Canberra 7, Canberra 6-1

Last meetings
Canberra 18-14 @ Canberra, 2006

Biggest victories
Canberra 56-12 @ Canberra, 2000
Warriors 36-20 @ Mt Smart, 2002

Grand Finals
Never met in GF


Opening market Warriors 1.45 Canberra 2.65
(TAB Sportsbet)

 

[skeepe]

MacKinnon in doubt for the Warriors, Todd Byrne is flying over as cover.

Learoyd-Lahrs in doubt for the Raiders. If he plays either Thurling or Weyman will drop off the bench.

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

If it were in Auckland I'd say Warriors by 20+ but in Canberra I'm not even sure about the win. On form the Warriors should have it, but the Raiders are such a different team at home and the Warriors haven't won there for 10 years, although they did get an away victory when a game was forced to move to Manuka oval (sp?) one time.

Warriors should win, but I'm not extremely confident about it.

 

[skeepe]

Hmmm so the Warriors have actually never recorded a win at Canberra Stadium. Boy I'd love for that to continue, but it seems it's a year for breaking hoodoos.

 

[gong_eagle]

Hmmm so the Warriors have actually never recorded a win at Canberra Stadium. Boy I'd love for that to continue, but it seems it's a year for breaking hoodoos.

this could also be quite scary for your mob if you dont turn up like last week
Biggest victories Warriors 36-20 @ Mt Smart, 2002 could be in danger

 

[Rovelli]

We won in 1997 at Bruce

 

[lockyno1]

Wiity to score the most points!

 

[Hurriflatch]

I'm tipping the upset



















and it has nothing to do with the fact that if Parra lose and the Warriors win then the Warriors get ahead of Parra on the ladder :lol:

 

[skeepe]

Matt Bickerstaff out for the Raiders, Costigan to start with Learoyd-Lahrs onto the bench.

 

[Dr Crane]

Rumor has it McKinnon is out again.

 

[Rovelli]

Give Wade some rest.

Skinny Byrne and Paddy worked well last week together sharing the fullback duty.

 

[raiders fan forever]

Matt Bickerstaff out for the Raiders, Costigan to start with Learoyd-Lahrs onto the bench.

Dont Mind that at all

 

[Dr Crane]

McKinnon confirmed out, replaced by #21 Todd the man Byrne.

 

[Dr Crane]

Man Maxwell is keeping a huuuuuuge 10 metres.

 

[Timbo]

Why this clown Kelly who has awful hands, no defence skill, and no pace keeps getting a jersey is beyond me.

Nicely done Brett

 

[Timbo]

And incidently, how Logan was penalized for an incorrect play the ball and Price wasn't is a bloody joke.

 

[Dr Crane]

Jesus Swann....

 

[Timbo]

...

I take back some of what I said about Kelly.

Still ordinary though.