Raiders V Dragons

[Sydney_Raider]

Bronx Goodwin will replace William Zillman at fullback on Saturday night, for the Raiders first home match of the season against the St George-Illawarra Dragons at Canberra Stadium.

Zillman is set to undergo his second knee re-construction in as many seasons after re-injuring his left knee on Saturday night against the Panthers, in a huge blow to both him and the club.

His injury though opens the door for Goodwin to make the number one jumper his own in 2008, with the flamboyant fullback keen to make up for Zillman’s absence with a strong performance against the Dragons.

Scott Logan is the other injury concern for the Green Machine with his injured cheekbone expected to keep him out from anywhere between 4-8 weeks. Michael Weyman has been brought back into the squad to cover for Logan, while Lincoln Withers (rib cartilage) has also been named on an extended Raiders bench.

Withers will have to prove his fitness if he is to play on Saturday night against his old club, but also faces tough opposition from Raiders rake Ryan Hinchcliffe, who turned in a star performance against the Panthers at CUA Stadium.

Raiders Coach Neil Henry said he would re-evaluate the side later in the week depending on the availability of Withers who is still battling a rib injury, and on the weather conditions.

“We’ve got 18 players and we’ll just see how Lincoln is,” Henry said. “If he’s Ok there’s a possibility he’ll play and we just need to see if we want to use two hookers.

“Ryan Hinchcliffe was very good last week so he’s retained his spot for the moment and the weather conditions will dictate things as well. If it’s a bit wet we might be better off going with some smaller men in the middle.”

Henry said he was happy with the way Bronx Goodwin accommodated the loss of William Zillman last week, and was confident he could fill the huge loss of Zillman against the Dragons and hopefully beyond.

“I think he attacked the ball well at fullback, he made a couple of strong tackles and stopped a few people who made line breaks so I was happy with his commitment defensively,” he said. “He does wander around the field a bit and can bob up, as he scored some amazing tries last year, and he’s quite comfortable at fullback.”

Raiders Prop Michael Weyman gets his chance to prove his worth to the side on Saturday evening when he returns to the side for the injured Scott Logan, and said he will be ready for the challenge.

“There’s a lot competition at the moment and I think it was a bit of a wake up call last week by having a run in the Queensland Cup,” Weyman said. “It really hit home and it made me realise I need to take every chance I get now and this weekend will be the first opportunity for me to get back in the team.”

In a positive sign for the Raiders both Tom Learoyd-Lahrs and Ben Jones will make there first appearances for the season in Queensland this weekend, for the Raiders feeder club Souths Logan.
NRL ROUND 3
CANBERRA RAIDERS V ST GEORGE-ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
CANBERRA STADIUM, SATURDAY MARCH 29, 7.30pm

1. Bronx Goodwin
2. Colin Best
3. Phil Graham
4. Joel Monaghan
5. Adrian Purtell
6. Terry Campese
7. Todd Carney
8. Troy Thompson
9. Ryan Hinchcliffe
10. Dane Tilse
11. Marshall Chalk
12. Nigel Plum
13. Alan Tongue (c)
14. Joe Picker
15. Josh Miller
16. Trevor Thurling
17. Michael Weyman
18. Lincoln Withers
COACH: Neil Henry

 

[dubby]

Will we see Chalk start from the bench again??? Weyman/Picker> Chalk?

I'm not convinced with Bronx at fullback, but we have no choice. And I wish Henry would put Best at centre instead of Joel. Sowards kicking game will be the end of us this week; our back three are not upto scratch with kicks IMO.

 

[aussies1st]

I liked the look of our starting backline last week, Purtell in the centres with Graham at wing.
Usual story swap the wing with the centre and we are sorted.

 

[Timbo]

Good call Henry.

Resisted the knee-jerk reaction of putting Graham or Best back there.

 

[gregstar]

congrats on the win.


bring on round 4

 

[Mick_63]

I can see the reasoning off bringing Best/Weyman back.Sure theyre down on form etc but theyre fit.To fast track Milne/Kelly/TLL would risk more injuries.Let them get some game time /confidence.
I see this as a real make/break for Best.Through circumstance the coach has given him an opportunity to show that he is worth a fg spot.If he fails here its hello Logan goodbye NRL.
Ihope he starts with Weyman.Tilse on the bench.Weyman is more one dimensional,better suited to the earlier hard grind.

Raiders 23-16

 

[Bay56]

Will we see Chalk start from the bench again??? Weyman/Picker> Chalk?

I'm not convinced with Bronx at fullback, but we have no choice. And I wish Henry would put Best at centre instead of Joel. Sowards kicking game will be the end of us this week; our back three are not upto scratch with kicks IMO.

Sowards kicking game against the Titans last night was the highlight of that game ... without him they would have lost with just about every try scored off one of kicks.

If we dont shut him down he'll do the same he did at our visit to WIN last season.

I hope Withers drops off the bench ... if Henry is smart he'll take that advise.

Weyman back in the side ... cant understand why he was dropped .. should be in the starting 13 to enable us to get max impact while the dragqueens are still patting themselves on the back for last weeks effort.

GO THE RAIDERS !!

 

[paulquinn49]

I dont get why people keep talking up Weyman, Mick63 said "suited to the earlier hard grind" & Bay says "max impact"

He offers no impact because he cant grind out more than 5 minutes of work. f**k him off, he is useless.

I must be watching a different Weyman to everyone else.

 

[gorilla with a shotgun]

Dragons backline is very good. Our centres and wingers will have to be at their defensive best if we are going to win this game. In saying that our best is pretty ordinary

 

[Raider_69]

Not everyone else Quinny, Weyman has been serving up plates of sh*te for a year now... tbh he is not the same player he was when he burst on to the scene, the injuries are effecting him... and im not sure if he'll get past it

i hope he does, if he does he'll be a star, but its make or break year for mick imo, if he doesnt step up and give us a reason to keep him, id lean toward letting him go end of this year

 

[Brimmer]

Weyman needs to lay off the all-you-can eat buffets.

The game is speeding up so much that a fat unit like weyman is going to be left behind.

Weyman in the front row with lazo back in the 90's would have been an impressive sight.
Weyman meandering up the park in 2008 is a bit of an embarrassment. Ocean liners have better turning circles.

I for one was a big supporter of the guy but he has failed to live up to his expectations - even the big unit could admit that.

“There’s a lot competition at the moment and I think it was a bit of a wake up call last week by having a run in the Queensland Cup,” Weyman said.

Geez pal.... How many wake up calls do you need to realise that your skating on thin ice?

 

[gorilla with a shotgun]

Weyman needs to lay off the all-you-can eat buffets.

The game is speeding up so much that a fat unit like weyman is going to be left behind.

Weyman in the front row with lazo back in the 90's would have been an impressive sight.
Weyman meandering up the park in 2008 is a bit of an embarrassment. Ocean liners have better turning circles.

I for one was a big supporter of the guy but he has failed to live up to his expectations - even the big unit could admit that.

“There’s a lot competition at the moment and I think it was a bit of a wake up call last week by having a run in the Queensland Cup,” Weyman said.

Geez pal.... How many wake up calls do you need to realise that your skating on thin ice?

have u seen weyman lately? he is alot slimmer

 

[Brimmer]

have u seen weyman lately? he is alot slimmer

Slimmer...yes. Slim? No.

 

[Mick_63]

I dont get why people keep talking up Weyman, Mick63 said "suited to the earlier hard grind" & Bay says "max impact"

He offers no impact because he cant grind out more than 5 minutes of work. f**k him off, he is useless.

I must be watching a different Weyman to everyone else.

The days of having 4 meter eaters on the bench are gone.If you're 14-17 you have to offer diversity,regular offloads,fast play the balls you have to add some spark.Mick Weyman unfortunately can't offer us that.With injury to our best prop he gets the call up.But he has to start.His role will be to hit it up,take 3 or 4 to pull him down and with the refs the way they are early in the season MW will get some penalties for not letting him up to play the ball.
Unlike Tilse Weyman can put a hit on Ryles etc,he has that touch of mongrel thats required.

 

[Mick_63]

I dont get why people keep talking up Weyman, Mick63 said "suited to the earlier hard grind" & Bay says "max impact"

He offers no impact because he cant grind out more than 5 minutes of work. f**k him off, he is useless.

I must be watching a different Weyman to everyone else.

The days of having 4 meter eaters on the bench are gone.If you're 14-17 you have to offer diversity,regular offloads,fast play the balls you have to add some spark.Mick Weyman unfortunately can't offer us that.With injury to our best prop he gets the call up.But he has to start.His role will be to hit it up,take 3 or 4 to pull him down and with the refs the way they are early in the season MW will get some penalties for not letting him up to play the ball.
Unlike Tilse Weyman can put a hit on Ryles etc,he has that touch of mongrel thats required.

 

[nickraider]

I think Weyman will have a big game. Maybe the week in the Qld Cup would have made him realise that he is not a certainty each week and he is only in the side because Logan is injured. I'm still hoping he is going to produce the goods because on his day, he is great - just doesn't have may of those days!!!

 

[Bay56]

Have a feeling the big man will prove his worth this week.

 

[dubby]

So do I bay, but watch Germ niggle him all game and the big man will react and give away a penalty.............again.

 

[Raidersrawesome]

I think Weyman has had the kick in the guts he needed , this should see him fire for this game , also Logans injury isnt a break so therefore you would imagine he will be back sooner than later.

 

[matt]

So do I bay, but watch Germ niggle him all game and the big man will react and give away a penalty.............again.

god i miss the Germ....god i love the niggle...Rnd 2 for the pony nut squeeze.