From today's CT...
Time for Raiders to slay the giant
Rugby league By Peter Fitzgerald
Saturday, 21 August 2004
It's looming as a battle of David and Goliath status.
The high-flying Roosters, coming off last weekend's decisive 44-12 victory over reigning premier Penrith, against the struggling Raiders, still recovering from their 36-18 hiding by the Storm.
The Roosters have been the benchmark of the competition for the past three seasons, with nine players who have represented their country of origin.
The determined yet inconsistent Raiders have just one top level representative player.
But ask Raiders coach Matt Elliott, and both sides are on a level playing field when they clash at Canberra Stadium tomorrow afternoon.
The Raiders' training sessions of the past week have been reminiscent of a schoolyard sports carnival - only those fit and not suspended for poor behaviour being allowed to participate - rather than a National Rugby League side preparing for one last shot at making it to the finals.
Tuesday's planned training session had to be moved to the gymnasium due to a lack of fit personnel. Elliott has had to contend with 11 senior players missing, as a result of injury or suspension but remains adamant the season is not yet over for his troops.
"One thing that we've got is a fair bit of excitement and enthusiasm," he said before a closed training session yesterday morning.
"We've had a fair roll-over of personnel, so we've had to iron out some lumps and bumps but, if we perform well, we'll give ourselves the opportunity to win the match."
Since the Raiders lost to Manly three weeks ago, their prospects for season 2004 have been on the line with each match.
Further losses to the Knights and Storm in the past fortnight has resulted in bringing the season's chances to a thundering crescendo tomorrow. While preferring - for the sake of himself and his players - not to enter into another "do-or-die" discussion, Elliott did admit his side needed to lift significantly if it is to defeat the Roosters.
"It's now not a matter of winning, it's a matter of performing well," he said. "What we need to do is just play as well as we can."
In the star-studded opposition lineup the Raiders face top-level representatives Anthony Minichiello, Shannon Hegarty, Brad Fittler, Jason Cayless, Craig Wing, Adrian Morley, Michael Crocker, Craig Fitzgibbon and Luke Ricketson.
While Raiders debutant Marshall Chalk will undoubtedly be challenged by Fittler and Brett Finch high balls, Elliott is confident his side is prepared for anything its Sydney challengers have to throw at them.
"We haven't really focused on the Roosters this week," he said. "As a result of our high turnover through injury and suspension, our focus has been wholly and solely on us and trying to cement some combinations."
:lol:
