Round 1 team

[Sydney_Raider]

The CFMEU Canberra Raiders will welcome back skipper Alan Tongue from a thumb injury, for their first match of the 2009 NRL season against the Wests Tigers on Monday night at Campbelltown Stadium.

Tongue's inclusion is a huge boost for the Raiders who head into the match without three starting front rowers, with Troy Thompson (Achilles), Scott Logan (Ankle) and Dane Tilse (ankle) all unavailable through injury.

Josh Miller will partner new recruit David Shillington up front for the Green Machine, with Trevor Thurling expected to play some front row from the Raiders bench.

Raiders Coach David Furner said the Green Machine was also keen to blood their new recruits and would use experienced forward Josh Miller up front to cover for the loss of their front rowers.

"After some solid trial form we're looking forward to seeing the new guys in action with David Shillington and Bronson Harrison and Stuart Flanagan on the bench," Furner said. "Josh played the trials with a mixture of front and back row and he's got the experience there."

Canberra Raiders v Wests Tigers
Campbelltown Stadium, Monday March 16, 7.00pm

1. David Milne
2. Phil Graham
3. Adrian Purtell
4. Joel Monaghan
5. Justin Carney
6. Terry Campese
7. Marc Herbert
8. David Shillington
9. Glen Buttriss
10. Josh Miller
11. Glen Turner
12. Bronson Harrison
13. Alan Tongue [c]

14. Stuart Flanagan
15. Trevor Thurling
16. Joe Picker
17. Nigel Plum
18. Brett Kelly
(one to be omitted)

 

[matt]

Good to see DF is sticking with my man Bruiser Kelly,and not letting him drift too far from the picture..

on the team,well it's a little lacklustre and not what i would have went with.

 

[Macko8]

I think furners done a good job picking that side with the players out.
i sincerely hope brett kelly doesnt get called into the 17.
I would of went with someone like daniel joyce as 18th man.

cant wait till monday

 

[tiger_nick]

for the first time since i can remember i think we will have a bigger pack then the opposition

 

[matt]

for the first time since i can remember i think we will have a bigger pack then the opposition

I was just discussing this with a Tiger's man as you posted that..i like your size in the pack this year and i still have a mancrush on Big toddy...

Best of british.

 

[Timbo]

Why is Brett Kelly there? Dear god why is Brett Kelly there??????????????????

Other than that, it's the best we can do at the moment. I might think about switching Butts and Flanno and Carney and Purts, but that's about it.

 

[Raidersrawesome]

Its going to be good to see Flying Phil back, but boy arent we light on Front rowers , Shillo is going to be playing 80 min.

Kelly can keep the 18 jersey all year , just hope he never makes it to the playing field.

 

[Raider_69]

for the first time since i can remember i think we will have a bigger pack then the opposition

was bound to happen with 4/5 front rowers missing due to injury and suspension
TLL will be back next week, Thompson, Tilse and Logan before rd 4

 

[Sydney_Raider]

Quite a predictable side however must say, given our recruitment, I thought I would never see the name Kelly anywhere but at Souths Logan. Surely Kelly is not seen as our replacement for Chalk????? Having said that it wouldn't surprise me to see the likes of Kelly and Plum have good years given they are playing for their future. I will be focusing on Purtell and Graham, will only give them 2-3 weeks before I start the campaign for change.

 

[Sydney_Raider]

Also wouldn't be surprised to see a late change or two to this side i.e. Flanagan off bench for Joyce with Tongue to cover for Buttriss at hooker.

 

[aussies1st]

As long as Kelly stays 18th man I'm happy! That bench looks a bit light on props could have put in Joyce at least.

 

[shear_joy9]

if kelly is in the team I'm sending back my membership










well probably not but I seriously despise the guy. He is NOT a first grade footballer

 

[Bobby DIGital]

Good call on Buttriss starting IMO. Bad call on Turner starting ahead of Picker though.

Yeah Kelly's really gotta go. He's the new D. Howell.

 

[raiders fan forever]

yeah no way id pick Kelly but i got nothing wrong with him proving me and everyone else wrong

 

[Chachi]

Scary thing is Dave Furner was on Win news tonight saying it was a close call between Graham and Kelly for that wing spot.

Sad to see Picker on the bench, but I reminded myself that he wasn't even in our first grade team for round 1 last season.

 

[matt]

Judging by the above comments and knowing you people's hit/miss records..i am going to make an educated Guess and say that Brett BRUISER Kelly is destined for REP honours..

Smash em Bruiser..

 

[St. Linnane]

Who will likely kick goals for you guys? Campese or Herbert?

 

[Raidersrawesome]

Isnt Joe coming back from an injury over the off season ,if thats the case then maybe it might be a fitness thing.
Turner and Harrison will do damage in the 1st 20min of the game

 

[Raidersrawesome]

Who will likely kick goals for you guys? Campese or Herbert?

Campo is our No 1 goal kicker , until he is about to kick a club record then the Herb will take over.

The Herb is a pretty accomplished goal kicker as well

 

[matt]

Who will likely kick goals for you guys? Campese or Herbert?

Herberts hamstring could ping at any moment in time,So i would say Champo.