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Another Monday rolls around which means it's time to put a terrible Indigenous Round behind us and move on to the next game. Very much looking forward to this one as we take on the Raiders back at Accor on Saturday night in Round 13. This game marks the beginning of a new block of the Season. Certainly, a tricky period, but an all-important one too. That's right, the Origin period begins this week. For the next six weeks, we're going to have guys coming and going which is really going to test our squad and test our depth. However, as JD himself has said, we have to look at it as a really exciting phase of the Season as we get to have a look at more of our squad. Some of the young guys and fringe guys will get a chance to step up and that's pretty exciting to be honest. It's going to be interesting but we can do it, we can navigate them well.
A really tough test this weekend against Canberra without our Origin stars. With a full complement of players for us, I'd go into this extremely confident. And while I certainly think we can do this and that we can get a result this weekend, the task is made all that tougher missing some of our key guys. It's made even tougher by the fact that the Raiders are potentially going to be missing no one. Wighton and Papali'i are retired from Origin, and no one else in their squad will likely get picked. Young and Horsburgh are a chance, but I think it's unlikely. So, it's going to be a huge test for us against a full Raiders squad. In fact, I'd even go as far as saying this is one of our toughest games of the year. Canberra have been in great form recently, one of the form teams in the comp and after a slow start to the year, they've really found their mojo and had a real resurgence. They won five in a row coming into the last Round and in that time, they've proven themselves to be a real finals dark horse by beating the likes of Brisbane and the Dolphins. So, they're no slouches, they're not the easy beat Raiders they have been in the past. They did get clapped last night against Manly; they looked pretty terrible, but I think that was probably a one off. No chance they turn up and play that bad against us. If anything, I think that result yesterday makes them even more dangerous coming into this one because of the bounce back factor. They won't be happy and are going to come out firing in order to right the wrongs.
Speaking of the bounce back factor, that's something that should certainly be there for us too in a massive way. Last Round was extremely disappointing. Way below our best, a real reality check. So, off the back of that, I hope our boys are really motivated, pumped and excited to get out to this one and take on the Raiders to hopefully make amends. We need to, it would be a huge result if we could. No idea about who's going to line up for us right now, because we have all these potential Origin selections up in the air. However, we know we're certain to be without Trell and Cam. Jai is likely and Cooky and Stretch are a chance. So, we'll just see what happens with the announcements today and go from there. Whoever is there, whoever puts on that Red and Green jersey on Saturday has to do a job in a tough game. Not going to be an easy one to be thrown into but I'm backing the guys that will be asked to step up to do so. I'm confident in our depth and actually really looking forward to seeing some of those fullas have a crack. As it is with most weeks, if we get our game right this week, we will be in with a chance against Canberra but we're going to have to be good. Certainly, a lot better than we were on Friday night. There's no excuse after that to not be switched on and to not be motivated because a win in this one would be huge for our Season. I'm backing the boys in, they can do this!!!
So, a testing period begins but if the boys really set their minds to it, they can pass that test. I'm excited to see how we handle a strong Raiders side and as I said, I'm gonna back our boys. We can bloody well do this! Bring on Saturday let's gooooooo!!
Glory, Glory.
A really tough test this weekend against Canberra without our Origin stars. With a full complement of players for us, I'd go into this extremely confident. And while I certainly think we can do this and that we can get a result this weekend, the task is made all that tougher missing some of our key guys. It's made even tougher by the fact that the Raiders are potentially going to be missing no one. Wighton and Papali'i are retired from Origin, and no one else in their squad will likely get picked. Young and Horsburgh are a chance, but I think it's unlikely. So, it's going to be a huge test for us against a full Raiders squad. In fact, I'd even go as far as saying this is one of our toughest games of the year. Canberra have been in great form recently, one of the form teams in the comp and after a slow start to the year, they've really found their mojo and had a real resurgence. They won five in a row coming into the last Round and in that time, they've proven themselves to be a real finals dark horse by beating the likes of Brisbane and the Dolphins. So, they're no slouches, they're not the easy beat Raiders they have been in the past. They did get clapped last night against Manly; they looked pretty terrible, but I think that was probably a one off. No chance they turn up and play that bad against us. If anything, I think that result yesterday makes them even more dangerous coming into this one because of the bounce back factor. They won't be happy and are going to come out firing in order to right the wrongs.
Speaking of the bounce back factor, that's something that should certainly be there for us too in a massive way. Last Round was extremely disappointing. Way below our best, a real reality check. So, off the back of that, I hope our boys are really motivated, pumped and excited to get out to this one and take on the Raiders to hopefully make amends. We need to, it would be a huge result if we could. No idea about who's going to line up for us right now, because we have all these potential Origin selections up in the air. However, we know we're certain to be without Trell and Cam. Jai is likely and Cooky and Stretch are a chance. So, we'll just see what happens with the announcements today and go from there. Whoever is there, whoever puts on that Red and Green jersey on Saturday has to do a job in a tough game. Not going to be an easy one to be thrown into but I'm backing the guys that will be asked to step up to do so. I'm confident in our depth and actually really looking forward to seeing some of those fullas have a crack. As it is with most weeks, if we get our game right this week, we will be in with a chance against Canberra but we're going to have to be good. Certainly, a lot better than we were on Friday night. There's no excuse after that to not be switched on and to not be motivated because a win in this one would be huge for our Season. I'm backing the boys in, they can do this!!!
So, a testing period begins but if the boys really set their minds to it, they can pass that test. I'm excited to see how we handle a strong Raiders side and as I said, I'm gonna back our boys. We can bloody well do this! Bring on Saturday let's gooooooo!!
Glory, Glory.
