Round 8 v Raiders

[redv13]

6. Hunt
7. Clune
14. Norman

 

[boardlumps62]

Clune's done nothing wrong to be dropped. Getting more impressed with him each game.

Try Sailor outside Clune give Corey a rest what too lose. If not this week next week might be a bit up hill against Wighton.

 

[Mark D]

Try Sailor outside Clune give Corey a rest what too lose. If not this week next week might be a bit up hill against Wighton.

Agree... Norman has been really underwhelming... Give Sailor a shot... Would even prefer Benji back at the club at 6 over Norman

 

[dungay dragon]

Agree... Norman has been really underwhelming... Give Sailor a shot... Would even prefer Benji back at the club at 6 over Norman

none of three can tackle..........

 

[TruSaint]

6. Hunt
7. Clune
14. Norman

I don't mind 2/3rds of this.

Norman can play at "left right out" for all I care. Sadly, he has shown nothing after a few field goals when he first joined.

 

[redv13]

I don't mind 2/3rds of this.

Norman can play at "left right out" for all I care. Sadly, he has shown nothing after a few field goals when he first joined.

Agreed. He should be wearing 41 but we all know the “coach” hasn’t got the knackers to drop him. Very frustrating have $2 million tied up in the 6 and 7 for very little in return

 

[getsmarty]

MATCH PREVIEW


Raiders v Dragons: Tapine return to ease Horsburgh blow
Author
Troy Whittaker NRL.com Reporter
Timestamp
Mon 29 Jun 2020, 05:01 PM

The Raiders produced a stirring comeback to force golden point against the Eels but Ricky Stuart wasn't overly impressed with what he witnessed from last year's runners-up.

In contrast, Paul McGregor must have taken plenty of positives out of his side's performance against the Roosters, even though the Dragons came up empty.

For many years the Dragons found it impossible to win in Canberra and they are sure to face a hostile reception this weekend from a small but vocal crowd returning to GIO Stadium for the first time since round one.

A broken nose suffered in the rugged clash against the Eels won't slow down impressive Raiders half George Wiliams and his showdown with the Dragons' mature age rookie Adam Clune will be one of many intriguing clashes in Canberra.


Match: Raiders v Dragons

Round 8 - Friday 3rd July

6:00pm

Home Team

Raiders

7th Position


Away Team

Dragons

12th Position

Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra

Match broadcasters:

• Kayo
• Foxtel
• Live Pass

Fan Information
The Rundown
Team news
Raiders: Corey Horsburgh will be sidelined for 12 weeks after suffering a Lisfranc injury to his foot against the Eels. Joseph Tapine is a chance to return from a knee injury in what could be a straight swap in the forward pack. Halfback George Williams copped a broken nose in the loss to Parramatta but should be fine.

Dragons: Jacob Host has told teammates he is progressing well after injuring his hamstring in last week’s warm-up, but the Friday timeslot works against him. If Host is ruled out, Korbin Sims would likely hold his spot on the bench.


Match: Raiders v Dragons

Round 8 - Friday 3rd July

6:00pm

Home Team

Raiders


Away Team

Dragons

Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra

Key match-up
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad v Matt Dufty. Raiders fullback CNK scored two tries last week to help force the game into over-time and they’ll need his attacking magic again. Dragons No.1 Dufty has been sensational for the last three weeks, unveiling an awesome passing game that has led to him setting up five tries.

Stat attack
Raiders hooker Josh Hodgson has made 299 tackles so far in 2020 – good enough for eighth best in the NRL. Concerningly for the England international, he is credited with a NRL-high 42 missed tackles.

Raiders v Dragons
What will be the result of their clash?

Raiders v Dragons What will be the result of their clash?

• Raiders 1-10
  29%
• Raiders 11+
  58%
• Dragons 1-10
  10%
• Dragons 11+
  3%

954 Votes

https://www.dragons.com.au/news/2020/06/29/raiders-v-dragons-tapine-return-to-ease-horsburgh-blow/

 

[getsmarty]

DRAGONS


Game guide: Round 8 v Raiders
Author
Dragons.com.au dragons.com.au
Timestamp
Mon 29 Jun 2020, 04:42 PM

St George Illawarra Dragons' will face the Canberra Raiders at GIO Stadium on Friday, July 3 (6pm). This is your Round 8 game guide.

Tone set for nation's capital showdown
The Dragons' and Canberra's respective seasons have had several ups and downs so far – with both teams coming off last start losses against premiership heavyweights.

The Red V were in the fight for a long time against the defending premiers, Sydney Roosters last week, but couldn't capitalise when it mattered most.

A Dragons win is vital as far as finals football is concerned although such a performance will prove a confidence builder for the Dragons faithful.

The Raiders have fared better than Dragons across the current campaign but have lost their past two matches.

Two late tries via Canberra fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad forced Parramatta into golden point on Saturday night but it was all in vain as a Clinton Gutherson field goal proved the difference.

Former Raiders ready for return
There's nothing like facing off against your former club as Paul Vaughan and Mikaele Ravalawa will attest to this Friday night.

Ravalawa – who recently re-signed with the Red V for three seasons – had his best game of the 2020 season against the Sydney Roosters last week and is sitting pretty in the top 10 try-scorers competition-wide.

Ravalawa has proven to be an absolute battering ram for opposition defences; a trait he shares with fellow former Raider, Paul Vaughan.

James Graham's departure from the Dragons has opened up the door for Vaughan to become the leader of the forward pack.

Vaughan's intent to let his actions do the talking on the field have proven fruitful so far considering his 123 metres and 46 tackles produced against the Tricolours in Round 7.

Swings and roundabouts
Historically, this fixture is dominated by long strings of consecutive victories.

The famed 'hoodoo' of the 2000s and late-2010s always proved to be a notch in the Raiders' belt but the Dragons have come a long way in righting those wrongs of yesteryear.

St George Illawarra have won five of their past seven games against the green machine, including two of their past three games at GIO Stadium; although even then, that loss occurred in golden point extra time.


https://www.dragons.com.au/news/2020/06/29/game-guide-round-8-v-raiders/

 

[Dragon David]

I don't mind 2/3rds of this.

Norman can play at "left right out" for all I care. Sadly, he has shown nothing after a few field goals when he first joined.

Norman certainly wasn't a like for like player to replace Widdop. Widdop was so much better than Norman in all facets of 5 eighth play and with great goal kicking "to boot".

 

[st.phil]

Norman is still the poster boy on Dragons.com , I don't think he is even close to the chopping block... (although he should be 1st by a country mile)

 

[slippery5]

I would not be dropping Saab.
Yeh he might have some things going on in the background but Sailor is not a winger and this Saab bashing about his performance is ridiculous for his 1st hit out.
I'd be looking at some of the inside men towards the middle of the field firstly.

Yes, It's a bit like all those that are jumping on the Dufty bandwagon, I said wait until he plays teams like the Roosters, they will have players running at him under the high ball & he will struggle & he did, fortunately for him he didn't have Teddy running in open space to test his defence also.
I know he has had some good try assist but I'll need to see more good games to jump on the bandwagon, like I will have to see more bad games from Saab before I sign off on them.

 

[RedVDragon]

Drop Tyson send him to Newcastle

 

[blacksafake]

6. Hunt
7. Clune
14. Norman

Can mostly go with this.
If they’re set on McInnes to 13 put Brittain on the bench in place if Norman.
Would like to see Hunt & Clune given a fair go together.

 

[getsmarty]

DRAGONS


Fuimaono: '100 per cent' Red V can take down Raiders
Author
Troy Whittaker NRL.com Reporter
Timestamp
Tue 30 Jun 2020, 08:01 AM

Tyrell Fuimaono knows the Dragons missed a golden opportunity to beat the Roosters, but he believes their solid effort proves they can test the competition heavyweights.

St George Illawarra have another tough match against the Raiders in Canberra on Friday and Fuimaono is up for the challenge.

The second-rower feels his 12th-placed side is building nicely, having defeated Cronulla and the Gold Coast before falling 26-12 to the injury-hit premiers after being level at the break.

"I was really excited that we were actually in the competition and we were a chance [against the Roosters], which is probably more than a lot of people would have expected," Fuimaono said.

"I think we take a lot of confidence out of that. We can see what we're capable of when we go in and execute what we want. We're definitely moving in the direction that we want."

Fuimaono "100 per cent" reckons the Dragons could hand Canberra their third-straight loss. Last year's grand finalists will be on a six-day turnaround from a golden-point loss to Parramatta.


"The promising thing is we were in it on the weekend but there's still plenty that we can improve on," he said.

With biosecurity measures somewhat relaxed, round eight will be the Raiders' first game at their GIO Stadium home since round one.

Dragons prop Korbin Sims expects the Green Machine to come out firing.

Sims was a late addition on the bench to face the Roosters after Jacob Host injured his hamstring in the warm-up.

I don't mind Ben in nine or seven. As long as he's playing good footy

Corey Norman on Ben Hunt
The 28-year-old is hoping he did enough to hold his place after making 91 metres from nine runs and 17 tackles in 25 minutes.

He added that he is back to 90 per cent confidence in his body after breaking his arm in February. Sims broke the same arm last season.

"Jacob Host is a little bit sore today, but he says he's going to be coming along okay and his hammy's feeling pretty good," Sims said.

Meanwhile, five-eighth Corey Norman is enjoying the stability that continuity in key positions has brought.

The side has improved with Adam Clune at halfback, Ben Hunt playing as an interchange hooker and Matt Dufty making the fullback spot his own thanks to several strong performances.

"We've finally got some consistency in the nine, seven and one [jerseys]. In the past that's where it's probably been shuffled around ... The more we play together, the better we'll get," Norman said.

"Me, Clune, Cam [McInnes] and Duft are starting to get a good little combination going ... I don't mind Ben in nine or seven. As long as he's playing good footy."


Dufty has surprised many with his passing game in recent weeks, setting up five tries in three games through pinpoint long balls.

"I don't watch what he does in extras, but he definitely does those passes at training," Fuimaono said.

"Just transferring that from training to the field [is the key]. If he does that, he pulls them big plays off."


https://www.dragons.com.au/news/2020/06/30/fuimaono-100-per-cent-red-v-can-take-down-raiders/

 

[Eatons Hill Dragon]

Tyrell to centre to replace Aitken.
Sailor to 5/8 to replace Norman.
Ford starting second row to cover for Tyrell move.
Bench would be Hunt, Kerr, K Sims and Blacker.
Both Frizell and Ford to play 80 so forward interchange all in the middle. Vaughan needs good minutes though so the other middle forwards can go crazy as only playing smaller minutes. Ruthless aggression (controller) by Sims and Blacker. Target Papalii and Hodgson in defence and work him over so his run metres are down. The Raiders build momentum off his runs and Hodgson being creative, tire them both. Get Merrin, Vaughan and Kerr looking for offloads to Dufty, Sailor and Hunt. Even Ford has a nice offload in him.
The edges look stronger with reading defence with Tyrell and would defend alongside Ford.
Saab needs to stay. Big tall unit and will get better each game.

 

[Dragonslayer]

I'm predicting we lose this by 14 assuming the pattern over the last 3 weeks.

V's Sharks - win by 14
V's Titans - win by 14
V's Roosters - lose by 14

 

[getsmarty]

TEAM LISTS

Breaking
Presented By

NRL team: Round 8 v Canberra Raiders
Author
Dragons.com.au dragons.com.au
Timestamp
Tue 30 Jun 2020, 03:58 PM

St George Illawarra coach Paul McGregor has named his mandatory 21-man squad ahead of the Dragons' Round 8 clash against the Canberra Raiders at GIO Stadium on Friday, July 3.

The Dragons are unchanged following their last start loss to the Sydney Roosters last Friday evening, with Korbin Sims formally named on the interchange.

Eddie Blacker has been named in the wider squad for the first time this season otherwise.




NRL squad for Round 8 v Canberra Raiders –
1. Matt Dufty – sponsored by EFEX
2.Jason Saab – sponsored by Baytek Construction
3. Euan Aitken – sponsored by University of Wollongong
4. Zac Lomax – sponsored by Floormania
5. Mikaele Ravalawa – sponsored by Nutrition Station
6. Corey Norman – sponsored by Kingsgrove Sports Centre
7. Adam Clune – sponsored by Wollongong Jetski
8. Blake Lawrie – sponsored by SMAI
9. Cameron McInnes (c) – sponsored by Dincel Construction System
10. Paul Vaughan – sponsored by Fox Property
11. Tyson Frizell – sponsored by Modus Projects
12. Tyrell Fuimaono – sponsored by Stonemasons & Landscapers (since 1970)
13. Trent Merrin – sponsored by Dynamic Projects

Interchange:
14. Ben Hunt – sponsored by Paul's Customs and Forwarding Solutions
15. Josh Kerr – sponsored by Professionals Padstow
16. Korbin Sims – sponsored by CMG Audio Visual
17. Jackson Ford – sponsored by TripADeal
18. Eddie Blacker
19. Tristan Sailor
20. Billy Brittain
21. Tim Lafai – sponsored by Nutrition Station


https://www.dragons.com.au/news/2020/06/30/nrl-team-round-8-v-canberra-raiders/

 

[Forbes Creek Dragons]

TEAM LISTS

Breaking
Presented By

NRL team: Round 8 v Canberra Raiders
Author
Dragons.com.au dragons.com.au
Timestamp
Tue 30 Jun 2020, 03:58 PM

St George Illawarra coach Paul McGregor has named his mandatory 21-man squad ahead of the Dragons' Round 8 clash against the Canberra Raiders at GIO Stadium on Friday, July 3.

The Dragons are unchanged following their last start loss to the Sydney Roosters last Friday evening, with Korbin Sims formally named on the interchange.

Eddie Blacker has been named in the wider squad for the first time this season otherwise.




NRL squad for Round 8 v Canberra Raiders –
1. Matt Dufty – sponsored by EFEX
2.Jason Saab – sponsored by Baytek Construction
3. Euan Aitken – sponsored by University of Wollongong
4. Zac Lomax – sponsored by Floormania
5. Mikaele Ravalawa – sponsored by Nutrition Station
6. Corey Norman – sponsored by Kingsgrove Sports Centre
7. Adam Clune – sponsored by Wollongong Jetski
8. Blake Lawrie – sponsored by SMAI
9. Cameron McInnes (c) – sponsored by Dincel Construction System
10. Paul Vaughan – sponsored by Fox Property
11. Tyson Frizell – sponsored by Modus Projects
12. Tyrell Fuimaono – sponsored by Stonemasons & Landscapers (since 1970)
13. Trent Merrin – sponsored by Dynamic Projects

Interchange:
14. Ben Hunt – sponsored by Paul's Customs and Forwarding Solutions
15. Josh Kerr – sponsored by Professionals Padstow
16. Korbin Sims – sponsored by CMG Audio Visual
17. Jackson Ford – sponsored by TripADeal
18. Eddie Blacker
19. Tristan Sailor
20. Billy Brittain
21. Tim Lafai – sponsored by Nutrition Station


https://www.dragons.com.au/news/2020/06/30/nrl-team-round-8-v-canberra-raiders/

Good to see Ivan 18th man, and Saab not given the usual Mcgregor treatment after one bad game.

 

[Forbes Creek Dragons]

I'm predicting we lose this by 14 assuming the pattern over the last 3 weeks.

V's Sharks - win by 14
V's Titans - win by 14
V's Roosters - lose by 14

Probably win by 14 just to help out Mary.

 

[getsmarty]

Behind enemy lines: Round 8
Author
Dragons.com.au dragons.com.au
Timestamp
Tue 30 Jun 2020, 04:05 PM

The Canberra Raiders have named their mandatory 21-man squad ahead of the Round 8 clash against the St George Illawarra Dragons at GIO Stadium, Canberra on Friday, July 3.

• Dragons name Round 8 team

Corey Horsburgh (foot) and Jordan Rapana (calf) have been ruled out. Joe Tapine returns from a knee injury at lock while Bailey Simonsson will start on the wing, Curtis Scott returns to the bench and Michael Oldfield comes in at centre.

Canberra Raiders' NRL squad for Round 8 v St George Illawarra Dragons –
1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
2. Bailey Simonsson
3. Jarrod Croker
4. Michael Oldfield
5. Nick Cotric
6. Jack Wighton
7. George Williams
8. Josh Papalii
9. Josh Hodgson
10. Iosia Soliola
11. Hudson Young
12. Elliott Whitehead
13. Joseph Tapine

Interchange:
14. Curtis Scott
15. Emre Guler
16. Ryan Sutton
17. Siliva Havili
18. Tom Starling
19. Dunamis Lui
20. Matt Frawley
21. Kai O'Donnell


https://www.dragons.com.au/news/2020/06/30/behind-enemy-lines-round-8/