Canberra’s structure playbook will be left behind in the nation’s capital when they travel to Melbourne to take on a red-hot Storm side gunning for 16 straight NRL wins.
Raiders captain Terry Campese says the only way they’ll notch up their first away win of the NRL season this Saturday will be by chancing their arm against the Storm’s clinical defence at AAMI Park.
“We’ll take a little bit out of the Warriors book, they almost beat them last week on Anzac Day when they threw the ball around,” Campese said.
“If you play simple football, (Melbourne) are the best defensive side in the comp and they shut you down. So you do have to throw the ball around to tire their forwards out.”
Coach David Furner has made selections in line with Campese’s intentions, naming 18-year-old livewire utility back Anthony Milford on the bench in what will be just his second NRL game.
Campese said he’s hoping his side’s rank underdog status combined with the unpredictable x-factor of Milford will help them fly under the radar and beat the undefeated Storm.
“He’s a dynamic runner, he’s got a big step and he loves carrying the football and I think his footwork will trouble the Storm this week,” Campese said.
While star Raiders players David Shillington (ribs), Josh Papalii (knee), Jarrod Croker (knee) and Joel Thompson (toe) are out with injuries, Melbourne halfback Cooper Cronk said he was glad to see Campese return to the Raiders’ starting side for the first time in over a year after recovering from a knee injury.
“He’s obviously the captain of their football club, leads them well and is the heartbeat of everything that they do,” Cronk said.
“Hopefully he stays injury free and plays consistently well for Canberra, just not tomorrow night.”
Just five wins away from breaking the all-time NRL winning streak of 19 set by Eastern Suburbs in 1975, the Storm will go into the match extremely wary of the Raiders, who have won their past two matches at AAMI Park.
“We’ve done everything necessary and we’re in the best position to play well,” Cronk said.
However Cronk said he didn’t feel his side had a point to prove despite the Raiders thumping them 40-12 in round 18 last year in what was one of just three home losses last season.
“Their list has changed a lot and our player list has changed as well. Totally different circumstances, different times of the year and the clubs are in different positions,” Cronk said.
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Things got a bit heated after the final whistle, with the Raiders securing a 24-20 win over the Bulldogs.
Canberra raised a few eyebrows when they re-signed Ricky Stuart earlier this week to a long-term contract extension but perhaps they know what they're…
Viliame Kikau produced this horror blunder from dummy half with his opposite number Hudson Young scoring soon after up the other end.
Josh Papalii was sent for ten after this hip-drop tackle on Viliame Kikau. Fans were torn over just how bad it was. https://twitter.com/Fireupnrl/status/1791392199185514588
It all went downhill for the Raiders after leading 12-0. Jordan Rapana and Josh Papalii were sent to the bin.
It was a comedy of errors in the first half. Jordan Rapana took out his teammate Xavier Savage in this Bulldogs try.
