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The sixth-placed Canberra Raiders host the third-placed North Queensland Cowboys to finish off Round 18 at GIO Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7pm (AEST).
The Canberra Raiders are coming off last week’s golden point thriller against Newcastle and have a great opportunity to consolidate their top eight spot at home tonight against an understrength Cowboys line-up.
The Cowboys have five players on State of Origin duty – Johnathan Thurston, Matt Scott, Justin O’Neill and Gavin Cooper for Queensland, while James Tamou will play for New South Wales. Michael Morgan would have been with them, but he is unavailable with a knee injury. Kane Linnett is also out injured for the Cowboys.
The Raiders have named a near full-strength line-up, with only Josh Papalii and Luke Bateman missing. Papalii would have been in camp with the Queensland State of Origin team, but is out injured, while Bateman is suspended. There are injury concerns over winger Jordan Rapana and prop Shannon Boyd, but both have been named in the Raiders’ 17-man squad.
Cowboys’ coach Paul Green has named Ray Thompson (halfback), Tautau Moga (centre), Coen Hess (second row), Josh Chudleigh and Ben Spina (both on the interchange bench) in his 17 man-squad to replace his Origin stars. Ben Hannant and Scott Bolton have been moved from the interchange bench and will start in th front row, while Rory Kostjasyn has also been promoted from the bench to startat five-eighth.
The Raiders will be strengthened by the return of Shaun Fensom and Sia Soliola from injury, while Clay Priest has been added to the interchange bench.
Prediction
Statistically, the Raiders and the Cowboys are the two best attacking teams in the competition this season, but the understrength Cowboys will struggle on a cold winter’s night in Canberra.
The Raiders will never get a better chance to beat the Cowboys this season than they have tonight. They should win comfortably.
Will the Raiders get the job done at home? Or will the undermanned Cowboys pull of an upset?Join The Roar at 7pm (AEST) to find out with live score updates and debate in our live blog.
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