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Canberra Raiders vs Manly Sea Eagles: NRL live scores, blog

21st April, 2017
Kick-off: 6pm (AEST)
Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra
TV: Live, Fox League
Online: Live, Foxtel Go and NRL Digital Pass
Betting: Raiders $1.25, Sea Eagles $4.20
Overall record: Played 51, Sea Eagles 30, Raiders 20, drawn 1
Last meeting: Round 25, Sea Eagles 30 defeated by Raiders 44 at Brookvale
Last five: Raiders 3, Sea Eagles 2
Record at venue: Played 14, Sea Eagles 8, Raiders 6
Referees: Grant Atkins and Chris Sutton

Canberra Raiders
1. Jack Wighton 2. Nick Cotric 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Joseph Leilua 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Blake Austin 7. Aidan Sezer 8. Junior Paulo 9. Josh Hodgson 10. Shannon Boyd 11. Josh Papalii 12. Elliot Whitehead 13. Joseph Tapine
Interchange: 14. Adam Clydsdale 15. Luke Bateman 16. Dunamis Lui 17. Iosia Soliola 18. Dave Taylor 19. Jordan Turner 20. Makahesi Makatoa 21. Lachlan Croker

Manly Sea Eagles
1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jorge Taufua 3. Dylan Walker 4. Brian Kelly 5. Akuila Uate 6. Blake Green 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Brenton Lawrence 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Martin Taupau 11. Frank Winterstein 12. Curtis Sironen 13. Jake Trbojevic
Interchange: 14. Lewis Brown 15. Jackson Hastings 16. Darcy Lussick 17. Addin Fonua-blake 18. Nate Myles 19. Cameron Cullen 20. Matthew Wright 21. Shaun Lane
Blake Austin will make his return against the Panthers. (Photo: NRL images)
Expert
21st April, 2017
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The Canberra Raiders have started to hit form and will be pushing for a spot in the top four when they host a Manly Sea Eeagles outfit trying to stop a two-game slide. Join The Roar for live scores> and coverage from 6pm (AEST).

The Raiders were looking down the barrel of an awful start to the season, but they have resurrected things with three straight victories.

While they are yet to hit top form, the wins have seen a side on the improve with every passing week and they undoubtedly played their best all-around game at home against the New Zealand Warriors last Saturday.

After victories over the Canberra Raiders and Gold Coast Titans where the scoreboard was more convincing than the performance, their defence was put to the test last week and came up with a solid effort.

The Warriors threw plenty at them, particularly in the game’s early going, but they only let in two tries before skipping away in the second half, their right-side attack featuring Joseph Leilua and and Jordan Rapana running rampant.

Given Manly’s defensive effort over the last fortnight, leaking 65 points across the two games, it could be another dominant showing for the green machine.

The Raiders come into this contest unchanged.

Manly, as mentioned have struggled defensively over the last fortnight. After a start to the season that surprised many, pitting them as a side who were the real deal, they have been brought crashing back to Earth with two straight losses by heavy margins.

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First it was 35-10 to the St George Illawarra Dragons, then 30-24 to the Melbourne Storm with both at home. Even though they are currently the two top sides, the Sea Eagles needed to pinch at least one win there.

Maybe the biggest difference maker for Manly ahead of this clash is the strength returning to the forward pack. Martin Taupau is back, which pushes Addin Fonua Blake back to the bench, while Nate Myles has also been named on the reserves and is an outside chance of playing.

It’s not that Manly have been soft in the forwards during their losing streak, but Taupau adds plenty to their engine room.

Despite now sitting ninth on the ladder with three victories from their seven games, there are still positives flowing. Their attack looked solid last week and Daly Cherry-Evans is in form like we haven’t seen for a few years.

If he can continue that and Manly’s defence can get back to where it started the season, there’s no reason they can’t start to push back up the ladder in the coming weeks.

Prediction
The Raiders are tough to beat at home and while Manly need a confidence-restoring win, they are going to have to wait at least another week for it.

Raiders by 10.

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