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The Wests Tigers will be looking to pick themselves up after two straight losses when they face the Canberra Raiders tonight. Join us for live scores and commentary from 7.00pm AEDT.
Regarded as premiership fancies before the start of the season, the Tigers have struggled to produce complete performances during the opening three rounds.
After scrapping to a 17-16 golden point victory over Cronulla in round one, the Tigers have seen been out-muscled by the Sea Eagles and Dragons respectively.
Last week’s heavy 36-12 loss to the Dragons will have Tigers coach Tim Sheens concerned about his side’s ability to match strong forward packs.
To make things worse, the Tigers tonight will be without captain Robbie Farah who is serving a two-match suspension for a lifting tackle on Ben Hornby.
The Tigers will certainly have to aim up tonight if they are to avoid being dominated by a Raiders pack containing numerous representative players.
Canberra, on the other hand, is not without problems of its own.
Star fullback Josh Dugan succumbed to a shoulder injury last week that will likely keep him out of action for the next six weeks.
Dugan’s injury is a cruel blow for the Raiders, given that he and Terry Campese were beginning to rediscover the attacking chemistry that served Canberra so well back in 2010.
Prediction
The result of tonight’s match will largely hinge on how well each team is able to adapt without the services of their two star attackers.
Without Farah by his side, Tigers superstar Benji Marshall will have to take full control of the attack, and will be heavily pressured by the Raiders defence.
Raiders captain Campese will also have the spotlight firmly on his shoulders as he attempts to marshal Canberra’s attack without strike partner Dugan.
With both teams missing vital weaponry, do not be surprised if points are at a premium tonight.
Given that Marshall and Campese will be tasked with guiding their team’s to victory, the battle upfront now takes on more significance.
If either side is able to dominate in the forwards, it will go a long way to providing either Campese or Marshall with the room to control proceedings in attack.
While the game is not played on paper, the Raiders certainly possess the better pack, with David Shillington, Brett White, Bronson Harrison and Tom-Learoyd Lars all featuring tonight for Canberra.
If Canberra can keep it simple and not force too many passes, one feels that their pack will get the better of the Tigers as the match progresses.
Although Marshall is certainly capable of igniting the Tigers attack from anywhere on the field, a good performance from the Raiders pack will most likely see the Green Machine cause the upset.
Raiders by 6.
Can the Tigers silence their critics with a win tonight, or do the Raiders have an upset up their sleeve? Join us from 7.00pm AEDT for Monday Night Football with live scores and commentary and if you’re watching, give us a shout in the comment thread below.