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The Canberra Raiders will host the Gold Coast Titans at Canberra Stadium on Sunday 15 July. Both teams will be desperate for the competition points to force their way into the semi-final reckoning. Join us for live scores and commentary from 2:00pm AEST.
The Raiders have surged into final eight contention after consecutive wins over the St George-Illawarra Dragons and Melbourne Storm.
Don Furner’s men are now just two points off the eighth-placed Warriors, an unlikely position when you recall they were lapped 40-0 by the Tigers a little over a month ago.
What’s changed? Self-belief and Reece Robinson. The previously unheralded Raiders flyer has turned in some outstanding performances filling in for an injured Josh Dugan at fullback.
He has consistently bobbed up at second receiver and used his pace and guile to create gaps for his outside me to run into. Of the 11 tries scored by the Raiders in these last two wins, Robinson has been credited with an assist for three of them and scored four himself. His form has been so good people have been asking about his Origin eligibility. (NSW, for the record.)
For the Titans, they will be looking to avoid three straight losses after registering losses to the Dragons and the NZ Warriors. They are only four points out of the eight themselves, but will need to start stringing wins together if they are to challenge for a finals berth.
The Titans’ halves combination will hold the key to their chances. Scott Prince’s astute kicking game and passing ability are well documented. It’s when he combines these with darts at the line, as he has in recent weeks, that he can cause more havoc.
Prince’s halves partner Aidan Sezer is more than ten years his junior and is starting to impose himself on games in his rookie season.
In team news, the Raiders have named an unchanged side from the team that defeated the competition front-runners last start. Sam Mataora has been included on a five-man bench, but is likely to drop off.
Gold Coast have made several changes to the team that lost to the Warriors. Dominique Peyroux replaces the injured Beau Champion in the starting right centre spot, while Steve Michaels comes in for David Mead on the right wing. Luke Bailey and Nate Myles have both been named to return in the starting 13, but Myles remains doubtful.
The Titans’ other Origin players, Ashley Harrison and Greg Bird, are still out injured. Beau Falloon (ex-Souths) meanwhile has been named on a five-man bench, and will be looking to make his Titans debut and his first top grade appearance for almost two years.
The Raiders won the previous clash between these two teams at Skilled Park, but that was back in March and little should be read into this. If the Raiders, playing in front of their home fans, can continue their impressive recent form, they should be too strong for a Titans outfit that still struggles to post points consistently.
Prediction: Raiders by 14.
Will the pace and flair of the Raiders backline blow away their opponents to make it three wins on the trot for the first time this season or will the Titans keep their slim finals hopes alive with a grinding win in hostile territory?
Find out from 2:00pm AEST as we cover the action with live scores and commentary. If you’re watching or following along, feel free to leave a comment in the space below.
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