The Canberra Raiders host the Newcastle Knights this afternoon, with both sides desperate to keep their finals dream alive. Join us for live scores and commentary from 2.00pm AEST.
Both teams were level on 20 competition points before the start of this round, alongside the St George Illawarra Dragons, Warriors and the Titans.
With all five teams only two points out of the eight, a win for either the Raiders or the Knights this afternoon will be priceless.
The teams met as recently as last month at Hunter Stadium when the Raiders ran out comfortable victors on the night 32-16.
Newcastle have thrown themselves back into finals contention since then, winning four of their last five games, including a dominant performance against the reigning premiers and a spirited come-from-behind win away to the Warriors last start.
Meanwhile, Canberra have posted three wins from five since the two teams last clashed and they too remain in the hunt for a finals berth.
Don Furner will be looking for his men to put in a better performance in front of the home fans than their putrid effort against the Titans two weeks ago.
In team news, Newcastle have named the same 17 players that stormed home against the Warriors. Marvin Filipo has been added to the team but is expected to drop off the bench.
The Raiders are also unchanged from the same 17 that crushed the Sharks last weekend. Jarrad Kennedy has been included on a five-man bench while beanpole front-rower Dane Tilse, who is recovering from a rib injury, was due to undergo a fitness test yesterday and could be a late inclusion in the squad.
Canberra look to have the edge out wide with raw pace on both sides of the field. Josh Dugan, backing up after returning from injury against the Sharks, adds to their attacking options.
The ability of the Raiders big men to contain and get on top of the experienced Newcastle pack will likely set the tone.
With Danny Buderus, Willie Mason and Neville Costigan having played 600 first grade games between them, the Raiders will have to muscle up if they are to stand a chance.
For those looking for some historical omens, Raiders coach Don Furner has never lost to a Wayne Bennett-coached side. Furner, incidentally, is the son of Bennett’s mentor at the Raiders, Don Furner Snr.
Newcastle also has a disturbingly poor record at Canberra Stadium, having won only three of the 18 games they have played there.
One of those wins however was a 40-8 pasting, dished out on their most recent visit to sunny Canberra almost 12 months ago.
Will the slick Raiders backline be given enough space to strut their stuff and erase the memories of their woeful effort in their last home game or will Wayne Bennett’s Knights leave Canberra Stadium with a rare away victory?
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.
Cugel
Roar Rookie
Effing marvellous :( Lucky to get away with a 30 point loss, should have been 50.
Junior
Roar Guru
FULL TIME REPORT: Knights 36 Raiders 6 That's three straight wins for the Knights for the first time under Wayne Bennett. Bennett will be pleased with the result but even more pleased with the performance. Would have been easy for the Knights to give up points when the game was clearly won but they held firm, though, to be fair, the Raiders were not much of a threat. Knights held a deserved lead at the break but really went on with it in the second stanza. Uate was the deserved man of the match, but Roberts and Naiqama were also strong for the victors. Are they serious contenders for the title? Probably not at this stage but a stiffer test against the competition front-runners next week will tell us a lot more. Furner, in contrast, has a lot of work to do with his troops. How on earth a team, in the space of four weeks, can beat the Sharks and Storm away from home and capitulate so badly at home to the Titans and now the Knights is a mystery. Attitude must be one thing the Raiders' coaching staff will have to look into. Paying supporters deserve more. Raiders will slip to 13th in the ladder, while the Knights could find themselves as high as eighth by the end of tonight. Thanks for joining us this afternoon. Hope you enjoyed the coverage on The Roar. Don't forget to flip over now to the Rabbits v Tigers game for more live blogs and scores. We're also back on tomorrow night for Broncs vs Eels from Suncorp Stadium.
Alan
Roar Guru
Knights are back! watch this space....
Junior
Roar Guru
FULL TIME: Knights 36 Raiders 6 Comprehensive away victory for Knights. Raiders were terrible but Knights got the job done.
Junior
Roar Guru
80’ Knights 36 Raiders 6 Scrappy finish from both sides here. Newcastle more desperate to set a late scrum than Raiders says it all.
Junior
Roar Guru
78’ Knights 36 Raiders 6 Raiders fans leaving early. Only surprise is that they're still there.
Junior
Roar Guru
Ahem. Yes.
Junior
Roar Guru
77’ Knights 36 Raiders 6 Boyd grubber claimed by McCrone. Game in its final throes now.
Junior
Roar Guru
74’ Knights 36 Raiders 6 TRY KNIGHTS. Robbie Rochow off the bench takes the ball, stops, steps and sprints for the line. Dislocates digit in the process but he won't care. Trainer pops it back in. Try converted by Roberts
Junior
Roar Guru
73’ Knights 30 Raiders 6 Knocked on by Raiders again trying to intercept the ball. More pressure here for the Raiders defensive line.
Tristan Rayner
Editor
Astonishing really. The Knights never win in Canberra. Calling it now - this is a late charge into the GF! Too optimistic?
Junior
Roar Guru
72’ Knights 30 Raiders 6 Croker cleans up grubber in his own in goal. Short drop out from Canberra knocked on by Raiders and Knights have the ball.
Junior
Roar Guru
70’ Knights 30 Raiders 6 Dugan makes mini break but loses ball in aggressive tackle from Uate. I think we can declare the comeback over. Famous last words.
Junior
Roar Guru
69’ Knights 30 Raiders 6 Picker held up on the line on the last. Good scramble from the Knights. Bennett will want to see more of this defence in the remaining 11 minutes. Try saver from Roberts around the ankles in that set too.
sean maguire
Guest
Yeah they'll storm to only lose by 8. I feel sorry for their fans dishing up this rubbish.
Junior
Roar Guru
67’ Knights 30 Raiders 6 Uate trapped in goal for Knights after free-wheeling Raiders throw caution to the wind again.
Junior
Roar Guru
64’ Knights 30 Raiders 6 TRY RAIDERS. Ferguson goes in after a bit of desperate razzle-dazzle stuff. Robinson cross kick floated over Tahu and Furgson picked it up and put it down. Croker converts. Will they storm home like they did against the Titans? Unlikely but who the hell really knows.
Junior
Roar Guru
61’ Knights 30 Raiders 0 TRY KNIGHTS. Uate walks over untouched. Far too easy. Gagai's strip on Earl was responsible for that try. Roberts kick goes over. Canberra are shot ducks. How do they keep underperforming in front of their home fans?
Junior
Roar Guru
60’ Knights 24 Raiders 0 One on one strip from Gagai. Knights deep in attack.
Junior
Roar Guru
59’ Knights 24 Raiders 0 So rare they don't want it. Mullen comes up with the ball for Newcastle.