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An abject New Zealand Warriors side end a forgettable season when they host the Canberra Raiders this afternoon. Join us for this fierce Father’s Day clash from 2.00pm AEST.
Following the Tigers’ loss to the Storm last night, the Raiders enter this clash knowing that regardless of today’s result they will be playing finals football this year, but a win could see them climb as high as sixth.
For the home side it’s gone beyond playing for pride: they’ll be playing for forgiveness in front of their home fans as they look to end a bitterly disappointing season 2012 on some sort of a high note.
They haven’t made things easy for themselves. Both regular halves aren’t playing and hard-nut hooker Nathan Friend is also missing through injury.
This means none of their first-choice spine will be playing in this one. Instead we’ll see Carlos Tuimavave, Feleti Mateo, Pita Godinet and Alehana Mara in the 1, 6, 7 and 9 respectively.
This may be balanced by the Raiders’ own injury concerns, with halfback Sam Williams in doubt with a shoulder problem and Josh Dugan cutting short Thursday’s training session with a leg injury.
Dugan is expected to play in this vital match but if he doesn’t they have the very capable Reece Robinson to step in at the back. As for Williams, Travis Waddell is the likely replacement at halfback.
These clubs have a fairly close historical record with the count standing at 15-12 in favour of the visitors. In New Zealand the Warriors predictably enjoy the advantage, winning 8 from 13 including 7 of the past 8.
However they can’t rely on stats to do the job in this one because the stats haven’t been kind to the men in black in recent weeks.
Apart from a close loss to fellow strugglers the Panthers in round 24, they’ve been on the receiving end of some horrendous score lines including a 32-point loss to pointless plodders the Dragons last start.
Canberra’s recent form couldn’t be more different. They’ve won seven from their last nine games including a thrashing of Minor Premiership hopefuls the Bulldogs last week, 34-6, to really rattle the green sabre and promise their fans some September football. Can they deliver on that promise?
What can we expect on what looks to be an overcast Sunday afternoon in Auckland? Plenty of fast-paced attack for one thing, but for Canberra this cannot be all.
This is a good chance for coach David Furner to see where the weaknesses are because the Warriors attack led by the unpredictable Feliti Mateo aren’t going to die wondering here.
The Raiders are literally travelling well in season 2012 and will be coming to get the points from the Land of the Long White Cloud and longer black losing streak.
Will the weakened Warriors turn it all around to give their frustrated fans the thankyou and farewell they deserve, or will the Raiders plunder the points?
Follow the action here on The Roar and please feel free to add your own comments to the live blog.
Prediction: Raiders by 8.
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