The Canberra Raiders will need to fire on all cylinders tonight if they are to stop a red-hot Sydney Roosters outfit at home. Join us for live scores and commentary from 6.30pm AEST.
Fresh from a 50-0 victory over the hapless Eels on Monday night, the Roosters are already reaping big dividends from their three marquee signings.
Michael Jennings, James Maloney and Sonny Bill Williams were all superb against Parramatta and will fancy their chances of wreaking havoc against a Raiders outfit that is very suspect defensively.
Despite their dominant performance against the Eels however, the Roosters will need to be braced for a far tougher encounter against Canberra away from home.
The Raiders have only played the one home game this season and it resulted in a victory against a Dragons side that played very well last week against Cronulla.
Canberra should be primed for a big performance against the Roosters given that anything less than their best will most likely see them succumb to defeat.
Prediction
The result of tonight’s contest will largely hinge on which Raiders side turns up tonight.
Canberra has been very poor away from home this season, losing all three matches they have played outside the nation’s capital.
The Raiders though are a different beast in Canberra and should offer the Roosters a bigger test than the one they experienced against Parramatta.
Reece Robinson, Jarrod Croker, Sam Williams and Josh McCrone are all very talented footballers and will cause Sydney’s defence problems if Canberra’s big pack can play to its potential.
If the Raiders fail to show up, the Roosters have shown enough to suggest that they will put the home team to the sword.
Jennings, Williams, Maloney, Pearce, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Shaun Kenny-Dowall are all capable of tearing Canberra apart on the edges.
Williams in particular is beginning to cause constant havoc with his offloads and needs to be kept under wraps if the Raiders are a chance of blunting the Roosters attack.
Canberra will also need to keep an eye on forward Jared Waerea-Hargreaves. The New Zealand international is having a great season and invariably puts the Roosters on the front foot with his damaging charges.
With both sides blessed with attacking talent, this contest has the potential to be a high scoring encounter.
On form however, the Roosters look the more likely to score the most points tonight.
Roosters by 8.
Gareth
Roar Pro
Not sure I'd call it a choke. Raiders were all over the Roosters for most of the game, with a huge amount of possession. The Roosters just scored on every single attacking opportunity they had. If the Raiders defense wasn't so fragile, the Roosters were never in it. The Roosters have shown they're pretty good at exploiting the failings of their opposition and have had an easy draw against a massively undermanned Warriors outfit who seem to hate their coach, a Broncos side missing what few attacking players they have left and an absolutely woeful Eels side. They didn't create anything against a well drilled Bunnies side, and once the Raiders stopped dropping the ball near their own line, they never looked like scoring.
Johnno
Guest
Unbeleivable win by the raiders, Winning in Canberra is tough for any team the dragons, and roosters seem to struggle there. What a win you can't ever think canberra are out of it in Canberra no matter who they play. SBW even, what a win, roosters chocked a bit but raiders always step up in Canberra. They are a 10 point better team the Raiders at Canberra stadium there fortress , sharks got towelled up in the finals last year there too.
Lou
Guest
Talk is cheap , a 6, 2 penalty count was the differance here, I'm 100% furners whinge had a lot to do with this, raiders were far from perfect, cecchin is the worst ref in this comp , no I don't support the roosters but what's doin with the ruck penalties ?
Cameron
Roar Guru
Anyone wishing to grasp and understand the definition of choke, you've just seen it!
Alan
Roar Guru
The Roosters have crashed back to earth after three straight wins, giving up a 16 nil lead en route to a 24-22 loss to Canberra. The Roosters showed character in the first half to deny Canberra points but in the second half, they fell away badly and the cracks in defence re-appeared and the Raiders took advantage. Back to drawing board for the chooks now ahead of a big clash against the Bulldogs next week. Raiders on the other hand get the win that may ignite their season. McCrone, Williams, Croker, Lee and Robinson all terrific for Canberra. The Raiders pack was also superb as they out muscled the Roosters in the second half. Thanks for joining us tonight and join us tomorrow for MNF on The Roar Raiders 24 Roosters 22
Alan
Roar Guru
FULLTIME: Jennings combines with Oldfield who kicks ahead and the Raiders regather and Canberra secure their best win of the year! Raiders 24 Roosters 22
Alan
Roar Guru
80' - Raiders will enjoy their best win of the year as they lose possession. Roosters need a miracle now. Raiders 24 Roosters 22
Alan
Roar Guru
79' - Roosters will probably run out of time here. Raiders with possession. Six to go now for Canberra Raiders 24 Roosters 22
Alan
Roar Guru
78' - Roosters knock on from the short kickoff and the Raiders look home now! Great fightback from Canberra but that is not good enough from the Roosters after having a strong lead Raiders 24 Roosters 22
Alan
Roar Guru
CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL - Croker kicks it and the Raiders now lead Raiders 24 Roosters 22 Roosters after leading 16 nil have been overpowered in the second half. Raiders have just wanted it more.
Alan
Roar Guru
TRY RAIDERS - Raiders with the momentum here. Roosters living very nervously. Lee with a good run and he finds Croker who scores and the Raiders are level! Raiders 22 Roosters 22
Alan
Roar Guru
75' - Roosters struggling for field position now as the Raiders muscle up in defence. Maloney with a kick and it goes toward the in-goal before going dead. Raiders 18 Roosters 22
Alan
Roar Guru
74' - Raiders are finishing the stronger here. Roosters may not do enough to hold on to this lead. Williams with a bomb now and Sheck regathers very well under pressure Raiders 18 Roosters 22
Alan
Roar Guru
73' - Raiders muscling up in defence here as Croker tackles Williams low. Maloney with a long kick and Earl regathers well Raiders 18 Roosters 22
Alan
Roar Guru
That was a shocking pass from Kenny-Dowall who has that in him. Needs to get that out of his game. 72' - Robinson up to the halfway here as he makes a good run. He is very dangerous. Millford with a chip and chase and Minichiello regathers well Raiders 18 Roosters 22
Alan
Roar Guru
71' - Huge set this one for both teams. A try here might just see the Roosters home. Forward pass from the Roosters and the Raiders hold on Raiders 18 Roosters 22
Alan
Roar Guru
70' - Hargreaves finds Maloney who is away! Great pass. Robinson intercepts the football but he loses it and the Roosters will go on the attack. Robinson needed to play at the football though! Raiders 18 Roosters 22
Alan
Roar Guru
69' - Raiders yet again with the momentum as we head into the last ten minutes. Raiders on the halfway as Williams kicks ahead and the Roosters regather possession and need to steady the ship Raiders 18 Roosters 22
Alan
Roar Guru
CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL - Croker with another clutch kick Raiders 18 Roosters 22 Oldfield well beaten by Earl there and the Roosters concede for the third time in the second half. Raiders with the wind in their sails yet again.
Alan
Roar Guru
TRY RAIDERS - Williams with a chip kick and Earl looks to have regathered and scored! He has! Raiders 16 Roosters 22