The Canberra Raiders have dropped their bundle at home in recent weeks and will need to produce something special if they are to get the better of the Manly Sea Eagles today. Join us for live scores and commentary from 2.00pm AEST.
The fortress that was Canberra Stadium has been torn apart in recent weeks by Melbourne and Canterbury, and it could be torn apart again if the Raiders are not careful this afternoon.
Canberra tackle a Sea Eagles outfit desperate to bounce back following their 12 point loss to the Rabbitohs last week.
Despite dominating for large parts of the contest, Manly failed to put South Sydney away and payed the price in the second half with the Rabbitohs going on to notch a crucial victory.
With coach Geoff Toovey clearly disappointed with the way his side was constantly penalised last week, it will be interesting to see how often the Sea Eagles are penalised this week.
The Raiders meanwhile desperately need a victory to keep their finals hopes alive.
It will certainly be interesting to see how well Canberra play today on the back of the club’s decision to sack current coach David Furner.
Prediction
Without Ferguson in the side, the Raiders are simply not as dangerous with the football and will struggle to penetrate a very physical Manly defence.
In a positive move from the Raiders, Anthony Milford has been shifted from fullback to five-eighth, with Reece Robinson returning to his favoured role as custodian.
While Milford is a talent, Robinson is by far the more accomplished fullback and has produced some of his best football when playing in the no. 1 jersey.
Pound for pound though, Manly are the more complete football team and possess the class players needed to get the job done today.
While things didn’t go according to plan against the Rabbitohs last week, expect Manly play makers Brett Stewart, Jamie Lyon, Keiran Foran and Daly Cherry-Evans to turn up with the class required to secure victory in an entertaining contest.
Sea Eagles by 10
Edward Kelly
Guest
Nope nothing for this serial offender. Guess you have to injury someone first.
Haz
Guest
There's some point to that. Although the backline is average-fast, there's nobody with that blistering, out-and-out pace. Taufua beats people with strength instead of speed. Matai has an insane left-foot step. Lyon just knows exactly where to run to beat 3 defenders. Wolfman has some pace, notice he got run down yesterday when he made a break. Brett Stewart has the best pace of them all, but he's nowhere near as fast as he used to be before two knee reconstructions. The difference is Reece Robinson's try towards the end of the game. There, he demonstrated that sort of pace that just beats the inside man.
GW
Roar Pro
The Raiders do have their entire first choice backline not playing at the moment. Out - Fergo, Wighton, Edrick Lee, Campo, and we do have the worst half back in the league. Lyon and Foran have got to be close to the best players in the comp. Some players are magic at attack, or magic in defence, but these guys are all round brilliant. DCE isn't too bad either. Tony Milford is absolutely brilliant, is extremely brave and has a very high work rate. Why would the Raiders want to lose him? I would hope that Matai will be charged with 2 shoulder charges today. He's such a thug, how could all those officials miss this stuff?
sham
Guest
I did overstate the case a bit. Manly does have one of the best points for record in the comp. Not quite as good as the rest of the top four but extremely good. I do think that defence is their strength. Jamie Lyon is probably the best defensive centre in the game and Mattai is excellent as well. I do think that to win the competition manly could do with a little bit more flair but not much. Having Brett Stewart in the side is critical. As a raiders fan it gets a it frustrating when fairly soft tries are conceded. Manly does not concede many of those. I do not think that manly has the fastest backline but it has close to the best defensive backline,
des right hand
Guest
Eggmen
des right hand
Guest
Just as inglis did to matai
NSWelshman
Guest
Are you taking the p***.........Manly probably have the fastest backline in the competition & you're saying they are slow!!!!!!!!! Brett Stewart, Tafua, Williams, Lyon. Please tell me what the rabbitohs showed last week??? So you're saying the rabbitohs 'shredded' Manly's defence?? Did they really? What game did you watch?? In what way did they 'shred' Manly?Canberra are the ones with no speed mate.....& they showed yesterday that they really are only speed humps!! Manly was in 3rd gear for almost 3/4 of the game lolol. You're lucky Manly didn't put at least 50 on you yesterday!
sham
Guest
Croker was not good in defence. As for McCrone he did some good things but it was not his best game. Manly's backs are all good in defence. Some of them are hardly athletes but they can tackle. The wolfman is not a fast winger - he is no Ken Irvine but he is good in defence. A side with speed across the park and good defence should shred a side like Manly. Souths showed that last week. Canberra have the speed but their defence out wide is just not there.
turbodewd
Roar Guru
McCrone and Croker are McChoker!
Edward Kelly
Guest
Will be interesting to see if Matia is charged with the two shoulder charges he did.
sham
Guest
The raiders tried but their defence out wide cost them. As a raiders fan it was good to see Kark Pilkington turn out for the Sea Eagles. Glenn Stewart must be related to him - surely. They look almost identical
Alan
Roar Guru
After trailing 24 nil in the first half, it appeared that the Sea Eagles would rack up a cricket score against Canberra. The Raiders though fought back admirably and could have really tested Manly had they just showed a bit more composure in attack. Sea Eagles just too clinical when it counted with Lyon, Cherry-Evans and Foran very classy today. Robinson and Milford were the Raiders most dangerous players. Entertaining contest to say the least. Raiders finals chances though appear gone. Raiders 22 Sea Eagles 36
Alan
Roar Guru
80' - Raiders get possession from the restart here. All academic now. Raiders travel to the Warriors next week. Catch and pass goes over the sideline and that should be all she wrote FULLTIME Raiders 22 Sea Eagles 36
Alan
Roar Guru
79' - Head clash here after the Raiders go for the short drop-out. Matai down Raiders 22 Sea Eagles 36
Alan
Roar Guru
78' - Its been an entertaining contest that's for sure. Both teams have given their all in attack. Manly have the blockbuster against Melbourne coming up next week. Cherry-Evans with another grubber and Tupou has to play at the ball and its a drop out Manly Raiders 22 Sea Eagles 36
Alan
Roar Guru
77' - Raiders over the halfway as Earl gets away past several defenders. Good run. Milford nearly gets through. Robinson with a grubber and its way too heavy! Raiders 22 Sea Eagles 36
Alan
Roar Guru
Great try by Milford. He beat several defenders there from 50 metres out to score a cracking solo try. Great talent. Will the Raiders keep him? Raiders 22 Sea Eagles 36
Alan
Roar Guru
CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL - Croker converts and the points keep coming Raiders 22 Sea Eagles 36
Alan
Roar Guru
TRY RAIDERS - Milford races away now and scores a great solo try! Raiders 20 Sea Eagles 36
Alan
Roar Guru
74' - Short kick off is batted back by Manly and Hiku has possession. Raiders will rue several attacking chances that got away in the second half. Manly just too clinical. Buhrer with the kick and he finds touch Raiders 16 Sea Eagles 36