Pride will be on the line for the Canberra Raiders as they take on the finals-bound Cronulla Sharks at Canberra Stadium. Join us for live scores and commentary from 7pm AEST.
The Raiders have endured a tumultuous end to the 2013 season.
In serious finals contention just a few weeks ago, the Green Machine were hit with a string of backline injuries, the sacking of coach David Furner, an ASADA infraction notice to Sandor Earl, the likely defection of rookie sensation Anthony Milford, and now (finally) the sacking of Blake Ferguson.
It has seen them crash out of the race with five consecutive losses, including a 68-4 massacre at the hands of Melbourne and a 50-16 defeat by the Warriors last week.
As they enter Round 26 with their 2013 hopes dashed, the home fans will be looking for a ray of hope for next season.
It won’t come in the form of under 20s NSW halfback Mitch Cornish, who was set to make his long-awaited first grade debut until it was blocked by the NRL due to salary cap restrictions.
With Sam Williams on the way to the Dragons and Josh McCrone being trialled at hooker, Cornish had an opportunity to stake his claim for a first grade spot in 2014. It’s a shame we won’t get to see the youngster in action.
The Raiders are yet to name their reshuffled line-up, but we can probably expect to see Milford or McCrone shift into the halves.
Whomever the Raiders put forth, they’ll benefit from facing a Sharks outfit missing three key forwards in Paul Gallen, Wade Graham and Jayson Bukuya.
The Sharks do, however, have playmaker Todd Carney back on deck, and frankly possess enough forward depth that their pack barely even strikes you as depleted.
It’s far from a critical game for the Shire boys – their home semi-final is already assured and although the Bulldogs’ loss to the Broncos means they can still finish fifth, it’s tough to say whether doing so will confer any real advantage.
No team wants to head into the semi-finals coming off a loss, however, so expect Shane Flanagan to have his men fired up and ready to take the two points.
Can the Raiders finish their season on a high, or will the Sharks march on with momentum into the 2013 finals?
Join us for live scores and commentary from 7pm AEST, and be sure to let us know your thoughts if you’re following along.
GW
Roar Pro
If Stuart takes the Raiders job as expected (and I'm sure that a majority of Raiders fans DON'T want him), I hope he's got his broom with him. He needs to get rid of McCrone, Buttriss, Robinson, Tilse, Tupou, Foster and Campo. Campo is way too slow these days. Robinson can't tackle and he does almost nothing on the field. McCrone's service at dummy half was a big improvement over what Buttriss delivers, but he kills our momentum a number of times each game with his terrible decisions. He tries so hard, but it's not enough in first grade. The refereeing was piss poor last night. While Sami's action was very dumb, all he did was move a guy that was still moving about 2 metres towards the sideline. He didn't actually go out, so the sin binning was a bit OTT. It looked like it should have been sin binned, but had it been a Storm player, would he have been? Croker being reported for hitting an arm that was holding him was plain embarrassing, and those responsible for it should be relieved of their jobs for a month or two. I'm glad this year is over for my team.
Zee
Roar Guru
Thank Yeezus we have been sparred another one from Gibbsy
Adam
Roar Guru
So Sharks get the win and finish in fifth place ahead of the Bulldogs, meaning it'll be Sharks vs. Cowboys on Saturday night. Not sure the Doggies will be too upset by that, the Cowboys are red hot at the moment and, I think, a much bigger threat than the seventh-placed Knights. The Sharks tonight showed just how much forward depth they have with guys like Peachey, Gibbs and Sopoaga all having impressive games in the absence of Gallen, Graham, Bukuya and also Fifita, who went off with a hamstring complaint in the first half. Good signs for Sharks fans that Fifita seemed to be walking fairly freely on the sidelines, but we'll have to wait and see whether he's ruled out for next week. For the Raiders, that game fizzed out much like their season has. Just a few weeks back they were right in the mix for the finals, but now they'll only be able to look back on 2013 as a failure. They obviously have a lot of rebuilding to do in the off-season with a new coach expected.
Benny
Guest
Thats a lot of nudie runs
john badseed
Guest
You thought this was a crap job- I had to clean the burnt fish fingers off the griller
Adam
Roar Guru
FULL-TIME Raiders 18 - Sharks 38
Adam
Roar Guru
Live score: Raiders 18 - Sharks 38 80' Robson puts it out on the full and that'll be a handover to the Raiders with seconds remaining.
Adam
Roar Guru
Live score: Raiders 18 - Sharks 38 79' Probably a forward pass earlier in that play from Townsend, but the refs have let it go. CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL -- Gordon is arrow-straight from the sideline, he's put on a goalkicking clinic tonight.
Zaccaaa
Guest
Wow it's been that long has it
Adam
Roar Guru
Live score: Raiders 18 - Sharks 36 77' TRY SHARKS! Beau Ryan scores and now the Sharks are romping it home!
Adam
Roar Guru
Live score: Raiders 18 - Sharks 32 75' CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL by Gordon.
Adam
Roar Guru
Live score: Raiders 18 - Sharks 30 REPLAY: The kick came through from the Sharks and took a bounce off a Raiders defender, straight into the path of Ben Ross. Ross could have scored himself but strangely chose to throw the ball inside to Gibbs to take him off the nudie run for this year at least!
Adam
Roar Guru
Live score: Raiders 18 - Sharks 30 73' Off-loads aplenty for the Sharks here as they pile on the pressure... TRY SHARKS! Bryce Gibbs has scored his first try since the 2005 grand final!
Adam
Roar Guru
Live score: Raiders 18 - Sharks 26 72' Papalii in trouble here for a lifting tackle and now he's on report as well. Wasn't a lot in it, Papalii should be okay there. Worth a penalty though.
Adam
Roar Guru
Live score: Raiders 18 - Sharks 26 71' CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL from Gordon.
Adam
Roar Guru
Live score: Raiders 18 - Sharks 24 REPLAY: Well Peachey has had a wow of a game tonight, Panthers fans should be very excited, and he's capped it off there busting through the line before losing his footing, then picking himself up and beating three more Raiders to score.
Adam
Roar Guru
Live score: Raiders 18 - Sharks 24 69' TRY SHARKS! Peachey with a great individual effort to score!
Adam
Roar Guru
Live score: Raiders 18 - Sharks 20 69' This match has come alive now! Raiders with a couple of line breaks to get themselves well up field, McCrone kicks ahead for himself but it's cleaned up by Gordon who beats a few players and runs 50m up field...
Adam
Roar Guru
Live score: Raiders 18 - Sharks 20 68' Robson goes within centimetres but comes up just short! Peachey kicks on the last and it bounces off the uprights -- into the hands of a Raider! Could have gone anywhere but Canberra survive!
Adam
Roar Guru
Live score: Raiders 18 - Sharks 20 67' Heighington looked to have lost the ball but the refs rule it was stripped and order six more tackles. Huge defensive set for the Raiders now, Sharks could close this out here...