- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
The Canberra Raiders will look to continue their promising dawn under coach Ricky Stuart as they take on a Gold Coast Titans side coming off one of the most miserable performances in their short history. Join us for live scores and commentary from 6:30pm AEDT.
After a narrow loss to the Cowboys in Round 1 and a comeback victory over the Knights in Round 2, things are looking pretty good for the Raiders.
While many experts had tipped them for the spoon at the year’s outset, they’ve shown enough so far to suggest they’ll be a long way from easybeats.
Their new-look spine is developing nicely, particularly with Anthony Milford’s prodigious attacking talents at fullback and Jack Wighton’s impressive development as a playmaker.
They also appear to be a much fitter team under Stuart, though they’ll miss the tireless work of Shaun Fensom this week as well as the impact of Origin back rower Josh Papalii, absent through suspension and injury respectively.
They’ll be replaced by Paul Vaughan and Jarred Kennedy. Vaughan in particular has been a revelation thus far in 2014, making over 125m off the bench in each contest and backing up well to finish off a long-distance try last week.
Add the form of reliable centre Jarrod Croker and the experience of David Shillington, Brett White and Dane Tilse upfront and Canberra fans have reason for optimism.
Despite being installed as favourites, however, they’ll shouldn’t fall into the trap of taking their opposition lightly.
The Titans were woeful last week, even prompting an apology from coach John Cartwright to fans, and they’ll be looking to bounce back with vigour tonight.
While it’s no excuse for a professional sports team, it’s easy for a side to be get lost mentally in 40+ degree conditions, and that appears to be what happened to the Titans last week.
Conditions will be very different in Canberra and there’s enough talent in the Titans line-up to suggest they won’t switch off two weeks in a row.
They’ll have to do it without five-eighth and goalkicker Aidan Sezer. He’s replaced by Ashley Harrison who, despite being out of position, is an Origin-level player who has been there before.
Meanwhile, halfback Albert Kelly has been a shining light, continuing his breakout 2013 form with long-distance individual efforts in both games so far this year.
If the likes of Greg Bird and Nate Myles can lift the Titans’ pack this week, they certainly have enough firepower to hurt the Raiders. They should also be boosted by the return of monster front rower Ryan James, for whom enthusiasm has never been a problem.
Prediction
While the Raiders at home seem like the obvious choice this week, the absence of Fensom and Papalii could be telling, and I’m leaning towards a Gold Coast upset. Titans by six.
Will the Raiders continue their promising start to 2014 or will the Titans bounce back from last week’s horror show?
Join us this afternoon at 6:30pm AEDT for live score updates and debate on our live blog, and be sure to give us your opinion below if you’re watching.
Reckon you can pick the winning team? Build your own dream team with Draftstars daily fantasy and compete on any match. For great odds on the NRL head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.