Veteran Wests Tigers prop Keith Galloway concedes Saturday’s NRL clash with Canberra at Campbelltown is shaping up as must-win game for Mick Potter’s side.
A stirring 23-20 win over Newcastle in round 13 was sandwiched either side of disappointing defeats to Brisbane and South Sydney, knocking the Tigers out of the top eight.
After facing the lowly Raiders the joint-venture then face three difficult clashes against high-flying Penrith, Manly and Canterbury.
“It is a dangerous game,” Galloway said.
“We need a win, they need a win and they have a big pack and some speed out wide so we need to start well or they can hurt us.”
Potter admitted the fixture is a game he’s worried about given the recent form of his side.
“We’ve not won too many games in the last few weeks, we’re desperate, Canberra are desperate and I am just glad it’s being played at Campbelltown and having the home crowd behind us,” Potter said.
“We have Robbie Farah and Aaron Woods back and you can’t beat having that experience available to you.”
Canberra have endured a tough campaign that’s yielded just four wins and seen several transfer targets for 2015 fail to materialise.
One of those signings was Tigers fullback James Tedesco who will face the club he agreed to join in April before changing his mind and staying with the joint-venture.
The change of heart infuriated Raiders coach Ricky Stuart who has now missed out on Michael Ennis, Kevin Proctor, Josh Mansour and Daniel Mortimer.
Earlier this week Canberra players downplayed any notions of exacting revenge on Tedesco and teammate Curtis Sironen said his close friend won’t be fazed about facing the team he turned his back on.
“It definitely helps to be playing at Campbelltown and not down in Canberra,” Sironen said.
“Teddy is a pretty cruisy guy, I don’t think he’ll be too worried about anything untowards happening on the field.
Potter said he’s had no reason to speak to Tedesco about the game and expects the young fullback to show just why the Raiders were so keen to sign him.
“He’ll do his best and be good, he’s been as per normal and there has been no real talk about the game in that sense.”
The Raiders’ chances of victory could be boosted by the return of Josh Papalii from an ankle injury.
George
Guest
Not sure Ricky has picked a team to win today, as there are 3 or 4 players in the nsw cup game that deserve a go in firsts. If Ricky is trying to prove unequivocally that certain players are not first graders before tapping them on the shoulder, I think the case has been proven already. Luke Page, Cornish and Baptiste represent better solutions to those running around week after week after week.