The sixth-placed Canberra Raiders host the third-placed North Queensland Cowboys to finish off Round 18 at GIO Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7pm (AEST).
The Canberra Raiders are coming off last week’s golden point thriller against Newcastle and have a great opportunity to consolidate their top eight spot at home tonight against an understrength Cowboys line-up.
The Cowboys have five players on State of Origin duty – Johnathan Thurston, Matt Scott, Justin O’Neill and Gavin Cooper for Queensland, while James Tamou will play for New South Wales. Michael Morgan would have been with them, but he is unavailable with a knee injury. Kane Linnett is also out injured for the Cowboys.
The Raiders have named a near full-strength line-up, with only Josh Papalii and Luke Bateman missing. Papalii would have been in camp with the Queensland State of Origin team, but is out injured, while Bateman is suspended. There are injury concerns over winger Jordan Rapana and prop Shannon Boyd, but both have been named in the Raiders’ 17-man squad.
Cowboys’ coach Paul Green has named Ray Thompson (halfback), Tautau Moga (centre), Coen Hess (second row), Josh Chudleigh and Ben Spina (both on the interchange bench) in his 17 man-squad to replace his Origin stars. Ben Hannant and Scott Bolton have been moved from the interchange bench and will start in th front row, while Rory Kostjasyn has also been promoted from the bench to startat five-eighth.
The Raiders will be strengthened by the return of Shaun Fensom and Sia Soliola from injury, while Clay Priest has been added to the interchange bench.
Prediction
Statistically, the Raiders and the Cowboys are the two best attacking teams in the competition this season, but the understrength Cowboys will struggle on a cold winter’s night in Canberra.
The Raiders will never get a better chance to beat the Cowboys this season than they have tonight. They should win comfortably.
Will the Raiders get the job done at home? Or will the undermanned Cowboys pull of an upset?Join The Roar at 7pm (AEST) to find out with live score updates and debate in our live blog.
steveng
Roar Rookie
The Raiders are a 'Top Side' irrespective if the Cows didn't have JT and some other of their top players (e.g. have a look at the Sharks and how good they are) Ricky has done a great job with them and there is still plenty of work to do with them.
turbodewd
Roar Guru
Just saw the highlights. Top marks to Wighton. I don't understand why more fullbacks don't hit hard like that. In the NFL its par for the course, but here our fullbacks dither and love to get wrong-footed and grasp at air. If I was a coach Id direct my FB to smash the ball carrier and ignore the offload.
Cugel
Roar Rookie
That was never forward
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Thanks for joining me on tonight’s coverage, hope you enjoyed it.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Roar MVP Points 3 –Jack Wighton (Canberra): Showed great strength to score 2 tries and saved 2 with bone rattling defence. 163 metres in attack and was safe at the back all night. 2 – Coen Hess (Cowboys): The young second rower was impressive in just his 2nd NRL game, scoring a try, making 145 metres in attack and getting through 31 tackles in defence. 1 – Elliot Whitehead (Canberra). 137 metres in attack and 34 tackles in his usual non-stop effort.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Match summary Canberra 26 Cowboys 12 The Canberra Raiders are now just one point outside the top 4 after beating an understrength Cowboys line-up 26-12 tonight in an entertaining game at GIO Stadium. The Raiders led 14-6 at half-time and played disciplined, error-free football. The Cowboys were missing Johnathan Thurston, Matt Scott, Gavin Cooper and Justin O’Neill on Origin duty, as well as the injured Michael Morgan. The Raiders scored early, capitalising on an early Cowboys error with Jack Wighton scoring out wide. Jarrod Croker converted to bring up his 1300th career point at just 25 years of age. The Cowboys hit back with young second rower Coen Hess leaping to take a pinpoint Lachlan Coote cross kick to score a try. The Raiders scored their second first half try when an Aidan Sezer grubber bounced off the upright and Josh Hodgson was on hand to dive on the ball. Cowboys’ interchange player Josh Chudleigh scored a great individual try from dummy half early in the second half to make the score 14-12. The game became an arm wrestle until some Cowboys penalties gifted more possession to the Raiders. Jack Wighton showed strength to score his second try of the night, before Aidan Sezer iced the win for the Raiders with a late try. Try scorers (Canberra): Jack Wighton (2), Josh Hodgson, Aidan Sezer Top metres gained (Canberra): Jordan Rapana 178, Jack Wighton 163, Elliot Whitehead 137 Top tacklers (Canberra): Elliot Whitehead 34, Iosia Soliola 32, Josh Hodgson 32 Try scorers (Cowboys): Coen Hess, Josh Chudleigh Top metres gained (Cowboys): Coen Hess 145, Ray Thompson 136, Antonio Winterstein 131 Top tacklers (Cowboys): Scott Bolton 36, Jake Granville 34, Ethan Lowe 34
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Full-time The hooter sounds and its victory for Canberra! Canberra 26 Cowboys 12
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Very ordinary to tap that ball into touch.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
79’ Try to Lee but the pass is ruled forward! Canberra 26 Cowboys 12
jamesb
Guest
Let's pray that he has a good career.
Joe
Roar Rookie
How dumb is Moga?
John Coomer
Roar Guru
78’ Cowboys knock the ball over the touch line. Raiders’ scrum feed 10 metres out. Canberra 26 Cowboys 12
Joe
Roar Rookie
Ray Thompson was pretty average in this game. Looks unfit as well same as Moga. They need more match fitness.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
76’ Good individual effort by Sezer to take on the line and score that try to clinch victory for the Raiders. Croker converts. Canberra 26 Cowboys 12
AJ Mithen
Expert
Clay Priest is a ripper.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
75’ Try!! Canberra (Aidan Sezer) Canberra 24 Cowboys 12 Kick to come.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
74’ Sezer takes a last tackle chip in goal. 20 metre tap to Canberra. Canberra 20 Cowboys 12
John Coomer
Roar Guru
73’ Wighton cleans up a last tackle grubber, Canberra back in possession, but they lose it early in the count. Cowboys back on the attack! Canberra 20 Cowboys 12
John Coomer
Roar Guru
72’ Cowboys’ scrum feed 20 metres out from their own line. Canberra 20 Cowboys 12
John Coomer
Roar Guru
There should be. I bet Mal Meninga wishes they were around when he was playing, he wouldn't have broken his arm for the first of 4 times.