Canberra Raiders
6
Match Complete
Gold Coast Titans
44
| 72 |  | P. Herbert | ||
| 62 |  | J. Fogarty | ||
| 60 | | P. Sami | ||
| J. Croker | | 57 | ||
| S. Williams | | 56 | ||
| 51 | | J. Fogarty | ||
| 50 | | K. Proctor | ||
| 47 | | J. Fogarty | ||
| 46 | | B. Kelly | ||
| 40 | | J. Fogarty | ||
| 38 | | J. Fogarty | ||
| 37 | | J. Fogarty | ||
| 35 | | M. Fotuaika | ||
| 31 | | K. Proctor | ||
| 22 | | J. Fogarty | ||
| 20 | | D. Fifita |
| 1 | Tries | 8 | ||
| 1 | Conversions | 6 | ||
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 0 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
The Canberra Raiders will be desperate to get their season back on track when they host the Gold Coast Titans tonight. Join The Roar for live scores and a rolling blog of events from the nation’s capital from 5:30pm (AEST).
Arguably two of the most disappointing teams in the competition this year, desperation is the order of the day as we get to the pointy end of the season. The Titans were tipped by many to break into the eight this year after a strong end to last season, while the Raiders’ premiership window has been wide open for a while now. As it stands, they sit in 13th and 10th respectively, and while the finals are still within reach, every match is crucial from here on out.
The Raiders will be boosted by the return of skipper Jarrod Croker, who comes in for Matthew Timoko in the only change. With only Josh Papalii and Jack Wighton involved in Origin 2, the rest of the side has had a week off to refresh from a demoralising loss to the Dragons.
The Titans welcome back Corey Thompson and AJ Brimson from injury, in place of Greg Marzhew and Jayden Campbell respectively. Kevin Proctor returns from suspension for Sam Stone, while Beau Fermor and Sam Lisone have also been named on the interchange bench. Their Origin trio of David Fifita, Mo Fotuiaka and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui are set to back up.
Historically, matches are pretty split between the two sides; but in recent times, the Raiders have been dominant over the Titans, winning the last five in a row and seven of the last eight. The Titans have won four games from eleven attempts at GIO Stadium. These two have already played in 2021, back in Round 4, when the Raiders ran out comfortable 20-4 winners at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.
Prediction:
This one is a genuine toss of the coin. Both have been incredibly disappointing for the year, but still have time to make things right. For the Raiders, the headline has been their inability to close games out, and to go missing in seconds halves. They did just that against the Dragons in their last start, holding a comfortable lead at various times during the contest but ultimately going down.
For the Titans, they haven’t struggled to score points, but have certainly struggled to stop conceding them. They have given up 91 points in just the last two games alone, rendering the 58 points they’ve scored in those matches worth nought.
I’m going to go with the Titans in this one. They welcome back some experience and some class, and have the points in them to crack the Raiders and go on with things in the second half if the Raiders drop their intensity, as they have been guilty of doing.
Titans by 6
Game Information
Kick off: 5:30pm (AEST)
Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra
TV: Fox League
Online: Kayo Sports, Foxtel Go
Odds: Raiders $1.50, Titans $2.60 (odds via PlayUp)
Teams
Raiders
1. Bailey Simonsson, 2. Semi Valemei, 3. Jarrod Croker (c), 4. Sebastian Kris, 5. Jordan Rapana, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. Sam Williams, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Josh Hodgson, 10. Dunamis Lui, 11. Corey Harawira-Naera, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Ryan Sutton
Bench/Reserves: 14. Tom Starling, 15. Emre Guler, 16. Iosia Soliola, 17. Joseph Tapine | 18. Matthew Timoko, 19. Hudson Young
Titans
1. AJ Brimson, 2. Phillip Sami, 3. Brian Kelly, 4. Patrick Herbert, 5. Corey Thompson, 6. Ash Taylor, 7. Jamal Fogarty (c), 8. Jarrod Wallace, 9. Erin Clark, 10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, 11. Kevin Proctor (c), 12. David Fifita, 13. Tyrone Peachey
Bench/Reserves: 14. Beau Fermor, 15. Sam Lisone, 16. Moeaki Fotuaika, 17. Jaimin Jolliffe | 18. Sam Stone, 19. Sam McIntyre
Paul
Guest
Why wouldn’t you just put the South’s pairing of halves, Reynolds & Walker in? With Murray starting at lock & Cook as hooker. Should be a good enough combination.
Taree Raider
Guest
Geoff, I've now had a good nights sleep on it, I see it as there is no 'Captain' of the team, no one is leading them around. When they were talking in a group during the game it was Sam Williams doing the talking. No insult to Sam intended, he is a back up NRL player at best. Hodgson isn't interested in being a leader anymore, due to falling out with Ricky. Crocker is not and never was the real leader of the side, he shouldn't be picked. But after watching the Knights fire with Ponga & Pearce back. Seeing Penrith decline without Cleary. I'm starting to realise that the Raiders biggest problem is not having CNK in the side. I didn't realise just how good he is for the team & to a lesser point Cotric. Running the ball back from our end. There is zero attack in the present Raiders, the scoreboard reflects that. Their defence is poor, the scoreboard reflects that. I still have faith in the playing group, but Starling has to play the majority of the game at 9. Hodgson can be in the side at lock. I'm a bit disengaged at present, I've been through these times before with the Raiders team but at least they seemed to try each week. At present Papalii & Starling are the only ones having a real go. I also see that when a side falls behind defensively the 6 again adds to the scoreboard making a 26-0 scoreline into a 46-0. I'm sure that Ricky will resign this week & McFadden will fix the makeup of the team.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
10 minutes off the bench when the game has been decided is about all Jack deserves at the moment. Freddy would be a fool to pick him at 5/8. On the Raiders supporters website Jack has polled one vote this season for player of the year. Says it all really. He's lucky to be even in the NSW squad.
AJL.
Roar Pro
Me. And I was one of the 7.5k freezing our butter off out there at this game. Honestly the Raiders as favourites made no sense to me given our issues this year.
Short Memory
Guest
100%. That attempted tackle on Herbert was pathetic. You can't take that form into origin.
Short Memory
Guest
Gee, let's get their playmaker to play 5/8 in SOO 3. :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Hi Taree. This is the lowest ebb for the club that I can remember for many years. Ricky has shown that he has not grasped the concept of the modern game while coaches like Bellamy and Cleary just keep getting better and better. And I suspect the Roosters would be right up there if not for injuries. Einstein Ricky in his presser says we are losing due to not enough of his players playing well and missing too many tackles. Mark that one down in your book of legendary presser quotes. The bloke is a genius. Lets face it he is a very average coach who got lucky with some of the brilliance of the players he assembled in his squad over the past few years. Austin and Hodgson, Leipana in 2016, Bateman in 2019, CNK in 2020. I suspect Raiders membership will dive after the awful performances they’ve put on at home this year. And I can hardly blame them. I’ll probably be one of them that votes with their feet. I fear for the rest of the season with games against Manly, Storm, Eels and Roosters to come. Why Croker is in the team is beyond me. Timoko is twice the player he is. And having Sam Williams in the halves is a joke. The sacking of George Williams was another example of dreadful management. What a stinking mess.
Taree Raider
Guest
Geoff, you didn't miss a thing. Jarrod Crocker played as good as he has for the past 18 months. He is our leader, it shows. Maybe Ricky should stand down as the coach for a couple of weeks & let McFadden take over. If nothing changes, that's fine. But I bet my balls that without Ricky things would improve. They couldn't get any worse. Could they?
Dutski
Roar Guru
Me too
Renegade
Roar Guru
I did :happy: … I’m on fire in tipping, only 2 wrong in last two weeks….in both those games I tipped warriors including last night… need to stop doing that.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Been travelling from Adelaide to Goolwa and back today to visit family which was AFL all the way on the radio so only just saw the score. Gave my season tickets to my children to use while we are away. Hopefully they didn't go. The Raiders are a pale shadow of the team they were last season. A 44-6 shellacking at home to the Titans is embarrassing. Ricky has some serious questions to answer.
R N
Roar Rookie
Yeah. I totally get what you are saying. I have been moaning for a couple of weeks about the same concerns.
R N
Roar Rookie
Thanks Jack!
Jack Aubrey
Roar Guru
It was a blow out once again, and a shame given what the Raiders had to play for. But the Titans deserved that. They didn't let up for 80 minutes and just wanted it more. The Raiders in comparison were as soft as butter, they didn't want to tackle and let the Titans dictate terms. For the Titans it is a timely victory. For the Raiders just about season over given what they just showed. The Titans haven't had trouble scoring points this year but they finally did the little things right too and played for the full 80. Where do the Raiders go? Outside Josh Papalii who really had a go tonight? They have had a number of off field issues this year and one has to wonder if Ricky still "has" the playing group. The Titans have the week off, to prepare for a finals tilt after finally finding some form. The Raiders have five days to prepare for Manly and if tonight is anything to go by, boy, could that get ugly. Thanks for joining the blog tonight
Phil
Roar Rookie
Let's hope so.
Statler and Waldorf
Roar Guru
Worst year of League ever I'd rather watch the roosters win again than see another year like this
Phil
Roar Rookie
In two games today there have been 19 tries scored for and 1 against. PVL and Co must abandon all plans of expansion forthwith until we have a decent quota of first grade standard players to fill the teams we have now. Must also include, 1st grade standard coaches as well.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Exactly, two sides just weren’t anywhere near performing at the level required and copped their just desserts.
R N
Roar Rookie
Clifford will now tear the Cows a new one! :laughing:
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Super Saturday 110-6 Surely the next game is tight? Tighter?