The in-form Manly Sea Eagles present a massive challenge for the Canberra Raiders, but they must find a way to win to keep their finals flame flickering. Tune into the action right here on The Roar with live scores from 6pm (AEST).
Last Thursday’s loss to the Storm leaves the Raiders once again out of the eight, with only three matches left to sneak back in. Facing a difficult final-round clash with the Roosters, you’d expect they’d need to win at least two of their last three to have any chance of ousting the eighth-placed Titans.
Fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad is expected to return from his long-term neck injury off the bench, but isn’t over the line just yet. With Corey Harawira-Naera already missing through suspension, and Tom Starling out with a broken jaw, Ricky Stuart needs all the firepower he can get to spring an upset on Manly.
The Sea Eagles were stunned by the Raiders when last they met a month ago, but it’s one of only two defeats in their past nine matches, the other to the ladder-leading Storm. Finals spot secured, it’s all about the top for from here on out for Des Hasler, last week’s 56-10 win over the Eels leaving them a solitary win behind the Roosters in fourth.
The big watch this week for Manly is over Tom Trbojevic, the superstar fullback named to play despite continuing to carry a cheekbone injury. He’s determined to play after scans showed he’s avoided a fracture, but will they want to risk him with finals so close by, as well as in soft closing-round matches to come against the Bulldogs and Cowboys?
Kick-off: 6pm (AEST)
Venue: Suncorp Stadium
TV: Fox League
Online: Kayo Sports, Foxtel Now, Foxtel GO
Betting: Raiders $4.40, Sea Eagles $1.21 (odds via PlayUp)
Canberra Raiders
1. Jordan Rapana, 2. Bailey Simonsson, 3. Sebastian Kris, 4. Matthew Timoko, 5. Harley Smith-Shields, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. Sam Williams, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Josh Hodgson, 10. Joseph Tapine, 11. Hudson Young, 12. Elliott Whitehead (c), 13. Ryan Sutton
Bench/Reserves: 14. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 15. Emre Guler 16. Iosia Soliola, 17. Matt Frawley | 18. 20. Dunamis Lui, 19. Trey Mooney, 20. Elijah Anderson, 21. Caleb Aekins
Manly Sea Eagles
1. Tom Trbojevic, 2. Jason Saab, 3. Morgan Harper, 4. Moses Suli, 5. Reuben Garrick, 6. Kieran Foran, 7. Daly Cherry-Evans (c), 8. Josh Aloiai, 9. Lachlan Croker, 10. Martin Taupau, 11. Haumole Olakau’atu, 12. Josh Schuster, 13. Jake Trbojevic
Bench/Reserves: 14. Dylan Walker, 15. Karl Lawton, 16. Curtis Sironen, 17. Toafofoa Sipley | 18. Jack Gosiewski, 19. Tevita Funa, 20. Kurt De Luis, 21. Cade Cust
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
The Raiders have some real issues though Taree – Hodgson is simply not an 80 minute player – he ball watched twice when DCE kicked into the in goal – didn’t even attempt a tackle on Sironen when he scored. We missed Starling badly. And Ricky made some weird tactical decisions – why take off your best payer in Rapana – sure CNK gives everything but we needed Rapana on the field. DCE killed us with his kicking game – if he plays for us we win. Suli was massive for the Sea Eagles as well. Tapine was huge in the first half and our young backs are exciting. I’d be retiring Jarod Croker, sack Curtis Scott and pool their salaries with whatever we paid George Williams and spend big on a quality half.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Agree Walter - the way the club handled George's issues has come back to bite them big time. Jack Wighton has come back to form and if he was partnered by George I think the Raiders could have won a couple more games and be assured of playing in the finals. Sam Williams is a great club man and can fill in for a couple of games to cover injuries but shouldn't be playing for extended periods. He just doesn't have the skill set.
Nambawan
Roar Rookie
Manly are real heart attack stuff. This game clearly confirmed the major importance of Turbo to Manly's chances. I think that if he had played tonight Manly would have won by 20 plus, but without him they are ordinary. One of next year's recruitment priorities has to be a good reserve full-back. Some other thoughts; Garrick is very ordinary at FB - he is a good finishing winger but regularly prone to errors. Suli in the centres can penetrate - a rare attribute in modern League - but will he replace the incumbents? Walker is risky when playing in the pack - he is targeted in defence. Manly have two big forwards to come back - Paseka and Keppie - they will be valuable in the semis. Olakau'atu is developing into an outstanding edge forward.
Waltert Black
Guest
" I cant see how it ever gets better" Easy Make the ref front up in front of the cameras like the coaches and players do. With accountability comes respect.
Rellum
Roar Guru
We have move way past that. The conspiracy theories are rife, many fans, far to many spend the game watch the ref not the players. It leads to a toxic culture and even teaching our kids the wrong attitude, blame others not your self or your team.
Walter Black
Guest
Losing George Williams was their own fault. George had his faults but Canberra threw their season away when they dumped him. Manly, what can you say. You have to admire them and particularly Dessie. Probably the third best coach in the comp.
Renegade
Roar Guru
That was going to be my point - go back 20 years and everyone bagged Hollywood.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
Canberra is a tough side. They’ve had a poor season because of the mountain of disruptions. Losing George Williams hurt them badly. Sam Williams has always been a good player but he replaced a great one.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
It all started in earnest with Bill Harrigan. Every ref since believes they manage the flow of the game not oversee the rules. When you inconsistently control the game you cop the criticism deserved.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Fair call Rene. Ref bashing is almost a sport unto itself. And likely wouldn’t change. But geez when they are just ignoring the rule book, not even subjective 50/50s, but just making their own rules, it does get frustrating.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Won’t change anything, people been bagging them out since 1908…. There’s this complex where some people think they know better (without any real objective proof) – confirmation bias because it can never be a fault of the team they support or backed with $$
Taree Raider
Guest
Loved the game, this is what I like about being a Raiders fan, they gave their guts tonight. Just look at them at 1/2 time. They tried their best, CNK what a bloke, he stuffed it up but gave his all. The whole team tried all night. That's all I ask for, 100% effort. Is Frawley better than Sam Williams, I personally think so. Starling was a huge out, but overall unreal effort.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
It's never been different Rellum. I learnt a whole new vocabulary as a young fella sitting with my Mum and Dad in the outer at Lang Park. I could have filled in Ref you're a --#--- with twenty new words a week.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Get better refs. But nobody who has talent would want the job
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
But did he bring chairs??
Rellum
Roar Guru
Just about every comment here is about the refs. The ref bashing was left to fester for far too long. It is emdemic now and I cant see how it ever gets better.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
He was overdue for one.. it took eighty minutes for his first of the night!
danwain
Roar Rookie
Give Mary a break mate, he painted the gym in the off season, what a guy!
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Terrible first half, but showed enough patience in the second to get it done. Far more respect for the ball. Far better shape. Raiders are good enough to get into the 8. CNK back is huge, they need him from the get go.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Unlike some others that was the right call.