St. George Illawarra Dragons
22
Match Complete
Canberra Raiders
20
| C. Norman |  | 69 | ||
| C. Norman |  | 68 | ||
| T. Sloan | | 52 | ||
| G. Beale | | 50 | ||
| 46 | | S. Williams | ||
| 44 | | J. Tapine | ||
| C. Norman |  | 42 | ||
| 40 | | S. Williams | ||
| C. Norman | | 31 | ||
| B. Burns | | 30 | ||
| 20 | | S. Williams | ||
| 19 | | S. Kris | ||
| 9 | | S. Williams | ||
| 8 | | C. Harawira-Naera |
| 4 | Tries | 3 | ||
| 2 | Conversions | 3 | ||
| 1 | Penalty Goals | 1 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
The St George Illawarra Dragons will be looking to bounce back from a Monday afternoon horror show when they host the Canberra Raiders on Saturday evening. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 5:30pm (AEST).
The Dragons were awful on Monday. As good as the Bulldogs played, if the Dragons believe they are genuine top eight prospects, they can’t be dropping their bundle against a team that has run last for the best part of two seasons. They lacked spark and intent, with the rumours around a number of their stars potentially starting to impact their performance.
The Raiders, fresh off a bye and desperate for a win, did what they needed to do and comprehensively beat the Broncos in the nation’s capital. It wasn’t always clinical, it wasn’t perfect, but the attitude was right and they were never truly challenged. It is just one step back in the right direction, though; the next is a tougher road trip to Wollongong to get their finals campaign truly on the right track again.
The Dragons have named the same 17 that ran out on Monday afternoon, but that may simply be because they had to name a side just 24 hours later. Zac Lomax has been named in jersey 21 and is a chance of lining up in the centres. It is an unchanged 17 for the Raiders, too. They have named Ryan James on an extended bench but he is unlikely to come into the side.
The Raiders have a great record against the Dragons, having won 20 of 32 clashes between the pair, including four of the last five. They have an equally impressive record at WIN Stadium, winning five of eight games played at the venue.
Prediction:
The Dragons might have started the season well, but that is a long time ago now. They have won just two of their last nine, against the two teams running last and second last. They look like a team with distractions around key personnel starting to take a toll. Matt Dufty and Corey Norman are unwanted, and that has been made very public; and as key members of their squad it can’t be good for their mentality or that of the team.
The Raiders in contrast have had a break, will be confident after a win, and are looking to put some of the distractions of early in the season behind them. All their key players put in last week and they reek of a team that can ride a wave of momentum into September.
They’ve had an extra couple of days to prepare for this one, and it is impossible not to tip them based on last week’s matches alone.
Raiders by 16
Game information
Kick-off: 5:30pm (AEST)
Venue: WIN Stadium, Wollongong
TV: Fox League
Live stream: Kayo Sports, Foxtel Now, Foxtel Go, 9Now
Odds: Dragons $2.48, Raiders $1.54 (odds via PlayUp)
Teams
Dragons
1. Matt Dufty, 2. Cody Ramsey, 3. Brayden Wiliame, 4. Gerard Beale, 5. Mikaele Ravalawa, 6. Corey Norman, 7. Ben Hunt (c), 8. Blake Lawrie, 9. Andrew McCullough, 10. Paul Vaughan, 11. Tariq Sims, 12. Jack Bird, 13. Jackson Ford
Bench/Reserves: 15. Josh Kerr, 16. Daniel Alvaro, 17. Jack De Belin, 18. Adam Clune | 19. Poasa Faamausili, 20. Tariq Sims
Raiders
1. Bailey Simonsson, 2. Semi Valemei, 3. Sebastian Kris, 4. Matthew Timoko, 5. Jordan Rapana, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. Sam Williams, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Josh Hodgson, 10. Dunammis Lui, 11. Corey Harawira-Naera, 12. Elliott Whitehead (c), 13. Ryan Sutton
Bench/Reserves: 14. Tom Starling, 15. Emre Guler, 16. Iosia Soliola, 17. Joe Tapine | 18. Xavier Savage, 19. Hudson Young
steveng
Roar Rookie
It won't happen again, unless there will be a fiasco like on Friday night with the Roosters which IMO that will happen again come the finals as either the Panthers (more so) than the Storm will get those advantages. Our defence will improve 100% and we will give the Panthers and the Storm go and probably beat them.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Hear what you are saying about CNK. The Raiders are missing his defence terribly. But Bailey Simmonson has been very good in the past two games after it became clear that Aekins wasn't quite up to it. Bailey could become a very good full back given time. The Raiders need more from their halves to steer them to wins. Jack has had a very ordinary season and the George Williams dismissal debacle is really hurting. Sam Williams is a loyal servant but failed to deliver when it mattered yesterday.
Mon
Guest
Ah ok so you’re a Parra fan. Fair play to you then.
Paul
Guest
Sloan at fullback looks alright. He doesn’t look like he’ll be a super star fullback or anything though. He’s no Papenhuyzen. Don’t think he has the attack of Dufty. Still, probably not the errors of Dufty either.
Paul
Guest
The real down slide started when Nicoll-Klokstad suffered the serious injury. Caleb Aetkins wasn’t up to the same standard . They haven’t found a real spark from fullback since then. I think Klokstad’s attack & defence from fullback has been massive for Canberra. They did lose that game that they should have won against the Warriors ,before his injury . Still, that game was in a big part due to injuries & being down players during the game.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Can't believe Ricky didn't know about when he could activate the 18th man. Apparently it has to be a HIA followed by a sin bin or send off. How could he not know that. Felt sorry for the young bloke. The Raiders just seem to be a dumb team with a dumb coach. How many times this season have we seen decoy runners penalised for not running through the line. Jack Wighton keeps cutting back when there is a shepherd instead of dying with the ball and taking the tackle. Rapana didn't know the rule that if the ball hits you before it bounces beyond the dead ball line its a goal line drop out. None of the halves took advantage of the wind in the first half with their kicking game. One dumb thing after another. I'm over it.
Rossi
Roar Rookie
Yeah it's tough being a Dragons fan but to lose after leading comfortably so often would ruin me
Rossi
Roar Rookie
Ramsay (twice), Alvaro, de Belin and Lawrie all got hit high but didn't stay down like Kris; Raiders weren't unlucky at all. Were lucky to not have old mate son binned for a blatant professional foul
Andrew
Roar Pro
Ok whatever’s. Souths had 50 put on them twice this year. Otherwise I stand by my comments.
Mon
Guest
Souths have not been ‘beaten by 50 twice’. We also handled Parra with ease for the third straight time so maybe your top three could be adjusted?
Tony the VIC pirate
Totally agree Geoff, I thought Ricky needs to move on. I hope Ricky is playing around with the combos but you are right on Jack, he looks like a centre, not a five eighth. There is no explosive expansive football and Williams has been none of those
Taree Raider
Guest
Jack Wighton was terrible, has been all year. He should be leading from the front, but the trouble is, Jack always makes a mistake in every single game he plays, whether it's a kick out on the full, a forward pass, a defensive stuff up or just a lack of effort, every single game you can rely on Jack to stuff it up. It was worse when he played fullback because it was usually within 10m of the try line. Jack is a hell of a player, but he doesn't produce it on a consistent basis. Hodgson was good. Ricky is not the answer, he coached for his job last week, but that was against the worst side in the competition. The present Raiders attack is clueless. Change is desperately needed, starting at the Coach. Sad but true.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Poorly coached Tony. Why on Earth wouldn't you instruct yours halves to try and use the wind more in the first half. An 8 point lead at half time was never going to be enough. The Raiders play a really boring no frills safe style of play which isn't suited to the new up tempo rules. I'm over it. Look at the way the Storm, Panthers, Eels, Souths and Roosters can blow teams away. They keep piling on the points. The Raiders try and score 20 or so and hang on. Ricky needs to get them to be more expansive - like we were back on 2016. Sam Williams isn't the answer and Jack Wighton isn't half the player he was in 2019. Not sure Ricky is the answer either. He appears very limited as a coach. There are some good positive signs . Hodgson and Tapine have lifted their games and we need to persist with Bailey at FB along with Valemei, Kris and Timoko in the back 5. I'd keep the money for a full back and pay Sean Johnson market value for 2022. This year is just about a write off.
Andrew
Roar Pro
Thanks for the call
Andrew
Roar Pro
Let’s be honest outside of Penrith, Melbourne & Parra is been a pretty dusty season. Even Souths have been beaten by 50 twice & Roosters down so many players. As a dragon’s tragic I’m happy to take a win anyway we can get them in 2021. I don’t have a lot of time for Ben Hunt but it was the use of the wind in the second half that proved the difference. Glimpse of the future with Tyrell Sloan, have to think Saints will be much better in 2022.
Tony the VIC pirate
I agree Geoff, Williams even went to the dragons and we took him back....again we weren't too bad and the second half looked promising but we are not a top 4 side. Top 8 maybe but we didn't get the bounce nor 50/50 tonight...
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Dragons deserved to win but their first 20 minutes were rubbish
Jack Aubrey
Roar Guru
Well, where there is life there is hope for the Dragons. Down 12-0 early in this one, and down by 12 again early in the second half, they have fought back to win 22-20 in a wild and windy Wollongong tonight. The Dragons were always a chance going into the second half. The Raiders led 14-6, but given they had just enjoyed the advantage a strong wind at their back, it didn't look like they had done enough with it. Ben Hunt didn't waste time in the second half, a booming 40/20 in the first set showing that the Dragons were well in the game. They would take a shot at goal just a couple of minutes into the second half, to narrow the gap to six. The Raiders would hit back almost immediately, Joseph Tapine crashing across for a soft try, and restoring a comfortable Raiders lead. From there it was all the Dragons. Ben Hunt would come up with the right play at the right time again, running the ball on the last and putting Gerard Beale over in the 51st minute. Corey Norman would have no luck with his tough sideline conversion and the gap would stay at eight. Just a couple of minutes later though, the Dragons would reduce the deficit again. This time it was Tyrell Sloan on the last, with a neat chip and chase. Corey Norman would come through to regather, finding his fullback in support and sending the young debutant over. Again Norman would fail to convert from out wide and the Raiders still held a four point lead, despite it being 3 tries each. Hunt would pull off his second 40/20 of the night, this one even better than his first and give the Dragons the opportunity to take the lead. Jack De Belin and Paul Vaughn would combine to send Corey Norman over and this time he would convert his own try to give the Dragons their first lead of the night in the 70th minute. That's the way it would stay. The Raiders had their opportunities in the dying stages, right until the death when they had back to back penalties out of trouble that they couldn't take to steal the win. The Dragons should be proud of that one. They hung in for the first half and kept things respectable, then rode the conditions and momentum until the finish line. Their forwards were solid, although they have some work to do in defence. Ben Hunt was brilliant, Tyrell Sloan impressive on debut. Corey Norman was an able deputy to Hunt and McCullough had some experienced plays as you would expect. Jack De Belin has performed remarkably well given his time out of the game. After last week they owed their fans this performance. With the last couple of positions in the top 8 so tight, if you are close enough you are good enough. At the moment the Dragons sit in 7th, and it is wins like tonight that keep you there, against an opponent with similar designs on a finals berth. For the Raiders it is far too familiar. A good lead, at a couple of times for no result. I was surprised at how little they kicked early in the first half with the wind at their back, and with Ben Hunt pulling of two 40/20's, Jack Wighton and Josh Hodgson had to identify those opportunities. Jack Wighton hasn't been at his best for much of this season and it has been telling. The Raiders look to be trying hard, but a bit directionless with no clear leader at the moment. Their defence is also incredibly suspect at times. The win against the Broncos last week was the win they needed. This week was about building some momentum and they failed to do that. Since Round 4, the only two wins they have had are against the last placed Broncos and 15th placed Bulldogs. We have a week off for Origin 2 next week and for the Raiders it is the last chance to regroup and find some answers. The Dragons get their first rest of the year and will look to build on this encouraging win. Thanks for joining me tonight.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
I'm completely over it - some of those attacking plays by the Raiders in the last 10 minutes were embarrassing. Sam Williams butchered one good opportunity. For all the cr#p that Hunt and Norman get they won the game for you. In contrast Wighton and Willams were pathetic.
JGK
Roar Guru
It’s what the crowd wants after all.