St. George Illawarra Dragons
12
Match Complete
Canberra Raiders
10
| 54 |  | J. Fogarty | ||
| 53 |  | H. Young | ||
| Z. Lomax | | 39 | ||
| M. Suli | | 38 | ||
| 29 | | X. Savage | ||
| Z. Lomax |  | 25 | ||
| T. Amone | | 17 |
| 2 | Tries | 2 | ||
| 1 | Conversions | 1 | ||
| 1 | Penalty Goals | 0 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
The St George Illawarra Dragons host the Canberra Raiders in Wollongong this afternoon, with the race for the top eight starting to heat up. Join the Roar for live scores and commentary from 4pm AEST.
The Dragons put together their best half of the season a fortnight ago, running rampant against the Rabbitohs to all but win the game in the first half an hour. The Raiders would wait until the last minute of the game to topple a brave Newcastle side, and keep their top 8 aspirations alive after a much improved month or so of footy.
The Dragons have named the same 17 that got the job done a fortnight ago. They have had a long break over the rep round, 17 days since they defeated the Rabbitohs at the same venue. With minimal international and Origin representation, they should be fresh for this one. The Raiders welcome the return of Jack Wighton, who missed the last start with Covid. He will be eager to push his claims for a Blues jersey in the decider. Charnze Nicholl-Klokstad returns via the bench, bumping James Schiller out of the side.
This match-up used to be one of the all time “hoodoo’s” in Rugby League. The Dragons couldn’t buy a win over the Raiders in a ten year stretch that saw the Dragons win just 1 from 16 games, that is long behind us though. The Raiders have won 4 of the last 5 between the two. The Dragons did win in Wollongong last year, a narrow 22-20 victory in blustery conditions. The Raiders have won 5 games in Wollongong from 10 attempts, managing to jag a draw there too. Their last win in Wollongong came in 2020, a resounding 37-8 effort
Prediction
This is an important one for both clubs. Neither has looked certain of a top eight berth at any point so far, but do look close enough if good enough. It is going to be a late flurry by a few clubs to try and get into the top 8.
The Dragons win over the Rabbitohs was a good one, but South Sydney were terrible. After a slow start to the season, the Raiders haven’t had an off day in a fair while. They haven’t won every game of late, but they have had much more of a competitive spirit than we saw to start the year. They have Jack Wighton back and he will be desperate for a good performance to force his way back into the Blues side for the decider.
It is a toss of a coin this one. But the Raiders have a fairly good record in Wollongong, and I think at their best they have the football to topple the Dragons.
Raiders by 6
Game information
Kick-off: 4:05pm AEST
Venue: WIN Stadium, Wollongong
TV/Stream: Kayo Sports, Foxtel, Nine Network
Odds: Dragons $2.15, Raiders $1.70 – odds via PlayUp
St George Illawarra
1. Cody Ramsey 2. Mathew Feagai 3. Moses Suli 4. Zac Lomax 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Talatau Amone 7. Ben Hunt 8. Jack de Belin 9. Andrew McCullough 10. Blake Lawrie 11. Jack Bird 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Tariq Sims 14. Moses Mbye 15. Francis Molo 16. Aaron Woods 17. Michael Molo 18. Josh Kerr 19. Tautau Moga 20. Jayden Sullivan 21. Jaiyden Hunt 22. Billy Burns
Canberra Raiders
1. Xavier Savage 2. Nick Cotric 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Jack Wighton 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papalii 9. Zac Woolford 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Adam Elliott 14. Tom Starling 15. Ryan Sutton 16. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 17. Corey Horsburgh 18. Matt Frawley 19. Corey Harawira-Naera 20. Trey Mooney 21. Semi Valemei 22. Adrian Trevilyan
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
:thumbup: hence my comment. Don't fancy facing a hungry and desperate Roosters.
Redcap
Roar Guru
We've got 'em at Gosford in 2 weeks time, funnily enough.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
That'll last just 2 weeks
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Maybe not if he follows Robbo's script... So far it seems the chook coach might be escaping a fine... for unknown defined reasons...
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
The roster mismanagement at the Raiders is getting chronic. Whitehead can barely play for 30 minutes but is signed for two more years and Croker should have been retired at the end of 2021 but still has nother year to run in 2023. How is that for poor cap management. Jarrod played one game in 2022 - not much return for 600K. And I don't want to hear about bad luck. He is a medical basket case. As is Hodgson who played 10 minutes and then gone for the season. 800K down the drain. Fogarty misses 12 or so games and has yet to show why he was purchased. Stuart is responsible for a lot of this rewarding 'good blokes' who are providing next to sweet bugger all. If it was a business the club should have ceased trading and the stock exchange suspended any share transactions. And if supporters were shareholders we'd be demanding the resignation of the CEO, coach and board. The Rabbitohs are up and down like a yo yo. Horrible one week and then not bad the next. Impossible to predict. The Eels are similar. I did the old ladder predictor and have the Rabbitohs just missing the 8 along with the Dragons and Raiders. And the Broncos and Roosters just squeaking in to 7 and 8. It only takes a couple of upsets to change all that but.
steveng
Roar Rookie
They will never get rid of Jack just like Stuart. Croker is about to retire so he will be gone this year. Like you I cant see them making the 8 as you said. Im a bit more optemistic with the Bunnies just :laughing:
JennyFromPenny
Guest
Yet there still shows as the Roosters and Storm game a couple of years back, where scores were tied, Friend pushes the tackled Storm player back down to the ground, (never been a clearer ruck infringement so rules say it should have been 6-more), yet the penalty was blown.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
True - certainly doesn't help to get 6 again with 5 seconds to go - it seriously needs to be looked at - defensive teams will simply resort to these tactics knowing they are not going to get penalised
JennyFromPenny
Guest
It's been the big problem with the 6-again rule since day 1. No allowance to choose a penalty over 6 more. Here, the restart bell rang, and then two seconds later, the siren. In 1908 to 2019, it would have been two points in front of goal. Why that is not the case since, is because of this fundamental change to the rules.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Had a look at the player stats and saw that Jack had 6 errors for the game. That is diabolical. The rest of the Raiders had 7 between the 16 of them. The bloke has a crack but he is not a 5/8. He would make a very good centre. But he is not a 5/8. And he is commanding a lot of coin for a centre. If you look at the games over 2022 Frawley has a much better winning record than Jack and he is really only a back up 5/8. And I'm not sure that Fogarty is justifying his selection. Schneider might be worth looking at again. The Raiders recruitment and retention staff need to look at what they do with Whitehead and Croker. Personally I'd be looking at getting rid of both of them. That's probably around $1.2 million. And whether Wighton's performances at 5/8 justify the cash he is getting @ $800,000 plus.
andrew
Roar Rookie
Err, yeah right :laughing:
steveng
Roar Rookie
Yes Geoff, I really feel for you and all Raiders fans, the dropped balls and dumb decisions was very ordinary especially in the 2nd half as the 1s half they had an excuse.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Well except it wasn't a penalty today. Let's check again tomorrow
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Oh when the Saints Don't mark up square
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
:laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Will it be the new bunker?
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Dufty at 7 for Qld.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Nostradamus!
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
I agreed until it was pointed out that it would be 6 again and not a penalty. These new rulings make the game more complicated imo. unlucky mate but you get a shot at the Roosters to stay in,.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
I think that could be season over for the Raiders. Yet another bog average year from a bog average team. 10th looking likely. Jack looked as though he had a stinker of a game. How can you not kick into touch with the game on the line. Hopeless. And how Ricky keeps his job is simply ridiculous. Feel for guys like Jordan Rapana and Joe Tapine who try their guts out every week. They don't deserve what the rest of them dish up.