Canberra Raiders V Wests Tigers
Campbelltown Stadium
Saturday June 28, 5:30pm
Tickets: Click here
TV coverage: Fox Sports live
ABC radio
The Canberra Raiders looked good in the opening stages of their Round 15 clash with the Canterbury Bulldogs at Canberrra Stadium. Enthusiastic defence and some good line breaks in attack. But it did not last. A critical turning point was a decision from the sideline to go for a penalty goal, rather than keep the pressure up in the red zone. It signaled that the Raiders coaches were unsure the team could convert the chance into four points. Once the Bulldogs started to post points, confidence fell, and it was back to the same old, same old for the final 60 minutes of the match. Coach Ricky Stuart says the team is trying hard, and they are, but results are what count in professional football.
In Round 16, the Raiders make their shortest possible road trip, to Campbelltown Stadium, to meet the Wests Tigers. The Tigers are ninth on the ladder, the Raiders 14th. Canberra has a LWLLL record in their last five matches, the Wests Tigers a LWLWL form line.
The Raiders don't have a good record against the Wests Tigers franchise, winning just 10 of 28 matches since the merger of Balmain and Wests in 2000 - and have won just one of the last 10 clashes. The good news is that the old nemesis, Benji Marshall, is no longer a Tiger. The other good news is that one win in the last 10 was at Campbelltown - in 2012.
The Raiders record at Campbelltown is also not too bad: winning seven of their 18 matches at the ground, with one draw. The most famous of those games is the golden point 19-18 victory in 2006 - with Todd Carney kicking a field goal and the commentators, including one Wayne Pearce, shouting "The Raiders have won - but they don't deserve it!"
Canberra is strengthened by the return of Paul Vaughan from suspension on the bench. Fullback Anthony Milford will start the match after spending much of the Bulldogs clash on the interchange bench. Reece Robinson has again been dropped from the squad, after a late reprieve against the Dogs. Brenko Lee has been retained on the wing, after being given his NRL debut last weekend.
This is the first clash between the Raiders and Tigers since James Tedesco backflipped on a deal to join Canberra in 2015. It's doubtful it will play much part once the players run on the field, however. The Raiders are $4.00 outsiders in this match, West Tigers $1.25 favourites. The Raiders have been given 10.5 points start.
Our tip: It's hard to go past a 1-12 Wests Tigers win in this one... but again, the heart is hoping for a Green Machine victory on the road!
Canberra Raiders
1. Anthony Milford 2. Matthew Allwood 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Jack Wighton 5. Brenko Lee 6. Terry Campese 7. Josh McCrone 8. David Shillington 9. Glen Buttriss 10. Brett White 11. Joel Edwards 12. Jarrad Kennedy 13. Shaun Fensom
14. Kyle O'Donnell 15. Paul Vaughan 16. Dane Tilse 17. Shannon Boyd
Wests Tigers
1. James Tedesco 2. David Nofoaluma 3. Tim Simona 4. Chris Lawrence 5. Pat Richards 6. Braith Anasta 7. Luke Brooks 8. Aaron Woods 9. Robbie Farah 10. Keith Galloway 11. Curtis Sironen 12. Bodene Thompson 13. Adam Blair
14. Sauaso Sue 15. Martin Taupau 16. Blake Austin 17. Ava Seumanufagai
Officials
Referees: Matt Cecchin, Gavin Reynolds
Touch judges: Paul Holland, Dave Ryan
Video Referees: Steve Clark, Luke Phillips
Official Match Hashtags: #NRLCANCBY #NRL #WeareRaiders
The Greenhouse Hashtags: #COYR2014 #WearGreen2014 #GreenNation #GreenMachine
