Canberra Raiders V Gold Coast Titans
Robina Stadium
Sunday July 13, 2:00pm
Tickets: Click here
TV coverage: Fox Sports live
ABC radio
Last weekend the Raiders had the bye. The upside: two competition points! The downside: the Raiders are still equal last on the competition ladder.
Did the weekend off give Raiders fans long enough to forget the disappointment of a one point last up loss to the Wests Tigers at Campbelltown? Sadly not. The Raiders toiled hard, yet again, in Round 16, but no cigar. The Wests Tigers had so many injuries in the game that it looked like they might even struggle to put 13 men on the field. Canberra had its own injury concerns, but nothing like the men in black and gold. The Raiders had opportunity after opportunity to seal the game in the second half, but their attack was blunt and never threatened. And when it came to field goal time, Canberra could not organise one, but the Wests Tigers could, courtesy of Braith Anasta. It was a game that should have been won by Canberra, but was not. The Wests Tigers hoodoo struck, yet again. 19-18 the final score.
In Round 18, the Raiders go on the road to the Gold Coast. Canberra does not have a great record against the lastest Gold Coast franchise. The Raiders have won just five of 15 matches against the Titans since the Gold Coast re-entered the competition in 2007; just one of the last five matches. The Raiders have played seven games against the Titans on the Coast, winning just once, in 2012. Of course, it's a lot better story for Canberra if we take into account the record against the previous incarnations of the Gold Coast: the Raiders won 15 of 17 games between 1988 and 1998.
The Titans themselves have been in woeful recent form in 2014, and up until Monday night were on a six game losing streak. They won ugly, very ugly, against South Sydney in their last clash (LLLLW form line, 12th on the ladder). The Raiders have a WLLLL form line (15th on the ladder). Worryingly for Canberra, the Titans employed exactly the same tactics on Monday night that they used against the Raiders earlier in the year at Canberra Stadium. The tactics? Stand off side, lie in the ruck all game. The referees can't penalise every infringement. The Titans would no doubt now be much more confident. They are $1.60 favourites; the Raiders $2.35 outsiders.
Canberra has lost Jack Wighton to a broken thumb, so two game veteran Brenko Lee moves to the centres. Jeremy Hawkins was named for his debut, on the wing, but that's now been prevented by the NRL, due to salary cap issues. Reece Robinson comes into the squad for Hawkins. Sami Sauiluma returns in place of Matt Allwood, after recovering from an eye injury. Coach Ricky Stuart has stuck with an under performing halves combination, while hooker Kurt Baptiste has retained his place on the bench after making his Raiders debut in Round 16. Joel Edwards has been included on an extended bench.
The Titans had three players involved in Origin III: Greg Bird, Nate Myles and Dave Taylor. All were named in an extended squad of 21. But Bird won't play, after he took an early plea on a dangerous lifting tackle charge on Myles in the Origin match. Myles was charged for an elbow to the throat of Bird in Origin III, but can take the field with an early plea. Let's hope Taylor does play, and he brings his handling skills from Origin back to this match. Winger David Mead was was named in the team, but it now appears he is out for three to four weeks with a hamstring. Albert Kelly (calf injury) is also in doubt, but likely to play.
Our tip: Canberra Raiders by 2 in a tough, grinding game. The Raiders luck has to turn soon!
Canberra Raiders
1. Anthony Milford 2. Reece Robinson 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Brenko Lee 5. Sami Sauiluma 6. Terry Campese 7. Josh McCrone 8. David Shillington 9. Glen Buttriss 10. Brett White 11. Josh Papalii 12. Jarrad Kennedy 13. Shaun Fensom
14. Kurt Baptiste 15. Paul Vaughan 16. Dane Tilse 17. Shannon Boyd 18. Joel Edwards
Gold Coast Titans
1. William Zillman 2. Kevin Gordon 3. James Roberts 4. Brad Takairangi 5. David Mead 6. Maurice Blair 7. Daniel Mortimer 8. Luke Bailey 9. Beau Falloon 10. Luke Douglas 11. Greg Bird 12. Mark Minichiello 13. Paul Carter
14. Matt White 15. Dave Taylor 16. Nate Myles 17. Albert Kelly 18. Cody Nelson 19. Mark Ioane 20. Matt Srama 21. Tom Kingston
Officials
Referees: Jared Maxwell, Dave Munro
Touch judges: Adam Reid, Ricky MacFarlane
Video Referees: Bernard Sutton, Steve Folkes
Official Match Hashtags: #NRLGLDCAN #NRL #WeareRaiders
The Greenhouse Hashtags: #COYR2014 #WearGreen2014 #GreenNation #GreenMachine #CanberraRaiders
, can't wait
