Canberra Raiders V Newcastle Knights
Hunter Stadium
Saturday 19 March, 5:00pm Gates open: 12:30pm
Tickets: Click here
TV coverage: Fox Sports live
Radio: ABC, 2CC
The Raiders produced a gutsy, astonishing, against all odds home win over the Roosters in Round 2. Both first choice halves were sitting on the sidelines. For the second week in a row, the Raiders were playing in plus 30 degree heat. Through the match it was clear the players were exhausted. Workhorse Shaun Fensom suffered concussion in the first set of the match and played no further part in the match. Rookie half Lachlan Croker suffered a shoulder injury and left the field in the first half.
With around 15 minutes remaining, the Raiders trailing by six, Joey Leilua was sent to the bin for striking - a retaliatory clip after Dylan Napa copped him flush around the head in a tackle. How the Raiders pulled off a one point, 21-20, victory will remain long in the memory of those who saw it. It was a game the Raiders would have lost last year. They just didn't let it happen.
More on Round 2: As I saw it
2016 Round 2: Canberra Raiders V Sydney Roosters
In Round 3 the Raiders have their first road trip of the season, to meet the Newcastle Knights at Hunter Stadium. The Raiders are without centre Joey Leilua, after he was charged with a dangerous throw and contrary conduct. He's out for two weeks after pleading guilty to the dangerous throw charge. The Raiders are contesting the contrary conduct charge - on the very sound grounds that his 10 minute sin binning for the incident was sufficient punishment. Halves Aidan Sezer and Blake Austin are still on the sidelines. Shaun Fensom and Lachlan Croker have both been cleared for a return after their Round 2 injuries.
Brenko Lee comes into the side for Leilua, while Sam Williams and Lachlan Croker have again been named in the halves by coach Ricky Stuart. Apart from Brenko Lee, there are no changes to the Raiders' team named for Round 2. It will be Edrick Lee's 50th NRL match.
The Newcastle Knights have named an 18-man squad. Pauli Pauli returns from suspension onto an extended bench, while Sione Mata’utia is also named on the bench. David Bhana and Kade Snowden are out due to injury. Mullen will play his 200th NRL game in the match.
Late changes: It won't surprise to see some late changes in the Raiders' halves, given Lachlan Croker's shoulder injury - his shoulder was heavily strapped on Tuesday. There's speculation Josh Hodgson will move to the halves and Kurt Baptiste to starting hooker, with Adam Clydsdale to come onto the bench. For the Knights Dane Gagai will to go to fullback, the Mata'utia brothers will play in the centres and Corey Denniss will debut on the wing. Uate is out injured. Pauli Pauli, named as 18th man, will come onto the bench.
Matt's Match-ups: Click here
History: Canberra has won 25 and lost 18 matches against the Newcastle Knights, drawing one. The Raiders have won five of the last 10 clashes. In 2015, the Raiders won both matches between the sides - with Canberra winning well in what were high scoring affairs. The Raiders have won just eight of 21 matches at Hunter Stadium - but won at both last starts at the venue in 2014 and 2015.
2015 Round 13 Canberra Raiders V Newcastle Knights
2015 Round 18 Canberra Raiders V Newcastle Knights
And, here's some Raiders-Knights history for you... the huge 52-16 win at Newcastle in Round 18, 1994, a night when Brett Mullins scored four of the nine Green Machine tries. It's the most number of points Canberra has scored against the Knights. But it was matched in Round 19, 2010 - a 52-18 win at Canberra Stadium.
1994 Round 18 Canberra Raiders V Newcastle Knights
Form: The Raiders are on an official LWWWW form line in their last five appearances - a five game winning streak if the 2016 trial against the Knights in Orange is included. In contrast the Knights have an official WLLLL form line. The Knights have struggled in the opening rounds, losing 30-12 to the Titans and 48-6 to the Rabbitohs.
Betting: The Raiders are $1.57 favourites in the match; the Knights are paying $2.40. The Knights have 4 points start.
Our tip: The Raiders have had some very tough matches in searing heat in the first two rounds - and it must have taken a toll. On the other hand, the Raiders have been training for just those conditions over the summer and the performance staff at the Raiders are clearly very confident in the fitness of the team.
The other issue is injury and suspension for key players. It's a difficult ask for Sam Williams and Lachlan Croker to cover for Sezer and Austin in the halves. Last weekend, Croker found the step up to the NRL tough going before he went off injured before half time. But he's gaining valuable experience at this stage of his career. And the young halves have hooker Josh Hodgson by their side in organising the team. Hodgson is in stellar form, leading the Dally M count after two rounds.
The Knights will be desperate to bounce back from a disappointing start to the season. And it's often that in this situation, the Raiders become complacent. But if their heads are switched on, Canberra should have what's needed to take the two competition points. Raiders by 10.
What they're saying:
Ricky Stuart on the Round 2 win: "We gave them some constructive criticism today because we didn't play well, and we need to be better than that. All the coaches today were quite critical of our performance, and all our players agreed. There was some tough love today, but our character enabled us to escape a bullet."
Kurt Baptiste on the best start to the season since 2005: "It’s obviously good to get the two wins, but we’re not getting ahead of ourselves. It’s only two games, there’s plenty more games to come. We’ll focus on this weekend and the Knights. They’ll be ready to play – their first home game so they’ll put in a good performance for sure.”
Shaun Fensom cautious about the Knights: "It is their first home game and they haven't started the season well and we have to make sure we go up there and do the job properly."
Edrick Lee on playing his 50th NRL match in Newcastle: "It sure has taken a while, but it's definitely good to get 50 games for one club. There are a lot of people in the squad who can take your position, so it's about performing week in, week out."
Canberra Raiders
1. Jack Wighton 2. Edrick Lee 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Brenko Lee 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Lachlan Croker 7. Sam Williams 8. Shannon Boyd 9. Josh Hodgson 10. Frank Paul Nuuausala 11. Josh Papalii 12. Elliot Whitehead 13. Shaun Fensom
14. Kurt Baptiste 15. Iosia Soliola 16. Paul Vaughan 17. Jeff Lima
Newcastle Knights
1. Jaelen Feeney 2. Nathan Ross 3. Dane Gagai 4. Pat Mata'utia 5. Akuila Uate 6. Jarrod Mullen 7. Trent Hodkinson 8. Sam Mataora 9. Tyler Randell 10. Korbin Sims 11. Jacob Saifiti 12. Robbie Rochow 13. Jeremy Smith
14. Danny Levi 15. Sione Mata'utia 16. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 17. Daniel Saifiti 18. Pauli Pauli
Officials:
Referees: Ashley Klein, Chris Sutton;Sideline Officials: Adam Reid, Rohan Best;Video Referees: Jared Maxwell, Ben Galea, Bernard Sutton
Match Hashtags: #NRL #WeareRaiders #BleedGreen #NRLKnightsRaiders
The Greenhouse Hashtags: #WearGreen2016 #FromAllAngles
Junior representatives teams and discussion: Click here
Holden Cup teams and discussion: Click here
NSW Premiership teams and discussion: Click here
Follow us on Facebook: The Greenhouse Forum and Twitter: @TheGHRaiders
: @RedbullRaiders
