Canberra Raiders V Gold Coast Titans
Saturday 3 April 7:45pm
Kogarah Jubilee Stadium
Gates open: 5:00pm
Cronulla Sharks V North Queensland Cowboys: 5:15pm
Tickets: Click here
TV coverage: Fox League Channel 502
Radio: ABC, Mix 106.3, 2CC
Weather: Mostly sunny. Mostly sunny. Patchy fog in the early morning, mainly in the west. Light winds becoming north to northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h in the evening. Chance of any rain: 0 per cent. Min 16 Max 27
After a heart breaking, controversial loss to the Warriors, the Raiders head to the Kogarah in Round 4 for a meeting with the Titans. The match has been shifted from Robina to Jubilee Stadium, given the COVID situation in south east Queensland. The Titans temporarily relocated to Sydney on Wednesday. The Raiders were going to fly to the Gold Coast on Thursday and have their captain's run in Queensland. However, those plans have now changed.
Last round: 2021 Round 3. New Zealand Warriors 34 - Canberra Raiders 31. It was a narrow loss for a brave, courageous Canberra Raiders team. The Raiders lost Joe Tapine after 10 minutes to an ankle injury. They lost Ryan James and Sebastian Kris a few minutes later, after they clashed heads while attempting a tackle. Before 15 minutes had elapsed, the Raiders were down to just 14 men. The Raiders went to a 31-10 early in the second half, before the Warriors came back against an exhausted Green Machine. And the ultimate difference between the teams was a cruel one - a Warriors try scored from a blatant forward pass, with the referee, Henry Perenara, right there to see it.
More on Round 3: As I saw it
Team news: Joe Tapine (ankle ligaments) and Curtis Scott (ribs) are unavailable for this match, but hope to return in a week or two. Tapine is replaced at lock by Ryan Sutton, while Sebastian Kris replaces Scott. Hudson Young (knee) returns to the side in the second row. Dunamis Lui has been named at starting prop, after playing in NSW Cup last week. Ricky Stuart confirmed on Friday that Young, James and Kris will be fit to play.
The Titans team is unchanged from the one that lined up against the Cowboys. Centre Brian Kelly (hand) has been named on the reserves list, with Sam Stone dropping out.
Late changes: The Raiders omitted Caleb Aekins and Emre Guler from their squad on Friday evening, leaving Sam Williams and Semi Valemei on the reserves list. The Titans cut Herman Ese'ese and Sam McIntyre.
History: Canberra has won 13 of 25 games against the Gold Coast Titans - and 28 of 42 games played against all incarnations of the Gold Coast. The Raiders have won seven of the past 10 matches against the Titans - and are now on a four game winning streak against the Queensland outfit. The Raiders opened the 2020 season with a 24-6 win over the Titans at Canberra Stadium. They followed that up with a 36-16 win in Round 15 on the Gold Coast. The Raiders and Titans have never played before at Kogarah.
2020 Round 15 Canberra Raiders V Gold Coast Titans
2020 Round 1 Canberra Raiders V Gold Coast Titans
Form: Raiders: WLWWL
Titans: WWLWW
The Warriors have had a 2 and 1 start to 2021, most recently posting back to back wins over the Broncos and Cowboys. Their 44-8 win against North Queensland was their biggest ever victory. They also won the last five games of the 2020 season - but finished just outside the top eight.
Betting: The Raiders are $1.60 favourites, while the Titans are paying $2.35. The Titans have 4.5 points start in the line betting. The Titans odds have shortened since the market opened.
Stat attack:
2021 Season record: Raiders 2 and 1 (6th, +17)
Titans 2 and 1 (4th, +35)
Attack: Raiders 24 points and 4 tries scored per match, ranked 4th on tries scored
Titans 26 points and 4 tries scored per match, ranked equal 2nd on tries scored
Defence: Raiders 19 points and 3 tries conceded per match, ranked equal 9th on tries conceded
Titans 14 points and 3 tries conceded per match, ranked equal 4th on tries conceded
Possession: Raiders 48 per cent, Titans 51 per cent
Completion rate: Raiders 76 per cent, Titans 74 per cent
Running: Raiders 1569 running metres from 172 runs (14 dummy half runs), 138 kick return metres, 633 post contact metres per match
Titans 1765 running metres from 185 runs (12 dummy half runs), 163 kick return metres, 548 post contact metres per match
Tackle breaks: Raiders 36, Titans 32 per match
Line breaks: Raiders 5, Titans 7 per match
Try assists: Raiders 3, Titans 3 per match
Line break assists: Raiders 3, Titans 4 per match
Offloads: Raiders 5, Titans 12 per match
Kicking: Raiders 587 kicking metres from 20 kicks per match
Titans 487 kicking metres from 21 kicks per match
Tackling: Raiders 332 made, 27 missed, 20 ineffective per match, 88 per cent tackle efficiency
Titans 324 made, 26 missed, 19 ineffective per match, 88 per cent tackle efficiency
Running metres conceded: Raiders 1442, Titans 1416
Errors: Raiders 12, Titans 14 per match
Penalties conceded: Raiders 4, Titans 4 per match
Penalties awarded: Raiders 4, Titans 4 per match
Set re-starts conceded: Raiders 5, Titans 2 per match
Set re-starts awarded: Raiders 3, Titans 4 per match
Key match-ups:
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Alexander Brimson AJ Brimson suffered a fractured back at the NRL Nines in Perth at the start of 2020 - and his return in Round 12 was a signficant reason for the Titans' improved performances at the back end of the season. He's started 2021 just where he left off. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad is a very strong running fullback, but Brimson probably has the advantage in ball playing. On balance, in 2021, the numbers marginally stack up in favour of CNK.
George Williams and Jamal Fogarty This match-up should probably pit Jamal Fogarty up against Josh Papalii. Half against prop. In case anyone had forgotten, Josh Papalii's 2020 tackle of the year now features in the NRL's 2021 ad campaign - showing how the impossible happens in rugby league. But Fogarty is actually facing Raiders' half George Williams. The combinations between Josh Hodgson and his halves are still developing - and that has meant that Williams has yet to consistently stamp his mark through games. But this "skin" definitely goes to Williams for mine.
Josh Hodgson and Mitch Rein
For a long time, Mitch Rein was a thorn in the Canberra Raiders' side - back when he was playing for the Dragons. He's not on contract at the Titans beyond this season, and there is talk of the Gold Coast targeting the Storm's Brandon Smith. The 30 year old has struggled at times at the Titans, but the 30 year old wants to keep playing.
"There’s no point me worrying about that stuff I can’t control," he says. "It is what it is. We’ll see how I go. No one is going to re-sign me unless I’m playing well, so I’ve got to do that first."
And he has played well in the opening rounds of 2021. He's got some pretty good numbers this year, probably better than Josh Hodgson. But Hodgson is one of the best rugby league hookers in the world - and Mitch Rein is well down that list. I'm just hoping Rein doesn't produce one of those games where he makes the Raiders pay.
David Fifita and Hudson Young David Fifita is the Titan's million dollar man. $1.2 million per season to be precise. That's what it took to entice him to leave the Brisbane Broncos and head to the Gold Coast in 2021. The 21 year old is one of the most talked about young players in the NRL, not just because of the big impact he makes on field - but also because he has been in a bit of trouble off the field. Fifita is big and very dangerous in attack on the edge. Hudson Young was rested last week, after he had a knee problem late in the match against the Sharks. But it looks like he will be fit to play on Saturday. Young will have his hands full containing Fifita. Young's contract probably pales in comparison to Fifita, but his 2021 statistics do not - and Young probably has the better defence. This should be a great contest.
Our tip: Before the season commenced, most commentators were saying that the Raiders had an "easy" draw in the opening month of the season. Of course, nothing is easy in the NRL. They've had tough matches against the Sharks and Warriors - and this will be another tough game.
The Titans have lost their home ground advantage, but they are in good form. Their attack really clicked last weekend. Meanwhile, the Raiders have been disrupted by injury. However, I think the Gold Coast will find Canberra a much more difficult assignment than the Warriors, Broncos and Cowboys - the teams they have met so far this year. Raiders by six.
What they're saying:
Jarrod Croker on the loss to the Warriors: "We can build off that. We won't lose any confidence. I know we won't lose any admirers from our fans. We're disappointed as well, but there's a lot of positives to take out of the loss. It's deflating at first, but looking back on it I think we can certainly build on it."
Canberra Raiders
1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
2. Bailey Simonsson
3. Jarrod Croker
4. Sebastian Kris
5. Jordan Rapana
6. Jack Wighton
7. George Williams
8. Josh Papalii
9. Josh Hodgson
10. Dunamis Lui
11. Hudson Young
12. Elliott Whitehead
13. Ryan Sutton
14. Tom Starling
15. Siliva Havili
16. Sia Soliola
17. Ryan James
18. Sam Williams
19. Semi Valemei
Injury/Suspension
Joe Tapine, Ankle ligaments (Rd 5-6)
Curtis Scott, Ribs, (Rd 5-6)
Harley Smith-Shields, Biceps tendon (Rd 20-22)
Gold Coast Titans
1. Alexander Brimson
2. Anthony Don
3. Phillip Sami
4. Patrick Herbert
5. Corey Thompson
6. Tanah Boyd
7. Jamal Fogarty
8. Jarrod Wallace
9. Mitch Rein
10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui
11. Kevin Proctor
12. David Fifita
13. Tyrone Peachey
14. Moeaki Fotuaika
15. Sam Lisone
16. Jaimin Jolliffe
17. Erin Clark
18. Beau Fermor
21. Brian Kelly
Injury/Suspension
Brian Kelly, Hand (Rd 5)
Ash Taylor, Hand (Rd 6)
Officials
Referee: Adam Gee
Touch judges: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski, Michael Wise
Video referee: Steve Chiddy
NRL teams: Click here
NSW Cup teams: Click here
Junior Representatives teams: Click here
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