2023 Rd 21 v Warriors: Teams and Previews *Teams p1*

[The Greenhouse]

2023 Rd 21 v Warriors: Teams and Previews



Canberra Raiders v New Zealand Warriors
Friday 21 July, 6:00pm (8:00pm local)
Mt Smart Stadium
Tickets: Click here
TV coverage: Fox League Channel 502, Kayo
Radio: ABC, Mix 106.3, 2CC

The Canberra Raiders have a bye in Round 20, and then head to Auckland, New Zealand for a clash with the Warriors. Who would you like to see line up in green in this match? Name your own team, and then see how close you were when the official teams are named on the Tuesday before the match. We will have the official squads in the first post of this thread, once they are announced.

OFFICIAL SQUADS

Canberra Raiders

1. Sebastian Kris
2. Albert Hopoate
3. Jarrod Croker (c)
4. Matt Timoko
5. Jordan Rapana
6. Jack Wighton
7. Jamal Fogarty
8. Josh Papalii
9. Zac Woolford
10. Joe Tapine
11. Hudson Young
12. Elliott Whitehead (c)
13. Corey Horsburgh

14. Tom Starling
15. Emre Guler
16. Pasami Saulo
17. Ata Mariota

18. Matt Frawley
19. Nick Cotric
20. Trey Mooney
21. Hohepa Puru
22. Ethan Strange

Injury/Suspension
James Schiller, Quad (Round 22)
Xavier Savage, Hamstring ((Round 26)
Corey Harawira-Naera, Seizure (Indefinite)
Elijah Anderson, Patella tendon (Season)
Jordan Martin, ACL (Season)
Danny Levi, Jaw (Likely season)

New Zealand Warriors

1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
3. Rocco Berry
4. Adam Pompey
5. Marcelo Montoya
6. Luke Metcalf
7. Shaun Johnson
8. Addin Fonua-Blake
9. Wayde Egan
10. Bunty Afoa
11. Jackson Ford
12. Marata Niukore
13. Tohu Harris

14. Dylan Walker
15. Mitchell Barnett
16. Tom Ale
17. Freddy Lussick

18. Bayley Sironen
20. Josh Curran
21. Ronald Volkman
22. Taine Tuaupiki
23. Viliami Vailea

Injury/Suspension
Edward Kosi, Knee (Round 26)
Ali Leiataua, Hamstring (Indefinite)
Te Maire Martin, Leg (Indefinite)
Jazz Tevaga, Calf (Indefinite)
Valingi Kepu, Foot (Season)

Officials

Referee: Todd Smith
Touch judges: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski, Drew Oultram
Video referee: Matt Noyen

Match Hashtags: #NRL #WeareRaiders #NRLWarriorsRaiders

NRL teams: Click here
NRLW teams: Click here
NSW Cup teams: Click here


Plus follow us on Twitter: @TheGHRaiders and Instagram: @TheGHRaiders

[The Nickman]

Same team that beat the bulldogs!

[radicalraider]

Cotric in for hoppa

[Greenev]

Warriors 13+

1. Kris
2. Cotric
3. Wighton
4. Timoko
5. Rapana
6. Frawley

Mooney has to be in the squad again

[The Ang]

Mariota and Mooney>Guler and Saulo

I just want CHN back

[Billy Walker]

#304

[thevikingclap on ig]

The team I’m picking
1. Kris
2. Hopoate
3. Croker
4. Timoko
5. Rapana
6. Wighton
7. Fog
8. Papa
9. Woolford
10. Tapine
11. Young
12. Whitehead
13. Horsburgh
14. Frawley (Woolford can play 80)
15. Mariota
16. Mooney
17. CHN

[radicalraider]

1. Kris
2. Cotric
3. Wighton
4. Timoko
5. Rapana
If Ricky has the guts.

[Crusader]

I think Morkos is due

[Billy Walker]

I think Morkos is due

100%

Sadly won’t happen though

[RedRaider]

On what I watched against the Dragons I reckon Sticky will have them do rehab in the coming week and little else. We don't play again until next Friday week due to the Round 20 bye. Maybe a light training run next weekend but nothing too strenuous for mine. Then see who is available for Round 21. Hopefully Papa will be in the mix if his hamstring is ok. Looking to see if Trevilyan is selected in any grade for Round 21 too.

[Ilanraiders]

No Croker please!!

[President Clinton]

I think Stuart realised we aren’t going to trouble the good sides without tinkering with the lineup. I don’t think Frawley in the team is the right call though. Unless he just had Wighton in the pack because we were thin in the forwards. That’s what Cronk alluded to in the post match discussion.

[BadnMean]

I think Morkos is due

I've only seen a couple of reggies games this year and he's been tearing it up in both.

Anyone know if he can play either side? He usually lines up on the right...

[radicalraider]

2nd option.
1. Hoppa
2. Cotric
3. Kris
4. Timoko
5. Rapana
6. Wighton

[BadnMean]

I think Stuart realised we aren’t going to trouble the good sides without tinkering with the lineup. I don’t think Frawley in the team is the right call though. Unless he just had Wighton in the pack because we were thin in the forwards. That’s what Cronk alluded to in the post match discussion.

Ricky seemed to support the "just thin in the forwards" idea in the post match pressure. Said something along the lines of "I had to save (or scrape) a middle tonight and Jack did well there first half..."

I don't think Frawley is to blame for the left edge debacle. He's not as good a defender there as Jack - but that's true of almost every other half in the comp. Frawley can do a basic job in defence. But not when Croker gets an absolute bath and when the winger is also slow. We've seen similar things happen to that edge without Frawley there. Manly game for instance.

Interesting to see what Ricky comes up with after the bye.

Cotric racked up some huge numbers in reggies- 2 line breaks, 230m, 8 tackle breaks, quickest ptb in the match. Cotric at his best > Hoppa. But it's been a while since he's played at his best.

Morkos was very good too apparently.

Most likely gives the left edge a shot at redemption. In round 21.

[greeneyed]

I think Stuart realised we aren’t going to trouble the good sides without tinkering with the lineup. I don’t think Frawley in the team is the right call though. Unless he just had Wighton in the pack because we were thin in the forwards. That’s what Cronk alluded to in the post match discussion.

Ricky seemed to support the "just thin in the forwards" idea in the post match pressure. Said something along the lines of "I had to save (or scrape) a middle tonight and Jack did well there first half..."

I don't think Frawley is to blame for the left edge debacle. He's not as good a defender there as Jack - but that's true of almost every other half in the comp. Frawley can do a basic job in defence. But not when Croker gets an absolute bath and when the winger is also slow. We've seen similar things happen to that edge without Frawley there. Manly game for instance.

Interesting to see what Ricky comes up with after the bye.

Cotric racked up some huge numbers in reggies- 2 line breaks, 230m, 8 tackle breaks, quickest ptb in the match. Cotric at his best > Hoppa. But it's been a while since he's played at his best.

Morkos was very good too apparently.

Most likely gives the left edge a shot at redemption. In round 21.

He said it before the game on Channel 9 that he switched Wighton to the middle because he didn’t want too many young players in the middle.

But that would have been better than what transpired.

[President Clinton]

I really like Morkos. Tend to think Kris and Timoko are easily our best centre pairing, but it doesn’t seem likely Savage is going to play fullback. Chevy isn’t ready yet either.

Maybe it’s Morkos and Cotric in for Hoppa and Croker, otherwise come finals they’ll be an obvious weak link.

[Hong Kong Raider]

Bring in Morkos, bring in Cotric, bring in Savage, bring in Chevy Stewart, bring in **** anyone that can **** actually make a tackle. There is absolutely no way that Croker is a first grade standard footballer anymore. The team nearly lost the Dragons game due to him. And he offers absolutely nothing in attack. In fact also is a negative gain as he gets dragged over the sideline. It was an embarrassing Steve Mavin type level performance. What a liability. I felt sorry for the rest of the team waiting behind the posts after yet another Croker error led try.

[Raiders666]

This is a huge game if we want to finish top 4

[BadnMean]

He said it before the game on Channel 9 that he switched Wighton to the middle because he didn’t want too many young players in the middle.

But that would have been better than what transpired.

Ah ok, thanks for that. Reasonable enough thinking behind it. I've been interested in seeing how Jack goes at lock for a while. Centre is another option but realistically back to #6 next match.

[BadnMean]

This is a huge game if we want to finish top 4

With the Warriors only one win behind us and a better differential this actually turns into a 9pt game for us.

[Raiders666]

This is a huge game if we want to finish top 4

With the Warriors only one win behind us and a better differential this actually turns into a 9pt game for us.

I will take your word for it

[Canberra Milk]

I'm not convinced Morkos won't be picked. I think it's much more likely to be Cotric, but I wouldn't rule out Morkos

Or Sticky might just stick solid, instead just swapping wingers again. Either way I can't see him running out with a Croker/Hoppa left side again. He seemed too pissed to just let it slide

[thevikingclap on ig]

Just watched the cup highlights. After Savages injury Nick Cotric moved to fullback with Morkos on the right wing. Danny Levi was also good out of dummy half. Morkos’ two tries on the right were very good and no doubt he’ll be nearing a debut this season or next.

Cotric will be recalled and Savage will return when he’s fit. Rapana will play left wing for the rest of the season with Cotric on the right.

[gangrenous]

This is a huge game if we want to finish top 4

With the Warriors only one win behind us and a better differential this actually turns into a 9pt game for us.

Precisely, arguably an 11.5 point game!

[Botman]

I'm not convinced Morkos won't be picked. I think it's much more likely to be Cotric, but I wouldn't rule out Morkos

Or Sticky might just stick solid, instead just swapping wingers again. Either way I can't see him running out with a Croker/Hoppa left side again. He seemed too pissed to just let it slide

Frawley will pay the price for that I think
Stuart will have Hors and probably Papalii back so he’ll have his middle forward minutes and be able to leave Jack out there to look after Croker and Hoppa

But he was very pissed so a Cotric for Hoppa switch wont shock me

[BadnMean]

Just watched the cup highlights. After Savages injury Nick Cotric moved to fullback with Morkos on the right wing. Danny Levi was also good out of dummy half. Morkos’ two tries on the right were very good and no doubt he’ll be nearing a debut this season or next.

Cotric will be recalled and Savage will return when he’s fit. Rapana will play left wing for the rest of the season with Cotric on the right.

Why swap Cotric and Rapa when they both played their best footy vice versa to your suggestion?

I'd go as far as to say Rapa was clearly unsuited to the left- kept botching corner tries by trying to finish with his right hand instead of his left (worse angles, ball closer to defenders, can't block defender from ball, can't brace against ground without risk of going out).

[The Ang]

Kris
Cotric
Morkos
Timoko
Raps
Jack
Jamal
Paps
Woolford
Taps
Young
Whitehead-played well last night
Red

Starling
Guler
Mooney-showed spark
Mariota-love this kid

[Ultima]

OK so Hoppa has one off game, on the outside of possibly the worst defensive performance from Croker we have ever seen and equally bad from Frawley, and half of you want to swap him for Cotric who has shown NOTHING all year...

Hoppa should be back out there, Cotric was WORSE in all his starting appearances this year.

[zim]

1. Sebastian Kris
2. Jordan Rapana
3. Jack Wighton
4. Matthew Timoko
5. Nick Cotric
6. Matt Frawley
7. Jamal Fogarty
8. Joseph Tapine
9. Zac Woolford
10. Ata Mariota
11. Hudson Young
12. Elliot Whitehead
13. Corey Horsburgh

14. Brad Morkos
15. Hohepa Puru
16. Josh Papali'i
17. Emre Guler

At some point Frawley to the bench. Wighton to 5/8 and Morkos to centre.
Puru can rotate Woolford/Horsburgh as needed.

If Savage was available this would be much simpler.

[kiwi raider]

CHN any chance of a return? Could do with a versatile edge on the bench

[Crusader]

Hoppa is doing well, cant fault him last night, he just didnt have trust in croker

Watching the Parra/Warriors game, is Metcalf and option to sign?

[greeneyed]

Canberra Raiders face decision time over Jarrod Croker and Nick Cotric

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart was left with plenty to review during the bye week, with a league legend suggesting it might be time to drop stalwart Jarrod Croker. Eighth Immortal Andrew Johns described the Croker-Frawley defensive pairing in Wollongong as "grim" and called for outside-back Nick Cotric to return into the Raiders' starting 13.

"Two or three years ago, Cotric was playing Origin," Johns said. "He has to be in the equation to come in on that left side, because the left-side defence was absolutely terrible.

Read more: https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/ ... /?cs=14329

[greeneyed]

If Andrew Johns doesn’t understand why Nick Cotric isn’t playing first grade, it’s clear he hasn’t been watching this season. And it’s pretty clear he has a poor understanding of what’s going on at Canberra.