If breaking a 12-year losing streak at Canberra Stadium isn’t enough motivation for the Dragons to put in a good effort against the Raiders, then keeping their chances of a top-eight finish this season alive should be added incentive.
The 2010 premiers are sitting equal with the Titans, Knights and Roosters with 16 premiership points, which is four points clear of the eight-placed Wests Tigers. A loss against the Raiders will make the uphill battle towards September a mountainous task for the Red V.
The Dragons' run home to the finals is as tough a draw as anyone could ask, with matches against the top-of-the-table Storm, as well as the Sharks, Rabbitohs, Cowboys and Warriors. Only the Roosters and Eels loom as possible easy matches for the joint venture club.
NRL Daily host John Gibbs is joined in the studio by Eels legend Nathan Hindmarsh as the pair dissects the Dragons' form heading into this do-or-die clash.
“The hoodoo will be broken!” says Gibbsy. “It’s a must-win. Form counts for nothing between these two teams.”
But his confidence isn't high about his own prediction. “If anything they are more even this year than they have been the past 12,” he said. So, will the Dragons break the drought or will the Raiders remain a bogy team for the Red V?
The boys also turn their attention to the Origin decider and consider what forward pack they would rather come up against, if they were taking to the field on Wednesday night.
Did Queensland make the right selection decision with Ben Te’o or have the Blues dodged a coal train-sized bullet? Check out the panels predictions for the most anticipated match of the year.
All this and more in tonight’s edition of NRL Daily, so tune into NRL.com at 7:00pm.
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