Raiders v Sharks: Smithies to start; Wilton into second row
After starting the season with wins, both the Raiders and the Sharks have lost their next games and will be itching to return to the winners circle this week.
Canberra claimed a golden point thriller over Manly in Round 1 with an Ethan Sanders field goal before being thoroughly outplayed by the red-hot Warriors in Round 2. Last week, they came close, but could not overcome the tenacious Bulldogs in tough conditions.
The Sharks posted up a big opening round win over the Titans in a pointscoring bonanza, but they too came crashing back to earth in Round 2, with the Panthers suffocating them out of their game in Bathurst.
In Round 3, while things were close early, Cronulla were no match for the Dolphins when they went on their try-scoring run, going down 38-10, despite some fairly even possession and completion rates.
While both teams were regarded at sides to beat this year given their consistent finals appearances in recent seasons and strong showing last year, coaches Ricky Stuart and Craig Fitzgibbon will be hoping to see plenty of improvement this game.
Match: Raiders v Sharks
Round 4 -
home Team
Raiders
14th Position
away Team
Sharks
10th Position
Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Team News
Raiders: With Josh Papalii serving a one-game ban for a careless high tackle Morgan Smithies starts at prop and young back-rower Joe Roddy is added to the bench for what would be his second NRL game. Daine Laurie and Jed Stuart are again the 18 and 19 while Kiwi centre Matt Timoko bides his time in the reserves.
Sharks: Teig Wilton returned from shoulder surgery last week via the bench and now moves into the starting side in place of Briton Nikora, who has suffered a broken nose. The new man on the bench is Braden Uele while Hohepa Puru and Tukupa-Ke Hau Tapuha are also part of the extended squad.
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Kaeo WeekesFullback for Sharks is number 1 William Kennedy
-
Winger for Raiders is number 2 Savelio TamaleWinger for Sharks is number 2 Sione Katoa
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Centre for Raiders is number 3 Simi SasagiCentre for Sharks is number 3 Jesse Ramien
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Centre for Raiders is number 4 Sebastian KrisCentre for Sharks is number 4 KL Iro
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Winger for Raiders is number 5 Xavier SavageWinger for Sharks is number 5 Samuel Stonestreet
-
Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Ethan StrangeFive-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Braydon Trindall
-
Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Ethan SandersHalfback for Sharks is number 7 Nicholas Hynes
Forwards
-
Prop for Raiders is number 8 Morgan SmithiesProp for Sharks is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake
-
Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Tom StarlingHooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke Brailey
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Prop for Raiders is number 10 Joseph TapineProp for Sharks is number 10 Thomas Hazelton
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2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Hudson Young2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Billy Burns
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2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Noah Martin2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Teig Wilton
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Lock for Raiders is number 13 Corey HorsburghLock for Sharks is number 13 Jesse Colquhoun
Interchange
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Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Jayden BraileyInterchange for Sharks is number 14 Siosifa Talakai
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Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Zac HoskingInterchange for Sharks is number 15 Toby Rudolf
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Interchange for Raiders is number 16 Ata MariotaInterchange for Sharks is number 16 Oregon Kaufusi
-
Interchange for Raiders is number 17 Joe RoddyInterchange for Sharks is number 17 Braden Uele
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Interchange for Raiders is number 18 Daine LaurieInterchange for Sharks is number 18 Hohepa Puru
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Interchange for Raiders is number 19 Jed StuartInterchange for Sharks is number 19 Tuku Hau Tapuha
Reserves
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Reserve for Raiders is number 20 Owen PattieReserve for Sharks is number 20 Chris Vea'ila
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Reserve for Raiders is number 21 Matthew TimokoReserve for Sharks is number 21 Jayden Berrell
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Reserve for Raiders is number 22 Chevy StewartReserve for Sharks is number 22 Mawene Hiroti
Raiders Ins
- Chevy Stewart
- Joe Roddy
- Matthew Timoko
- Owen Pattie
Sharks Ins
- Chris Vea'ila
- Hohepa Puru
- Jayden Berrell
- Tuku Hau Tapuha
Raiders Outs
- Josh Papalii
Sharks Ins
- Briton Nikora
Match Officials
- Referee: Grant Atkins
- Touch Judge: Matt Noyen
- Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Raiders have lost their last three games at GIO Stadium.
- The Sharks have won four of their last five games against the Raiders.
- Raiders winger Xavier Savage has scored seven tries in his last eight games at GIO Stadium.
- Sharks winger Sione Katoa has scored five tries in his last six games against the Raiders.
- Raiders five-eighth Ethan Strange will play his 50th NRL game.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
