Raiders v Dolphins: Savage eyes return; Trai, Tevita step up
The Dolphins are riding a three-game winning streak but must now navigate the Origin period without stars Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Max Plath, Selwyn Cobbo and Thomas Flegler.
With five-eighth Kodi Nikorima also suffering an injury against the Rabbitohs, coach Kristian Woolf will have to dig deep into his squad to roll out a team that can keep the roll going.
The Raiders, meanwhile, have edge forward Hudson Young and five-eighth Ethan Strange away on NSW Blues duty so they will also be forced to shuffle the deck.
The Green Machine hold a 3-2 advantage in head-to-head clashes although the last meeting between the sides was a lopsided 62-24 win to the Dolphins in Round 27 last year.
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart rested 11 players from that match ahead of his side's first finals match so the form guide may well go out the window as we head into the testing Origin period.
Match: Raiders v Dolphins
Round 12 -
home Team
Raiders
12th Position
away Team
Dolphins
8th Position
Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Team News
Raiders: The versatile Daine Laurie has been named at five-eighth and Ata Mariota starts in the back row with Ethan Strange and Hudson Young in Blues camp. The shoulder injury to Simi Sasagi sees Zac Hosking named in No.12 in his return from concussion. Jordan Uta is set to make his NRL debut from the bench. Flyer Xavier Savage makes an early return from the syndesmosis injury he suffered in Round 5 so Jed Stuart slides to the bench. Young playmaker Coby Black is part of the extended squad as he chases an NRL debut after eight games in NSW Cup this season and 21 games in Qld Cup in 2024-25.
Dolphins: Trai Fuller takes over at fullback and Tevita Naufahu comes in on the wing with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Selwyn Cobbo in camp with the Maroons. Kodi Nikorima (hamstring) is replaced at five-eighth by Bradley Schneider. A new-look front row features Francis Molo and Jeremy Marshall-King filling in for Maroons reps Thomas Flegler and Max Plath while Oryn Keeley joins the bench. Brian Pouniu and Lewis Symonds are the new faces on the extended bench.
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Kaeo WeekesFullback for Dolphins is number 1 Trai Fuller
-
Winger for Raiders is number 2 Savelio TamaleWinger for Dolphins is number 2 Jamayne Isaako
-
Centre for Raiders is number 3 Sebastian KrisCentre for Dolphins is number 3 Jack Bostock
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Centre for Raiders is number 4 Matthew TimokoCentre for Dolphins is number 4 Herbie Farnworth
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Winger for Raiders is number 5 Xavier SavageWinger for Dolphins is number 5 Tevita Naufahu
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Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Daine LaurieFive-Eighth for Dolphins is number 6 Bradley Schneider
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Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Ethan SandersHalfback for Dolphins is number 7 Isaiya Katoa
Forwards
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Prop for Raiders is number 8 Corey HorsburghProp for Dolphins is number 8 Felise Kaufusi
-
Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Tom StarlingHooker for Dolphins is number 9 Jeremy Marshall-King
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Prop for Raiders is number 10 Joseph TapineProp for Dolphins is number 10 Francis Molo
-
2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Ata Mariota2nd Row for Dolphins is number 11 Connelly Lemuelu
-
2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Zac Hosking2nd Row for Dolphins is number 12 Kulikefu Finefeuiaki
-
Lock for Raiders is number 13 Jayden BraileyLock for Dolphins is number 13 Morgan Knowles
Interchange
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Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Owen PattieInterchange for Dolphins is number 14 Kurt Donoghoe
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Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Jordan UtaInterchange for Dolphins is number 15 Ray Stone
-
Interchange for Raiders is number 16 Morgan SmithiesInterchange for Dolphins is number 16 Tom Gilbert
-
Interchange for Raiders is number 17 Jed StuartInterchange for Dolphins is number 17 Oryn Keeley
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Interchange for Raiders is number 18 Chevy StewartInterchange for Dolphins is number 18 Brian Pouniu
-
Interchange for Raiders is number 19 Jake ClydsdaleInterchange for Dolphins is number 19 Lewis Symonds
Reserves
-
Reserve for Raiders is number 20 Coby BlackReserve for Dolphins is number 20 John Fineanganofo
-
Reserve for Raiders is number 21 Vena Patuki-CaseReserve for Dolphins is number 21 LJ Nonu
-
Reserve for Raiders is number 22 Ethan AlaiaReserve for Dolphins is number 22 Patrick Kailahi
Raiders Ins
- Coby Black
- Ethan Alaia
- Jake Clydsdale
- Vena Patuki-Case
- Xavier Savage
- Zac Hosking
Dolphins Ins
- Bradley Schneider
- Brian Pouniu
- Francis Molo
- John Fineanganofo
- Lewis Symonds
- LJ Nonu
- Patrick Kailahi
- Trai Fuller
Raiders Outs
- Ethan Strange
- Hudson Young
- Simi Sasagi
Dolphins Ins
- Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
- Kodi Nikorima
- Max Plath
- Selwyn Cobbo
- Thomas Flegler
Match Officials
- Referee: Todd Smith
- Touch Judge: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
- Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
- Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Raiders have won three of their last four games against the Dolphins.
- The Dolphins have conceded 12 points or less in their last three games.
- Raiders captain Joseph Tapine will play his 100th game at GIO Stadium.
- Dolphins centre Jack Bostock has scored four tries in his last three games.
- Raiders fullback Kaeo Weekes has scored five tries in his last five games.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
