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
6th Position
Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra
Team News
Raiders: Owen Pattie is set to start at hooker for the first time this year in the only change to Ricky Stuart's squad on game day. Tom Starling reverts to the interchange as a result. Back-rower Jordan Uta makes his NRL debut off the bench but young playmaker Coby Black dropped out of the extended squad in Thursday's 90-minute update. Xavier Savage makes his return from an ankle injury, while Zac Hosking is back after missing Rounds 9 and 10 with concussion. The versatile Daine Laurie has been named at five-eighth with Ethan Strange in Blues camp.
Dolphins: 18-year-old centre Brian Pouniu comes into the side for his NRL debut after star centre Herbie Farnworth was ruled out due to hamstring tightness. John Fineanganofo comes on to the six-man bench as a result. "Unfortunately Herbie has been a little bit tight through the hamstring through the week... just a smart decision not to play him. We'd love to have him out there but if we throw him out there and then miss him for six or eight weeks that will hurt us more than one game," coach Kristian Woolf said on Wednesday. Brad Schneider starts at five-eighth for the third time this season with Kodi Nikorima nursing a hamstring injury. Trai Fuller takes over at fullback in his third NRL game of the season with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow in Maroons camp. Francis Molo has recovered from an ankle injury and slots into the front row with Thomas Flegler also on Origin duty.
Match: Raiders v Dolphins
Round 12 -
home Team
Raiders
away Team
Dolphins
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 4 Matthew TimokoCentre for Dolphins is number 3 Jack Bostock
-
Centre for Raiders is number 17 Jed StuartCentre for Dolphins is number 18 Brian Pouniu
-
Winger for Raiders is number 5 Xavier SavageWinger for Dolphins is number 5 Tevita Naufahu
-
Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Daine LaurieFive-Eighth for Dolphins is number 6 Bradley Schneider
-
Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Ethan SandersHalfback for Dolphins is number 7 Isaiya Katoa
Forwards
-
Prop for Raiders is number 8 Corey HorsburghProp for Dolphins is number 8 Felise Kaufusi
-
Hooker for Raiders is number 14 Owen PattieHooker for Dolphins is number 9 Jeremy Marshall-King
-
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
-
Interchange for Raiders is number 9 Tom StarlingInterchange for Dolphins is number 14 Kurt Donoghoe
-
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 18 Chevy StewartInterchange for Dolphins is number 17 Oryn Keeley
Reserves
-
Reserve for Raiders is number 19 Jake ClydsdaleReserve for Dolphins is number 19 Lewis Symonds
-
Reserve for Raiders is number 20 Coby BlackReserve for Dolphins is number 20 John Fineanganofo
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.
