Raiders v Wests Tigers: Mariota to start; Trouble in Tigertown
The Raiders are out to continue their late-season resurgence when they host a desperate Wests Tigers on Saturday afternoon.
Ricky Stuart's men have kept their finals hopes alive with three-straight victories and are eager to keep stringing wins together in the run to the finals.
The Raiders have been dealt a blow with Hudson Young rupturing his Achilles last weekend but Ethan Strange remains one of the most dangerous playmakers in the game and Joe Tapine continues to lead from the front.
Canberra will need to be at their best to topple the Tigers, who are also fighting to keep their finals hopes alive.
Benji Marshall's men have struggled in recent weeks but claimed an impressive victory over the Raiders at Leichhardt Oval earlier this season and will look to emulate that performance on Saturday afternoon.
Outgoing five-eighth Jarome Luai has promised to deliver for the club before his departure and his battle with Strange shapes as an entertaining contest between two free-running halves.
Match: Raiders v Wests Tigers
Round 21 -
home Team
Raiders
10th Position
away Team
Wests Tigers
13th Position
Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra
Team News
Raiders: Back-rower Noah Martin suffered a quad strain at training on Thursday afternoon and has come out of the side. His place is taken by Ata Mariota. Englishman Matty Nicholson comes from the bench in his first appearance of 2026 after shoulder surgery. Vena Patuki-Case is the new man on the bench. With Owen Pattie serving a one-game suspension, Tom Starling starts the game at hooker and Jayden Brailey joins the bench. The loss of Hudson Young to a season-ending Achilles injury sees Zac Hosking slide to second row and Morgan Smithies line up at lock.
Wests Tigers: No further game day changes for the Tigers after Adam Doueihi's walkout and Jock Madden injury at training on Thursday. Young gun Javon Andrews will make his NRL debut at halfback in Doueihi's absence. The Tigers were granted an exemption from the NRL to bring Heath Mason onto the six-man bench. Patrick Herbert returns from a shoulder injury in the centres while Sunia Turuva moves from wing to centre. Junior Tupou and Faaletino Tavana are the new wingers.
Match: Raiders v Wests Tigers
Round 21 -
home Team
Raiders
away Team
Wests Tigers
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Kaeo WeekesFullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Jahream Bula
-
Winger for Raiders is number 2 Jed StuartWinger for Wests Tigers is number 2 Junior Tupou
-
Centre for Raiders is number 3 Simi SasagiCentre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Sunia Turuva
-
Centre for Raiders is number 4 Matthew TimokoCentre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Patrick Herbert
-
Winger for Raiders is number 5 Xavier SavageWinger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Faaletino Tavana
-
Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Ethan StrangeFive-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Jarome Luai
-
Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Ethan SandersHalfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Javon Andrews
Forwards
-
Prop for Raiders is number 8 Corey HorsburghProp for Wests Tigers is number 8 Terrell May
-
Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Tom StarlingHooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Apisai Koroisau
-
Prop for Raiders is number 10 Joseph TapineProp for Wests Tigers is number 10 Fonua Pole
-
2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Zac Hosking2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Samuela Fainu
-
2nd Row for Raiders is number 15 Ata Mariota2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Ethan Roberts
-
Lock for Raiders is number 13 Morgan SmithiesLock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Alex Twal
Interchange
-
Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Jayden BraileyInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Jared Haywood
-
Interchange for Raiders is number 16 Josh PapaliiInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Sione Fainu
-
Interchange for Raiders is number 17 Daine LaurieInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Alex Seyfarth
-
Interchange for Raiders is number 18 Matty NicholsonInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Bunty Afoa
-
Reserve for Raiders is number 19 Sebastian KrisReserve for Wests Tigers is number 18 Starford To'a
-
Reserve for Raiders is number 21 Vena Patuki-CaseReserve for Wests Tigers is number 23 Heath Mason
Match Officials
- Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
- Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Raiders have won 10 of their last 12 games against the Tigers.
- Wests Tigers have not won at GIO Stadium since 2018.
- The Raiders have scored 98 points in three consecutive wins.
- The Tigers have not defeated the Raiders twice in a season since 2011.
- The Raiders have won only one of their last five games without Hudson Young.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
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