Match day guide and preview for the 2022 NRL round 21 game between the Canberra Raiders and Penrith Panthers.

Match details

Who: Canberra Raiders vs Penrith Panthers

When: Saturday 6 August 5.30pm

Where: GIO Stadium Canberra

Weather: min 3 max 12, chance of rain 60%, 1 to 2mm

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Head-to-head record: Played 79. Raiders 37 wins. Panthers 41 wins. 1 draw.

Raiders and Panthers team lists

The Raiders have been forced into a change with Xavier Savage ruled out due to an ankle injury. Albert Hopoate has been named at fullback, but will likely play on the wing and Jordan Rapana at fullback. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad has been named to play NSW Cup.

Viliame Kikau has been withdrawn from the side with Chris Smith replacing him in the back row. Charlie Staines is also out of the 17 with Sunia Turuva coming onto the bench. Penrith are without suspended halfback Nathan Cleary, with Jaeman Salmon named as five-eighth. Reserve half Kurt Falls is on the extended bench, while Stephen Crichton returns in the centres.

Season so far and run home

Raiders 9^th | 362 points for | 375 points against | 10 wins & 9 losses | WWWLW

The Raiders have put together three straight wins since their bye and are well and truly in a race for the top eight.

They got the job done against the Titans last week with a 36-24 victory, but it was far from their best performance of the season.

Canberra looked lethal in attack with Jack Wighton and Hudson Young toying with the Titans, however the Raiders defence was opened up several times.

Despite spending ten minutes in the sin bin, Joe Tapine was brilliant once again, while Nick Cotric and Seb Kris both bagged a double.

Even though Penrith are missing their star halves Jarome Luai and Nathan Cleary, this will be the Raiders toughest test on the road home as they play the Dragons (11th – home), Knights (14th – away), Sea Eagles (9th – home) and Tigers (16th – away) after this.

Penrith Panthers 1^st | 530 points for | 236 points against | 17 wins & 2 losses | LWWWW

Despite a shock 34-10 loss to the Eels last week, the Panthers are still sitting pretty on top of the ladder and are deserving premiership favourites.

Penrith looked a bit shaken after the Nathan Cleary send-off early against Parramatta, however it was impressive to see them respond and win the second hafl 6-4.

The next few weeks will be interesting for the club with Cleary suspended for the rest of the regular season, while a knee injury may sideline Jarome Luai until finals as well.

They still have a number of talented players in their side and are actually 5-0 without Cleary in the side this season.

Given they sit three games clear on top of the ladder, it’s hard to see Penrith finishing anywhere other than first. However, they do have somewhat of a tricky run home starting this week before they take on the Storm (4th – away), Rabbitohs (7th away), Warriors (13th – away) and Cowboys (2nd – away).

Players in form

Raiders – Hudson Young

After being dropped earlier in the season, Young has found his best form and is now one of Canberra’s best attacking threats.

The 24-year-old has scored seven tries this season and has become a game-breaker for the Raiders this year, with his match-winning try against the Knights in round 15 the highlight.

He was simply brilliant against the Titans last week, finishing the match with one try, two try assists, five tackle breaks and 118 running metres.

Along with his attacking flair, Young also possesses plenty of mongrel that you love to see in a strong forward. He rarely oversteps the mark, but is often the one getting in the face of the opposition or sticking up for his teammates.

Canberra have lacked some creativity in attack this season and they will need Young to be at his best to crack the number one defence in the NRL.

Panthers – Dylan Edwards

Edwards goes a little bit under the radar given the amount of brilliant fullbacks in the NRL, but his form is as consistently good as just about any number 1 not named James Tedesco.

The 26-year-old lines up for his 100th NRL game this weekend and his enjoying a career-best season.

He gets through a mountain of work for this Panthers side and is first in the NRL for average run metres with 224.3m per game, while Brian To’o is fourth at 191.7m and Taylan May 12th at 160.2m.

That Penrith back three helps them get their sets off to great starts, so the Raiders will need to make sure they aren’t given enough space to cause damage.

Last 5 meetings and GIO Stadium history

• 2022 round 7: Panthers 36 – 6 Raiders at Penrith Stadium
• 2021 round 5: Panthers 30 – 10 Raiders at Penrith Stadium
• 2020 round 13: Panthers 28 – 12 Raiders at Penrith Stadium
• 2019 round 19: Panthers 18 – 30 Raiders at Penrith Stadium
• 2019 round 8: Raiders 30 – 12 Panthers at McDonalds Park, Wagga Wagga

After a dominant win earlier this season, the Panthers have now won three in a row over the Raiders.

Canberra were in the contest for the opening 40 minutes, but had no answers for the relentless Panthers in the second half.

They haven’t played a match in Canberra since 8 June 2018, with five of the last six played in Penrith and one in Wagga Wagga.

The Panthers have won the last two contests at GIO Stadium by margins of one point and four points. Of the last ten matches played at the venue, the ledger is square at 5 wins apiece. Canberra’s biggest win over Penrith at GIO Stadium was a 74-12 belting in 2008.

Pre match predictions

Viking Clapback: Raiders fans to get some revenge on the Penrith crowd who mocked the Viking Clap earlier this year. Raiders by 6.

Cat containment: Raiders to capitalise on a weakened Panthers side by containing their attack to three tries. Raiders by 4. – Denholm Samaras

Have any predictions of your own? Let us know in the comments below.

Other match details

The match will be broadcast live on Fox League channel 502 at 5.30pm and is also available to stream on Kayo. Overseas fans can watch via Watch NRL.

You can listen to the match on Raiders on Mix (Mix106.3 FM), Radio 2CC (1206 AM) and ABC Grandstand (666).

Gates open 12.30pm

NSW Cup – Canberra Raiders v South Sydney Rabbitohs: 12:40pm

Jersey Flegg – Canberra Raiders v South Sydney Rabbitohs: 3pm