Match day guide and preview for the 2022 NRL round 25 game between the Canberra Raiders and Wests Tigers.

Match details

• Who: Wests Tigers vs Canberra Raiders
• When: Sunday 4 September 4.05pm
• Where: Leichardt Stadium, Sydney
• Weather: min 12 max 18, chance of rain 90%, 4 to 8mm
• Click here to buy tickets
• Head-to-head record: Played 39. Raiders 20 wins. Tigers 19 wins.

Raiders and Tigers team lists

Nick Cotric returns on the wing for the Raiders which sees Albert Hopoate drop out of the 17.

Tigers’ captain James Tamou returns from suspension for what could be his final game in the NRL, while Luke Garner will line up at centre after recovering from concussion. Ken Maumalo also returns on the wing and Tyrone Peachey is back on the bench.

Current form and finals picture

Raiders 8^th | 468 points for (10th) | 451 points against (7th) | 13 wins & 10 losses | WWWLW

Canberra jumped into the top 8 for the first time since round 12 with a 48-6 thumping over Manly last weekend, making it six wins from their last seven matches since the round 17 bye.

The Raiders have struggled to put the opposition away this season and have usually had to grind out wins, so it would’ve pleased Ricky Stuart to put the game beyond doubt early on.

The big win, coupled with the Broncos falling 53-6 to the Eels, saw the Raiders leapfrog Brisbane into eighth. Both sides are on 28 competition points, but Canberra have a superior points differential by 43 points.

After the Broncos loss to the Dragons on Saturday, the Raiders can only miss the finals if they lose by 54 points or more.

Tigers 16^th | 342 points for (16th) | 623 points against (13th) | 4 wins & 19 losses | LLLLW

The Tigers would need a miracle to avoid the wooden spoon and will be relieved to get the 2022 season over and done with.

They had every chance to beat the Dragons last week but gave up a 10-point half time lead to fall 24-22.

With just 4 wins for the season, Tim Sheens and Benji Marshall have a mountain of work ahead of them to get the Tigers back into the finals.

Last 5 meetings

• 2021 round 1: Raiders 30 – 12 Tigers at GIO Stadium, Canberra
• 2020 round 5: Tigers 6 – 14 Raiders at Campbelltown Sports Stadium, Sydney
• 2019 Round 18: Raiders 20 – 12 Tigers at GIO Stadium
• 2019 Round 13: Tigers 0 – 28 Raiders at Commbank Stadium, Sydney
• 2018 round 22: Raiders 20 – 22 Tigers at GIO Stadium

It’s been a while since these two have met, with Canberra claiming a comfortable 18-point win back in round one last season.

The Raiders have really enjoyed the Tigers in recent years, winning four of the last five and eight of the last nine clashes.

Canberra have also managed to put some big scores on the Tigers in recent times, winning 60-6 and 52-10 in 2016, 46-6 in 2017 and 48-12 in 2018.

Pre match predictions

Tiger Blood: The Raiders to celebrate like Charlie Sheen after booking their spot in the finals. Raiders by 14.

Tiger King: Jordan Rapana to back up his 2016 Leichardt heroics with two tries. Raiders by 18. – 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 Channel Nine and Fox League channel 502 at 4pm 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).