The Raiders will be looking for a much improved performance when they take on the last-placed Tigers in Canberra.
Match details
- Who: Canberra Raiders vs Wests Tigers
- When: Sunday 6 August, 4.05 pm AEST
- Where: GIO Stadium, Canberra
- Weather: Min 2, max 17. Chance of rain 30%
- Click here to buy tickets
- Head-to-head record: Played 41. Raiders 22 wins. Tigers 19 wins.
Raiders and Tigers team lists
| RAIDERS | TIGERS | |
| Jordan Rapana | 1 | Jahream Bula |
| Albert Hopoate | 2 | David Nofoaluma |
| Sebastian Kris | 3 | Starford To’a |
| Matthew Timoko | 4 | Junior Tupou |
| Nick Cotric | 5 | Charlie Staines |
| Jack Wighton | 6 | Daine Laurie |
| Jamal Fogarty | 7 | Luke Brooks |
| Josh Papali’i | 8 | Alex Twal |
| Zac Woolford | 9 | Apisai Koroisau |
| Joe Tapine | 10 | David Klemmer |
| Hudson Young | 11 | Isaiah Papali’i |
| Elliott Whitehead | 12 | John Bateman |
| Corey Horsburgh | 13 | Fonua Pole |
| BENCH | ||
| Adrian Trevilyan | 14 | Jake Simpkin |
| Emre Guler | 15 | Justin Matamua |
| Pasami Saulo | 16 | Aitasi James |
| Ata Mariota | 17 | Asu Kepaoa |
| RESERVES | ||
| Utuloa Asomua | 18 | Tallyn Da Silva |
| Matt Frawley | 19 | Alex Seyfarth |
| Tom Starling | 20 | Will Smith |
| Trey Mooney | 21 | Kit Laulilii |
| Ethan Strange | 22 | Josh Feledy |
The Raiders have made a couple of changes to the side that lost to Newcastle last week. Veteran Jarrod Croker is out with a hamstring injury, with Cotric coming back on the wing, Rapana shifting to fullback and Kris to centre. Trevilyan returns from a long injury with Starling out of the 17.
Stefano Utoikamanu and Shawn Blore are both unavailable for the Tigers due to HIA protocols. Matamau, Kepaoa and Simpkin return on the bench.
Season so far
Raiders 5th | 402 points for | 480 points against | 11 wins & 8 losses | LLWWW
The Raiders are still sitting fifth on the ladder, but they have been far from convincing this season and have a dreadful points differential of minus 78.
They’ve gritted out plenty of touch wins throughout the season, but they’ve also produced some absolute stinkers like last week against Newcastle. Canberra were never in the contest against the Knights, looking lackluster in attack and tentative in defense.
The club usually does respond well to poor outings so if Canberra are to ever have a dominant win this season, it may just be this weekend against the Tigers.
Tigers 17th | 301 points for | 514 points against | 3 wins & 16 losses | LLLLL
The Tigers looked to be building nicely in the middle of the season, but since their 66-18 win over the Cowboys in round 12, they have lost eight in a row and look set to claim their second wooden spoon in a row.
Their halves have been an issue for a number of years now and it hasn’t been any better this season after they inexplicably let Jackson Hastings go to keep Luke Brooks who is leaving them next year anyway.
Jahream Bula’s emergence as a future star has been the biggest positive for the club but there hasn’t been too much else to delight their fans.
They should’ve beaten the Raiders earlier in the season and given Canberra’s propensity to keep their opposition in the contest, this may be a chance for the Tigers to finally get another win.
Last 5 meetings and GIO Stadium history
- 2023 round 14: Tigers 19 – Raiders 20 at Campbelltown Sports Stadium, Sydney
- 2022 round 25: Tigers 10 – Raiders 56 at Leichardt Oval, Sydney
- 2021 round 1: Raiders 30 – 12 Tigers at GIO Stadium, Canberra
- 2020 round 5: Tigers 6 – 14 Raiders at Campbelltown Sports Stadium
- 2019 round 18: Raiders 20 – 12 Tigers at GIO Stadium
The Raiders have a terrific recent record against the Tigers, winning the last six encounters and 10 of the last 11.
Despite that dominance, the Tigers were probably the better side when they met earlier this season and after coming back from 18-0 down, they almost pinched victory.
The Raiders have won four of the last five clashes at GIO Stadium.
Pre-match prediction
Johnny on the spot: John Bateman to score a try on his return to GIO Stadium. Raiders by 8.
Daine’s Whirled: Daine Laurie to have his hands full defending in the front line with two try causes. Raiders by 4. – Denholm Samaras
Have any predictions of your own? Let us know in the comments below.
Other match details
This is another home double header for the Raiders with the NRLW side to play first before the NRL team.
Gates Open: 1:20pm
NRLW – Canberra Raiders v Wests Tigers: 1:45pm. Live on Channel 9, 9Now and Kayo.
NRL – Canberra Raiders v Wests Tigers: 4:05pm. Live on Channel 9, Fox League and Kayo.
You can listen to the match on Raiders on Mix (Mix106.3 FM), Radio 2CC (1206 AM), ABC Grandstand (666 AM).
