The Raiders will be keen to build some momentum after a tough win last weekend when they meet the Dragons in round seven of the NRL.
Match details
- Who: Canberra Raiders vs St George Illawarra Dragons
- When: Sunday 16 April 2pm AEST
- Where: GIO Stadium, Canberra
- Weather: max 18, min 10. Chance of rain 70%, 0 to 8mm
- Click here to buy tickets
- Head-to-head record: Played 36. Raiders 22 wins. Dragons 13 wins. 1 draw.
Raiders and Dragons team lists
The Raiders have a few big names returning with Wighton, Tapine and Cotric all named in the 17. They will be without Jordan Rapana after he copped a knee to the head against the Broncos.
The Dragons have lost Francis Molo (suspension) and Mikaele Ravalawa (injury) with Zane Musgrove and Tautau Moga replacing them.
Season so far
Raiders 16th | 102 points for | 150 points against | 2 wins & 4 losses | WLLWL
They say a week is a long time in rugby league and the Raiders last two matches proved exactly that.
Fresh off a dismal 53-12 humping at the hands of Penrith at home, the Raiders produced an incredible 20-14 victory over the previously undefeated Broncos in Brisbane.
The Raiders showed so much commitment in the win, with veterans Jordan Rapana, Josh Papalii and the returning Jarrod Croker leading the way.
With Jack Wighton missing, Jamal Fogarty lead the side around the park beautifully all game and was instrumental in the win. Corey Horsburgh showed enormous heart throughout the match, the firebrand played big minutes at lock and his effort was typified by a chase down tackle on Adam Reynolds late in the first half.
It was a great performance that has got the Raiders’ season back on track, but Canberra now need to prove they can perform at that level week in and week out.
Dragons 12th | 114 points for | 130 points against | 2 wins & 3 losses | LWLLW
The Dragons were picked by many as the likely wooden spooners coming into 2023, but they’ve produced some reasonable footy at times.
Apart from a 40-8 loss to the Sharks, St George have been competitive in every other game and don’t appear the easy beats they were tipped to be before the season started.
Ben Hunt has once again been their best player and orchestrates just about everything for the Dragons and Canberra will be on red alert given how good he has been against the Raiders in recent years.
The Dragons have been super competitive against the Raiders over the last couple of years and with a chance to go 3-3, they should be right up for this contest.
Last 5 meetings and GIO Stadium history
- 2022 round 22: Raiders 24 – 22 Dragons at GIO Stadium, Canberra
- 2022 round 16: Dragons 12 – 10 Raiders at WIN Stadium, Wollongong
- 2021 round 21: Raiders 20 – 12 Dragons at Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
- 2021 round 15: Dragons 22 – 20 Raiders at WIN Stadium, Wollongong
- 2020 round 18: Dragons 8 – 37 Raiders at WIN Stadium, Wollongong
The Raiders have won three of the last five meetings against the Dragons, but there have been a few close results of late.
Both matches were decided by just two points last year and they both had somewhat controversial endings as well.
The Dragons won the first clash in tough conditions in Wollongong, before the Raiders just held on in the second encounter down in Canberra.
The Raiders have a terrific recent home record against the Dragons, winning the last three clashes in a row and fourteen of the last sixteen at GIO.
Pre match predictions
Home-town hero: Club legend Jarrod Croker to score a try on his return to GIO Stadium in front of an adoring home crowd. Raiders by 8.
Papa Joe: New dad Joe Tapine to come back firing after a week off, running for over 150m and having a try involvement. The Dragons pack will be calling him daddy. Raiders by 4. – Denholm Samaras
Have any predictions of your own? Let us know in the comments below.
Other match details
Gates open at 11.15am. NSW Cup – Raiders vs Dragons at 11.30am
The match will be broadcast live on Fox League 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 AM).
