The Raiders return to GIO Stadium for their first home match of 2024 when they take on the rested Wests Tigers.
Match details
- Who: Canberra Raiders vs Wests Tigers
- When: Saturday 16 March 3pm AEDT
- Where: GIO Stadium, Canberra
- Weather: min 10 max 23, chance of rain 30%
- Click here to buy tickets
- Head-to-head record: Played 42. Raiders 23 wins. Tigers 19 wins.
Team lists
| RAIDERS | TIGERS | |
| Jordan Rapana | 1 | Jahream Bula |
| Albert Hopoate | 2 | Charlie Staines |
| Matt Timoko | 3 | Starford To’a |
| Sebastian Kris | 4 | Solomona Faataape |
| Xavier Savage | 5 | Junior Tupou |
| Ethan Strange | 6 | Lachlan Galvin |
| Jamal Fogarty | 7 | Jayden Sullivan |
| Josh Papali’i | 8 | Stefano Utoikamanu |
| Danny Levi | 9 | Apisai Koroisau |
| Joseph Tapine | 10 | David Klemmer |
| Hudson Young | 11 | Isaiah Papali’i |
| Zac Hosking | 12 | John Bateman |
| Morgan Smithies | 13 | Alex Seyfarth |
| BENCH | ||
| Tom Starling | 14 | Aidan Sezer |
| Emre Guler | 15 | Fonua Pole |
| Ata Mariota | 16 | Alex Twal |
| Pasami Saulo | 17 | Samuela Fainu |
| RESERVES | ||
| Nick Cotric | 18 | Asu Kepaoa |
| Kaeo Weekes | 19 | Tallyn Da Silva |
| Simi Sasagi | 20 | Justin Matamua |
| Zac Woolford | 21 | Alexander Lobb |
| Trey Mooney | 22 | Jake Simpkin |
Kris returns from suspension and will line up in the centres for Canberra, with Hopoate shifting to the wing and Cotric dropping to the reserves list.
Wests have gone young in the halves, with the highly-touted Galvin to partner former Dragon Sullivan. Sezer has been named in the 14 role as he plays his first NRL game since 2019 against his former club.
Referee: Peter Gough
Round one recap
Raiders 28 – 12 Knights @McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
The Raiders produced a typical backs against the wall performance in round one to defeat the fancied Knights in Newcastle, a win that would’ve surely please coach Ricky Stuart.
Without being flashy, Canberra were solid with ball in hand and resolute in defence. The most pleasing aspect was that the club managed to produce a solid 80-minute performance, with none of the lapses we saw last season. It was also nice to see them win a match rather comfortably after last season where every win went down to the wire.
A couple of big positives were the two recruits to the forward pack in Hosking and Smithies.
2023: Wests Tigers 17th | 385 points for | 675 points against | 4 wins & 20 losses
The Tigers endured yet another miserable campaign in 2023, winning just four games to claim back-to-back wooden spoons.
This is the first genuine look at them under Benji Marshall after their bye in round one, but their final trial against the Dragons was concerning given the 34-18 loss.
Their forward pack looks pretty solid on paper, with the likes of Bateman, Papali’i, Utoikamanu, Koroisau, Klemmer and Twal all good players on their day.
The emergence of Bula was probably the biggest positive for Wests last year and he looks like the long-term fullback at the club. The halves are an interesting watch this season. Sullivan is yet to prove himself at NRL level and Galvin is a rookie with plenty of promise. Sezer seemed like the safe pick to start at 7 but perhaps Benji is thinking ahead to determine who will partner Jarome Luai next year.
It’s hard to see the Tigers pushing for a finals spot just yet, but surely they have enough quality to win more than four games and get themselves off the bottom of the ladder… surely.
Last 5 meetings and history in Canberra
- 2023 round 23: Raiders 22 – 18 Tigers at GIO Stadium, Canberra
- 2023 round 14: Tigers 19 – 20 Raiders at Campbelltown Sports Stadium, Sydney
- 2022 round 25: Tigers 10 – 56 Raiders at Leichardt Oval, Sydney
- 2021 round 1: Raiders 30 – 12 Tigers at GIO Stadium
- 2020 round 5: Tigers 6 – 14 Raiders at Campbelltown Sports Stadium
The Raiders have enjoyed an incredible recent record over the Tigers, winning the last seven contests in a row and 13 of the last 15 meetings.
Despite the lopsided recent record, the Tigers pushed Canberra all the way in both contest last year and were desperately unlucky not to walk away with at least one win.
In their first meeting last year, Canberra were cruising at 18-0 before the Tigers roared to life in the final 10 minutes to take a 19-18 lead. Jamal Fogarty then kicked a late penalty goal to save the Raiders blushes. The second contest also went right down to the wire, with the Raiders surviving a late push to claim a four-point win.
Of the last eight matchups at GIO Stadium, the Raiders have won six and the Tigers just two.
Pre match predictions
Tiger HosKing: Zac Hosking to help Canberra tame the Tigers with over 100 run metres, 35 tackles and a line break. Raiders by 10.
Kris is risen: Seb Kris to make a statement on return with a try and 150+ run metres. Raiders by 8 – Denholm Samaras
Have any predictions of your own? Let us know in the comments below.
Other match details
Gates open at 10.45am.
Jersey Flegg – Raiders vs Tigers at 11am
NSW Cup – Raiders vs Magpies at 12.40pm. Click here for team lists.
The match will be broadcast live on Fox League channel 502 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).
