Match day guide and preview for the Canberra Raiders NRL round 24 game against the New Zealand Warriors.
Who, when and where?
Canberra Raiders vs New Zealand Warriors
Friday 27 August, 6pm
BP Print Mackay Stadium, Mackay QLD
Tickets are sold out.
Head-to-head record: Played 46. Raiders 24 wins. Warriors 21 wins. 1 draw.
Recent form and run home
Canberra Raiders 10th | 437 points for | 522 points against | 9 wins & 13 losses | LLWLW
The Raiders had every chance to beat Manly last week, but they blew yet another double-digit lead to fall 19-18.
Despite leading 12-0 at half time, Canberra looked gassed at the end of the first half, and it showed as Manly dominated the second 40.
The Raiders could have comfortably cemented a spot in the eight by now, however they find themselves needing to win their last two matches against the Warriors and Roosters to sneak into eighth.
New Zealand Warriors 11th | 522 points for | 568 points against | 9 wins & 13 losses | LWWWL
The Warriors three-match win streak was snapped last week despite scoring more tries than the Broncos.
Young gun Reece Walsh had a horror day with the boot, making just one of five conversions as the Warriors slim finals chances evaporated.
They have proven a difficult team to beat this year and they will do everything they can to ruin the Raiders finals hopes.
Raiders and Warriors team lists
| Raiders | Warriors | |
| Jordan Rapana | 1 | Reece Walsh |
| Bailey Simonsson | 2 | Dallin Watene-Zelezniak |
| Seb Kris | 3 | Peta Hiku |
| Matt Timoko | 4 | Adam Pompey |
| Harley Smith-Shields | 5 | Marcelo Montoya |
| Jack Wighton | 6 | Sean O’Sullivan |
| Matt Frawley | 7 | Chad Townsend |
| Josh Papalii | 8 | Addin Fonua-Blake |
| Josh Hodgson | 9 | Wayde Egan |
| Joe Tapine | 10 | Matthew Lodge |
| Hudson Young | 11 | Josh Curran |
| Eliott Whitehead | 12 | Euan Aitken |
| Ryan Sutton | 13 | Bayley Sironen |
| Bench | Bench | |
| Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad | 14 | Kodi Nikorima |
| Emre Guler | 15 | Bunty Afoa |
| Corey Horsburgh | 16 | Eliesa Katoa |
| Siliva Havili | 17 | Jazz Tevaga |
| Reserves | Reserves | |
| Sam Williams | 18 | Jamayne Taunoa-Brown |
| Dunamis Lui | 19 | Rocco Berry |
| Semi Valemei | 20 | Kane Evans |
| Trey Mooney | 21 | Jack Murchie |
Canberra Raiders
IN: Matt Frawley, Corey Horsburgh, Siliva Havili
OUT: Sam Williams, Dunamis Lui
The Raiders have made a few changes to the side that lost to Manly with the most notable being Matt Frawley coming in at halfback for Sam Williams.
Corey Horsburgh returns on the bench after playing for the Bulldogs over the past two weeks while Siliva Havili also comes onto the bench.
New Zealand Warriors
IN: Kodi Nikorima, Sean O’Sullivan, Matthew Lodge
OUT: Chanel Harris-Tavita, Jackson Frei, Jamayne Taunoa-Brown
The Warriors lose young half Chanel Harris-Tavita with Sean O’Sullivan to replace him and Kodi Nikorima coming onto the bench. Matthew Lodge also returns with Jamayne Taunoa-Brown making way.
Last 5 meetings
- 2021 Round 3 – Raiders 31 – 34 Warriors at GIO Stadium
- 2020 Round 19 – Raiders 26 – 14 Warriors at GIO Stadium
- 2020 Round 2 – Warriors 6 – 20 Raiders at Cbus Super Stadium
- 2019 Round 25 – Raiders 20 – 24 Warriors at GIO Stadium
- 2019 Round 20 – Warriors 12 – 46 Raiders at Mt Smart Stadium
The Raiders hold a slight 3-2 edge over the Warriors in their last five matches, with both losses coming down to the wire.
One of those defeats was earlier this year when the Raiders lost three forwards inside the opening 10 minutes and were overrun by the Warriors in controversial fashion.
The players to watch
Raiders – Matt Frawley
Frawley has impressed in the two matches he’s started this season, with the Raiders winning both of those against Manly and Parramatta.
He now gets his chance to partner Wighton in the halves from the start of the match after being brought on late last week.
The Raiders have struggled for cohesion with their halves all season, so hopefully Frawley’s kicking ability can complement the running game of Wighton.
Warriors – Addin Fonua-Blake
Fonua-Blake missed a fair chunk of footy during the early part of the season, but he has come back in some serious form.
The hulking front rower is getting through a mountain of work for his side, running for over 200 metres in four of his past five matches.
He’s been setting a great platform for his playmakers to get work and his battle with Josh Papalii this week promises to be entertaining viewing.
Pre match predictions
The Shoe Man: Matt ‘The Shoe Man’ Frawley to set up two tries with kicks.
Who let the Dogs out: Corey ‘Red Dog’ Horsburgh to get 100 running metres and two offloads in his return from the kennel. – Denholm Samaras
Other match details
The match will be broadcast live on Fox League channel 502 at 6pm. It is also available to stream on Kayo.
You can listen to the match on Raiders on Mix – Mix106.3 FM, Radio 2CC – 1206 AM and ABC Grandstand – 666 ABC AM.
