Following an after the siren loss to the Roosters last week, the Canberra Raiders NYC team will look to continue their form from last week’s second half when they return to GIO Stadium for Monday night football against the Broncos.
While Coach Mick Mantelli admits that the game got away from them last week he was happy with the effort that the side put in against a strong Roosters side.
“Yeah it’s another one that got away, but you can’t argue with the effort and the fight back the boys showed in that second half, it’s just disappointing the result didn’t go our way in the end.”
The Broncos will be another solid test for the Raiders, with the Brisbane side sitting in the top four just two points behind ladder leading Knights.
The Canberra side will be bolstered by the return of Captain Patrick Mago from a stint at Souths Logan, Luke Bateman showed last week what a stint in the feeder side could do being one of the best on ground in the sides loss to the Roosters.
Click here to see the team for this week.
Bateman will be rested this week as Mantelli continues to develop and manage his players. Jack Williams who made his debut last week coming off the bench will start in the backrow after a solid showing against the Roosters.
Cleveland McGhie has been shifted out onto the wing and Jared McIlwrick will start in the centres, Ezra Howe and Ben Maguire come onto the bench.
Canberra’s defence was again causing them some worry last week with the Roosters able to break multiple tackles on their way to scoring tries.
Mantelli said the boys were working extremely hard to overturn their defensive lapses.
“The boys have shown they can defend previously so it all comes down to attitude, it’s something they’re working hard to overturn.”
Last week was the first week that Lachlan Croker was used for the full 80 minutes, and the Canberra half back showed his worth with another stellar 2nd half display that sparked the Raiders to a lead with a minute and a half to go.
It was the first time this year that Croker and Lachlan Lewis partnered each other in the halves for the NYC team following the pair’s good year with the SG ball side.
When asked about the change Mantelli said it was more about giving the youngsters game as opposed to the chemistry the two possess with each other.
“They’re the future of the club so we have to get the games into them.”
Another player who will look to continue his good form is Ricky Garard, the fullback was dropped for a quiet display earlier in the year and has come back looking to not let that happen again.
Last week the fullback was good in attack with two tries and a number of line breaks that continued to threaten the Roosters’ defensive line.
The match against the Broncos will kick off at 4:45pm at GIO Stadium.
