The Canberra Raiders will make the journey to Manly for Round 7 to face the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles and aim to continue their stellar start to the season. Here are five things to look forward to.
Five in a row
The Raiders will be looking to make it five wins in a row for the first time since the 2016 campaign and continue their best season start since 2003.
In 2003, Canberra got off to a record start after winning the first eight matches of the season and momentarily going top of the NRL ladder.
The Green Machine will be hoping to claim their fifth successive victory of the season this weekend and will be up against an in-form Manly outfit who have won three of their last four matches.
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Brookvale Hoodoo
The Raiders will be hoping to break their second hoodoo in as many weeks when they head up to Brookvale Oval in search of a win.
In the past seven games at Brookvale, the Raiders have only won once, a 44-30 victory in 2016.
With a strong partnership growing between the two halves and the continuous development of the forward pack the Raiders will aim to break the hoodoo at Brookvale against the Sea Eagles.
English Domination
New Raiders forwards John Bateman and Ryan Sutton both scored their first tries in the lime green jersey against the Broncos last weekend.
The duo both opened their accounts within minutes of each other in the second half.
John Bateman crashed over after picking the ball up from dummy-half, while Sutton gathered up a loose ball that had rebounded off Jack Wighton’s head.
The two Englishmen also made 85 tackles and 18 hit-ups between them and will be hoping to inspire another Canberra victory this weekend against Manly.
Round 6 in the sheds: Ryan Sutton
First Sydney Game
Having only won three out of the 12 away games last season, the Green Machine will be hoping to match last year’s record with a win at Brookvale.
The Raiders head up to Sydney for the first time this season with an undefeated record on the road after claiming two impressive wins in Queensland.
The Raiders kept the Titans scoreless on the Gold Coast in Round 1 and withstood a Cowboys comeback in Townsville in Round 4 to win both their opening away games.
Close Encounters
If the records show anything, Round 7 will be a close game between the Raiders and the Sea Eagles as three out of the last four games between the sides have been won at the death.
Both games in the 2017 season were narrowly won by Manly in golden point. However, the Green Machine claimed victory at GIO Stadium last year thanks to an Aiden Sezer field goal in the last minute of regular time.
With both sides heading into the match in fine form, and Sam Williams already knocking over two field goals this year, expect to see a close game from start to finish this Sunday.
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