SG Ball Semi Final Preview

Author: Rachel Moran
Timestamp: Thu 22 Apr 2021, 01:47 PM

The Raiders SG Ball side go head-to-head with the Sea Eagles in a high-stakes Preliminary Final at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday.

After an impressive 44-10 win over the Bulldogs last week, the Raiders will hope to back up their performance on Saturday and secure a spot in next week’s Grand Final.

Raiders lock Trey Mooney and centre Josh Billing had outstanding performances last week, both scoring doubles and playing vital roles in the Raiders attack.

Saturday will be the first time the two teams have met this season, and Coach Ash Barnes says it’s exciting playing a team for the first time at this end of the competition.

“I think it’s great at this stage of the year that we do get to play these sides that have performed well that we haven’t been able to play before,” Barnes said. “They’re a quality football side, they’re a powerful side with a lot of strike across the field, so we’re expecting a really tough match”.

Having the same 17 players was a fundamental part in the Raiders' success over the Bulldogs last week, and it will be that same side taking the field this Saturday.

“It was the first time we were able to name the same 17 in two consecutive games.” Barnes said. “I think the boys are starting to get some consistency and continuity in their play and the players around them, and they’re gaining a lot of confidence in the way they’re performing.”

As an experienced Junior Representative Coach, Ash Barnes knows what they have been doing consistently through the season is crucial to their success moving forward.

“Not much has changed in terms of preparation, it's more about making sure we have the energy required to perform the way we want to on Saturday.”

The Raiders SG Ball side will kick-off at 2:30pm on Saturday.

Semi Final - Semi Final - Saturday 24 Apr

Full Time

Sea Eagles

Raiders

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Kaeo Weekes

Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Jack Sandford
Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Uluaki Tuipulotu

Winger for Raiders is number 2 Xavier Savage
Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Tolutau Koula

Centre for Raiders is number 3 Deakin Bright
Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Simon Tito

Centre for Raiders is number 4 Josh Billing
Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Cameron Brown

Winger for Raiders is number 5 Michael Asomua
Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Krystian Mapapalangi

Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Mitchell Spencer
Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Jamie Humphreys

Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Sione Moala

Forwards

Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 James Uesele

Prop for Raiders is number 8 Loghan Lewis
Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Daniel O'Donnell

Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Toby Thorburn
Prop for Sea Eagles is number 10 Faafetai Autagavaia

Prop for Raiders is number 23 Caleb Esera
2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Zane Dunford

2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Noah Saddler
2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Jack Gunton

2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Clay Webb
Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Siua Fotu

Lock for Raiders is number 13 Trey Mooney

Interchange

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Kobe Fulton

Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Connor Williams
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 James Malau'ulu

Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Blake Martin
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Hunta Saunders

Interchange for Raiders is number 16 Mitchell Prest
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Seturi Iakopo

Interchange for Raiders is number 21 Wilson Hamblin