Canberra Raiders Cup 2021: Round Five Preview

Author: Finn Williamson
Timestamp: Fri 7 May 2021, 09:03 AM

The Queanbeyan derby highlights round five of the Canberra Raiders Cup this weekend.

Match of the Round: Queanbeyan Blues v Queanbeyan Kangaroos, 3:00 pm Saturday May 8 at Seiffert Oval.

This weekend's match of the round will feature two fierce rivals who have caught form at the right time.

The Queanbeyan Blues are undefeated to start their season, boasting four straight wins by a hefty margin. This places them in first place on the ladder, along with fellow undefeated side the Gungahlin Bulls.

Blues halfback Blake Murray says that the side's defence has been most pleasing so far.

"We just work for each other for the whole 80 minutes. It's just attitude, everyone knows how to tackle in our competition but it's about how hard you want to work for the person next to you and I think that's where the difference is so far," Murray said.

While the scoreboard suggests four comfortable wins for the Blues in the first four rounds, Murray says that the round three match against Goulburn showed they can win tough.

"The Goulburn game was a tough one, we were down for most of the game but found a way to come back and win that," Murray said.

"I believe we know how to win tough games and we'll find out this weekend."

Meanwhile, the Queanbeyan Kangaroos have won their past two matches to create a fiery match-up at Seiffert Oval this weekend against their hometown rivals.

Roos captain Lochie Ingram says that their forward pack will be key to getting the win.

"He (coach Adam Taylor) has put the pressure on the forwards. If we're going to win, it's going to be through the middle and they've got to set the platform," Ingram said.

"The Blues strength is their forward pack but we also see it as their weakness too. They're big boys so if we can just get on top and start rolling, see if we can make something happen."

Hear from Lochie Ingram and Blake Murray as they preview this weekend's clash.

Yass Magpies v West Belconnen Warriors, 3:00pm Saturday May 8 at Walker Park.

The Warriors will travel to Walker Park to take on the Yass Magpies, who both are chasing their second win of the season.

The Warriors had a comfortable 30-12 victory over the Woden Valley Rams last weekend to create some confidence going into this weekend’s important game.

The Yass Magpies conceded a narrow two-point loss to the Gungahlin Bulls which creates a pivotal match-up for both sides to try and stay near the top four position on the ladder.

West Belconnen halfback Bayley Graham will be a handful for the Yass Magpies with his lethal running game. Yass will need to contain the handy playmaker early-on as Graham can be dangerous if given too much space.

Magpie’s winger Bruce Barrie will be another player to watch, after his incredible try-scoring efforts to start the season.

Belconnen United Sharks v Tuggeranong Bushrangers, 3:00pm Saturday May 8 at NSWRL HQ Bruce.

The Belconnen United Sharks are seeking their first win of the season this weekend, when they host the Tuggeranong Bushrangers at their home ground in Bruce.

The Sharks will require a huge performance to kickstart their 2021 season to stay in contention for finals football at the end of the year.

The Bushrangers are chasing their second win of the season after some narrow defeats against both the Woden Valley Rams and the Gungahlin Bulls.

The Bushrangers copped a heavy 60-6 loss against first placed Queanbeyan Blues last weekend, so they will be ready to bounce-back against a hungry Sharks side on Saturday.