NSW Cup Preview: Raiders v Magpies

Author: Laurence Kelson
Timestamp: Thu 20 May 2021, 02:02 PM

The Canberra Raiders will be hungry for a win when they take on the Western Suburbs Magpies at 3:45pm this Saturday at Lidcombe oval.

The sixth-placed Raiders are coming off two close losses to the Knights and Eels respectively. In both games, the Raiders looked excellent in patches. They will have to put together one of their best performances of the season to beat the second-placed Magpies.

The young outside backs of the Raiders have been particularly impressive over the last fortnight. Xavier Savage and Manase Kaho have looked like game-breakers in the making.

The Magpies will be a massive test for the Green Machine. They have won their last seven games, and this week their forward pack will get a boost with the likes of Zane Musgrove and Micheal Chee Kam coming into the side.

Last Time They Met

The Raiders had a 32-18 victory over the Magpies in round one this season.

Key Match-Ups

Xavier Savage v Zac Cini

Xavier Savage had a debut to remember last week. He scored three tries and racked up 156 running meters. His devastating speed makes him electric with the ball in hand and a constant threat to the opposition defence.

Savage will move from the wing to fullback this week. If the Raiders can get him the ball in space, he’ll be able to show off the speed that won him junior sprint championships as a Queensland schoolboy.

The Magpies will bring the own speedster to the fullback position - Zac Cini. Cini has already become a Wests Tigers cult hero, thanks to his strawberry blond mullet and scoring a try on debut. He’ll bring that NRL experience to the Magpies side, and the Raiders will have to shut him down early to stymie the Magpies’ attack.

Trey Mooney v Tukimihia Simpkins

After winning the SG Ball Cup with the Raiders, Trey Mooney aims to bring that championship-winning form into NSW Cup.

Mooney will come off the bench this week, and if last week was anything to go by, he’ll have a huge impact. Against the Eels, Mooney had 127 running meters, 29 tackles and led the team in post-contact meters in only 45 minutes of football. Mooney has the potential to be a dominant force through the middle of the field, and he’ll be eager to prove himself against an experienced Magpies pack.

Coming off the bench for the Magpies is their own young gun, Tukimihia Simpkins. The 19-year-old forward was a top prospect coming out of New Zeland and has not disappointed in his first season in the NSW Cup. Averaging over 117 running meters a game, Simpkins will be a handful when he gets on the field.

Round 11 - Round 11 - Saturday 22 May

Full Time

Magpies

Raiders

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Magpies is number 1 Zac Cini

Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Xavier Savage
Winger for Magpies is number 2 Allan Fitzgibbon

Winger for Raiders is number 2 Manase Kaho
Centre for Magpies is number 3 Reece Hoffman

Centre for Raiders is number 3 Brigham Moeakiola
Centre for Magpies is number 4 Junior Pauga

Centre for Raiders is number 4 Toby Marks
Winger for Magpies is number 5 Kiah Cooper

Winger for Raiders is number 5 Elijah Anderson
Five-Eighth for Magpies is number 6 Billy Walters

Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Matt Frawley
Halfback for Magpies is number 19 Jock Madden

Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Adam Cook

Forwards

Prop for Magpies is number 8 Stefano Utoikamanu

Prop for Raiders is number 8 Leo Thompson
Hooker for Magpies is number 9 Jake Simpkin

Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Siliva Havili
Prop for Magpies is number 13 Tom Amone

Prop for Raiders is number 10 Ata Mariota
2nd Row for Magpies is number 11 Michael Chee Kam

2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Kai O'Donnell
2nd Row for Magpies is number 12 Kelma Tuilagi

2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Clay Webb
Lock for Magpies is number 24 Shawn Blore

Lock for Raiders is number 13 Harry Rushton

Interchange

Interchange for Magpies is number 7 Zach Dockar-Clay

Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Adrian Trevilyan
Interchange for Magpies is number 15 Tom Freebairn

Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Darby Medlyn
Interchange for Magpies is number 16 Austin Dias

Interchange for Raiders is number 16 Caleb Esera
Interchange for Magpies is number 17 Tukimihia Simpkins

Interchange for Raiders is number 17 Trey Mooney