NRL Match Preview: Raiders v Warriors

Author: William Makepeace
Timestamp: Thu 28 Apr 2022, 11:39 AM

The Canberra Raiders will take on the New Zealand Warriors this weekend in their round eight clash at Moreton Daily Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

After a disappointing loss to Penrith last weekend the Raiders will be looking to bounce back, aiming to collect their third win of the season.

The Warriors will also be looking to put last weekend’s match behind them, as they broke a two-match winning streak with a big loss to Melbourne on ANZAC day.

There is only one squad change for Canberra this weekend, with captain Elliott Whitehead returning from injury in place of Harry Rushton who drops to the extended bench.

Hudson Young and Ryan Sutton will also return into the starting side, with Adam Elliott and Corey Harawira-Naera named on the bench.

Round 8 - Round 8 - Saturday 30 Apr

Full Time

Warriors

Raiders

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Reece Walsh

Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Jordan Rapana
Winger for Warriors is number 3 Jesse Arthars

Winger for Raiders is number 2 Nick Cotric
Centre for Warriors is number 2 Rocco Berry

Centre for Raiders is number 3 Matthew Timoko
Centre for Warriors is number 5 Viliami Vailea

Centre for Raiders is number 4 Semi Valemei
Winger for Warriors is number 4 Adam Pompey

Winger for Raiders is number 5 Xavier Savage
Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 21 Daejarn Asi

Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Jack Wighton
Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Shaun Johnson

Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Brad Schneider

Forwards

Prop for Warriors is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake

Prop for Raiders is number 8 Josh Papali'i
Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan

Hooker for Raiders is number 16 Adam Elliott
Prop for Warriors is number 10 Matthew Lodge

Prop for Raiders is number 10 Joseph Tapine
2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Euan Aitken

2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Hudson Young
2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Bayley Sironen

2nd Row for Raiders is number 15 Corey Harawira-Naera
Lock for Warriors is number 13 Jazz Tevaga

Lock for Raiders is number 13 Ryan Sutton

Interchange

Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Bunty Afoa

Interchange for Raiders is number 9 Tom Starling
Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Eliesa Katoa

Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Jack Murchie

Interchange for Raiders is number 17 Corey Horsburgh
Interchange for Warriors is number 20 Ben Murdoch-Masila

Interchange for Raiders is number 18 Harry Rushton

Reserves

Replacement for Warriors is number 14 Taniela Otukolo

Replacement for Raiders is number 19 Matt Frawley

Match Officials

Referee: Chris Butler
Touch Judge: Nick Morel
Senior Review Official: Steve Chiddy

Last updated: 3/4/2024 11:32:48 PM

Last Time They Met

The Raiders recorded a come from behind victory against New Zealand in Round 24 during the 2021 season in Mackay.

Key Matchups

Addin Fonua-Blake vs Josh Papalii

Two of the most destructive props in the NRL, both Josh Papalii and Addin Fonua-Blake will be looking to propel their side to a win with a dominate performance down the middle on Saturday.

Papalii has been one of the Raiders best metre makers this season, running over 100 metres with the ball in all but one game in 2022. His post contact metres have also been vital, allowing him to find numerous teammates through his 10 offloads so far.

Fonua-Blake has been one of the Warriors most inform players, averaging 152 run metres whilst also sitting third in the NRL for post contact metres.

It isn’t just in attack where these two shine, with their defence being crucial to their respective teams.

Josh Papalii’s 99.4% tackle efficiency rate is one of the highest in the competition, missing just one tackle all season. Fonua-Blake is not far behind, currently sitting on 96.8%.

The pair will play a pivotal role if their team is going to get the victory this Saturday, laying a platform for the rest of the team to propel off.

Jazz Tevaga vs Ryan Sutton

Whilst both players did not start the year at lock for their respective teams, Jazz Tevaga and Ryan Sutton have more than earned their starting jerseys.

It has been in defence that the pair have built their season upon in the NRL, with the locks each recording a monster 46 tackles in trying conditions last weekend.

Since coming back into the NRL squad against the Melbourne Storm Sutton has been Canberra’s fix-it man, playing three different roles over his games so far.

Averaging nearly forty tackles per match, his offence has not suffered as a result, with almost half of the Englishman’s run metres over the past fortnight being post contact.

Despite starting the season on the bench Jazz Tevaga has won the battle for the Warriors lock since coming back from suspension, performing in both attack and defence for his New Zealand side.

Whilst they may not be their team’s designated game breakers, a big performance from either of these players will go a long way to helping their team secure victory.

Jack Wighton vs Shaun Johnson

The pair may fill different positions in the halves for their respective teams, but both Jack Wighton and Shaun Johnston have the potential to single handily win the game for their team on Saturday afternoon.

Despite their team’s slow starts to the season, the two of the most experienced game-breakers in the competition have helped lead from the front when needed in 2022, making things happen when the ball is in their hands.

Wighton has been a standout for the Raiders this season, creating numerous attacking opportunities with his destructive running game and heads up play.

His five line break assists is a team high this season, whilst his 22 tackle breaks have split the game open at key points for Canberra in 2022.

He comes up against the experienced Johnson, who has begun to find his feet in his return to the Warriors, recording try assists in all but one game.

Expect these two to have their hands all over the match winning moments this weekend.

Head to Head

The Raiders and New Zealand have played 42 times in the NRL, with Canberra holding a slight advantage in their head-to-head record with 22 wins to the Warriors 20.