NRL Match Preview: Raiders v Sharks

Author: Patrick Gaynor
Timestamp: Wed 11 May 2022, 02:54 PM

The Canberra Raiders will take on the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks as part of NRL Magic Round on Sunday afternoon at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.

The Raiders will be hoping to secure back to back wins for the first time this season after defeating the Bulldogs 14-4 in Canberra last Friday night.

Meanwhile, the Sharks currently sit in the top four after a big win over the Warriors last weekend but the Raiders will be confident after beating the Sharks earlier this season.

Unfortunately Jarrod Croker has been ruled out with a shoulder injury which sees Sebastian Kris shift to the centres and Xavier Savage come onto the bench.

Round 10 - Round 10 - Sunday 15 May

Full Time

Sharks

Raiders

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Sharks is number 1 Nicholas Hynes

Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
Winger for Sharks is number 2 Sione Katoa

Winger for Raiders is number 2 Nick Cotric
Centre for Sharks is number 3 Connor Tracey

Centre for Raiders is number 3 Matthew Timoko
Centre for Sharks is number 4 Siosifa Talakai

Centre for Raiders is number 4 Sebastian Kris
Winger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo Mulitalo

Winger for Raiders is number 5 Jordan Rapana
Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Matt Moylan

Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Matt Frawley
Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Braydon Trindall

Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Brad Schneider

Forwards

Prop for Sharks is number 8 Toby Rudolf

Prop for Raiders is number 8 Josh Papali'i
Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke Brailey

Hooker for Raiders is number 25 Zac Woolford
Prop for Sharks is number 13 Dale Finucane

Prop for Raiders is number 10 Joseph Tapine
2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora

2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Hudson Young
2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Teig Wilton

2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Elliott Whitehead
Lock for Sharks is number 14 Cameron McInnes

Lock for Raiders is number 13 Corey Harawira-Naera

Interchange

Interchange for Sharks is number 10 Aiden Tolman

Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Tom Starling
Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Jack Williams

Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Ryan Sutton
Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Wade Graham

Interchange for Raiders is number 16 Xavier Savage
Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Royce Hunt

Interchange for Raiders is number 17 Corey Horsburgh

Reserves

Replacement for Raiders is number 18 Harry Rushton
Reserve for Sharks is number 18 Mawene Hiroti

Match Officials

Referee: Liam Kennedy
Touch Judge: Jon Stone
Touch Judge: Drew Oultram
Senior Review Official: Matt Noyen

Last updated: 3/4/2024 11:32:46 PM

Last Time They Met

The Raiders were able to secure a 24-19 win over the Sharks in round one this season thanks to a Hudson Young try in the 75th minute.

Key Matchups

Jordan Rapana v Ronaldo Mulitalo

It will be an electrifying battle between two of the best wingers in the competition as these two men will match up on the same side of the field.

Rapana has only continued to prove why he has been one of the premier wingers in the competition over the last decade. Despite his one try in 2022, Rapana is still averaging over 100 running metres a game and has been putting on huge hits in defence, putting opponents under lots of pressure.

Meanwhile, Mulitalo has had a career best year in 2022 so far, scoring six tries in his opening seven appearances. After starting the season in the centres, Mulitalo has made a home on the left wing after building a great combination on the left side with Matt Moylan and Siosifa Talakai.

These two New Zealand-born wingers will be hoping to create opportunities while making sure their opposite winger doesn't come close to scoring in a matchup that could decide who lines up for the Kiwis at this year's World Cup.

Corey Harawira-Naera v Dale Finucane

Harawira-Naera will not be taking a backwards step as he lines up against the New South Wales representative and current Sharks captain Dale Finucane.

Harawira-Naera started at lock for the first time this season last week and played an important part in the side’s win. The New Zealand international had 89 running metres in just 36 minutes to go along with three offloads.

Finucane has only improved after moving from the Storm to the Sharks this season, averaging 96 running metres a game. Finucane has also proven himself as one of the best leaders in the competition.

Both of these forwards will be looking to dominate the middle with and without the ball on Sunday afternoon as whoever does can all but seal the win for their team.

Hudson Young v Briton Nikora

Two of the most explosive backrowers in the competition will line up against one another when Hudson Young goes up against the New Zealand international Briton Nikora this weekend.

Young has proven to be a lethal attacking weapon for the Green Machine and that was proven in the side’s win over the Bulldogs, with Young running for 174 metres. Young also has two tries to go along with two line breaks in 2022 and has played an important role in all three of the Raiders wins this season.

Nikora has proved to be one of the best attacking weapons in the NRL outside of Nicho Hynes. Nikora is also one of the best edge defenders in the competition, with a tackle efficiency of 91.8% and averaging 36 tackles per game.

Both of these barnstorming backrowers will be wanting to prove a point as whoever can come out on top will go a long way in deciding the match for their team on Sunday.

Head to Head

Since 1998 these two sides have faced 46 times with 23 wins each. The Raiders do have the recent advantage of winning their last seven games against the Sharks.