NRL Match Preview: Raiders v Sea Eagles
The Canberra Raiders will return to GIO Stadium Canberra for their final home game of the year this Saturday when they take on the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in Round 24 action.
The Raiders have had a relatively successful season at GIO Stadium Canberra in 2022, winning seven of their 10 home games this season.
The Raiders will be looking for a third straight win this weekend and will be desperate to keep their finals hopes alive as they currently sit outside the top eight by just two competition points.
With an inferior for and against, it is likely the Raiders will have to win both of their final games to keep finals ambitions alive but could still play finals footy with one win if other results go their way.
The Raiders have named an unchanged line-up for this weekend, with the only change being James Schiller returning as 18th man in place of Albert Hopoate.
Meanwhile, the Sea Eagles are facing the prospect of a sixth straight loss this weekend and will be desperate to end that losing streak before the end of the season.
Match: Raiders v Sea Eagles
Round 24 -
home Team
Raiders
away Team
Sea Eagles
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Xavier SavageFullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Tolutau Koula
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Winger for Raiders is number 5 Jordan RapanaWinger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega
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Centre for Raiders is number 3 Matthew TimokoCentre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Brad Parker
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Centre for Raiders is number 4 Sebastian KrisCentre for Sea Eagles is number 14 Ben Trbojevic
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Winger for Raiders is number 23 Albert HopoateWinger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Christian Tuipulotu
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Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Jack WightonFive-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Kieran Foran
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Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Jamal FogartyHalfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-Evans
Forwards
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Prop for Raiders is number 8 Josh Papali'iProp for Sea Eagles is number 16 Martin Taupau
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Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Zac WoolfordHooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Lachlan Croker
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Prop for Raiders is number 10 Joseph TapineProp for Sea Eagles is number 17 Kurt De Luis
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2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Hudson Young2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu
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2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Elliott Whitehead2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 18 Ethan Bullemor
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Lock for Raiders is number 13 Adam ElliottLock for Sea Eagles is number 8 Josh Aloiai
Interchange
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Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Tom StarlingInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 10 Toafofoa Sipley
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Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Emre GulerInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 13 Dylan Walker
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Interchange for Raiders is number 16 Corey HorsburghInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Josh Schuster
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Interchange for Raiders is number 17 Corey Harawira-NaeraInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 19 Kaeo Weekes
Reserves
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Replacement for Raiders is number 18 James SchillerReplacement for Sea Eagles is number 20 James Roumanos
Match Officials
- Referee: Ashley Klein
- Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
- Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins
Last updated:
Last Time They Met
The Raiders suffered a disappointing 25-6 loss to the Sea Eagles in Mudgee earlier this year.
Match Preview: Raiders v Sea Eagles
Key Matchups
Jamal Fogarty v Daly Cherry-Evans
Jamal Fogarty has had a phenomenal start to his time at the green machine and will have a chance to make another statement as one of the competition’s premier halfbacks when he goes head-to-head with Queensland skipper, Daly Cherry-Evans.
A Queenslander himself, it wasn't too long ago that Fogarty was touted as a potential future halfback for the Maroons and he has shown why since his return from injury. While Fogarty is yet to score his first try in green, in just 11 appearances Fogarty has already scored 70 points to go along with seven try assists and 12 forced goal line dropouts.
Daly Cherry-Evans has had another successful season for the Sea Eagles in 2022 but proved himself to still be one of the game’s best players in this year’s Origin decider. Cherry-Evans’ kicking game proved to be the difference for the Maroons as the halfback kicked for 642 metres to go along with a try and line break assist.
Both of these halfbacks have proven to have two of the best kicking games in the competition and it could be a 40/20, conversion or field goal from one of these two sevens that decides the game.
Hudson Young v Haumole Olakau’atu
Both Young and Olakau’atu have emerged as two of the best back-rowers in the competition this season and their matchup will be a must see when the green machine's left edge meets Manly’s right.
Hudson Young has become one of the most valued members of the green machine, providing another x-factor on the left edge for the Raiders outside Jack Wighton. Young has scored nine tries in his 20 appearances this season while also producing seven line breaks, four line break assists and 24 offloads. Young has also established himself as one of the competition’s biggest hitters with some of the great defence he has shown in his young career.
Hudson does it again
Haumole Olakau’atu has also proven himself as an x-factor player and has stood up for the Sea Eagles as a game breaker in the absence of Tom Trbojevic. Olakau’atu has also scored nine tries in 2022 to go along with 10 line breaks, two line break assists and has broken 105 tackles in his 19 appearances.
These two could very well be named as the Dally M second-rowers in 2022, but they will be solely focused on proving to be the difference in their side getting a win on Saturday.
Xavier Savage v Tolutau Koula
Both of these fullbacks have proven why they have been touted as future superstars of the competition and will be looking to make a statement in the coveted number one jersey.
Savage has been instrumental in each of the Raiders’ past five victories with the only game he missed being the side's loss to Penrith. Savage has established himself as a great ball-playing fullback to complement his already remarkable running game, with six try assists, seven line breaks and 35 tackle breaks.
Tolutau Koula has been a great find for the Sea Eagles after taking every advantage of the opportunity he was given after some injuries to other centres. Koula made his fullback debut in the NRL against the Sharks last week and despite suffering a heavy defeat, made a great first impression by running 165 metres and breaking seven tackles.
These two rising stars will be wanting to finish their rookie seasons on a high and it could be a moment of brilliance from either fullback that could decide the game on Saturday.
Head to Head
The Sea Eagles have the advantage of winning 21 of the 35 matches between the two sides but the green machine will be confident in getting the win in front of their home fans for the final time this season.
