NRL Match Preview: Raiders v Tigers

Author: Patrick Gaynor
Timestamp: Wed 31 Aug 2022, 03:04 PM

The Canberra Raiders will travel to Leichhardt Oval this Sunday to take on the Wests Tigers in the final round of the regular season.

Now sitting in eighth after their win over the Sea Eagles, the Raiders can secure a spot in the 2022 finals series with a win over the Tigers this weekend.

Canberra will be hoping to keep their momentum rolling into this weekend and the finals if they are to make it, after securing their biggest win of the season.

The Raiders have made just one change to this weekend's starting lineup, with Nick Cotric returning from a groin injury and Albert Hopoate dropping back to 18th man.

Meanwhile, the Tigers will also be desperate to win this weekend as not only will they be playing in front of their home fans, but they need to win to have any hope of not finishing last.

The Raiders have control of their own fate but if they are to lose, then they could be overtaken by the Brisbane Broncos if they are to beat the Dragons on Saturday.

Finals footy has come a round early in 2022 with the Raiders in the box seat with the eighth spot still on the line.

Round 25 - Round 25 - Sunday 4 Sep

Full Time

Wests Tigers

Raiders

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Daine Laurie

Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Xavier Savage
Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 Brent Naden

Winger for Raiders is number 2 Nick Cotric
Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Starford To'a

Centre for Raiders is number 3 Matthew Timoko
Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Luke Garner

Centre for Raiders is number 4 Sebastian Kris
Winger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Ken Maumalo

Winger for Raiders is number 5 Jordan Rapana
Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Adam Doueihi

Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 20 Matt Frawley
Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Jock Madden

Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Jamal Fogarty

Forwards

Prop for Wests Tigers is number 8 James Tamou

Prop for Raiders is number 8 Josh Papali'i
Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Jake Simpkin

Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Zac Woolford
Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 Joe Ofahengaue

Prop for Raiders is number 10 Joseph Tapine
2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Tom Freebairn

2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Hudson Young
2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Kelma Tuilagi

2nd Row for Raiders is number 17 Corey Harawira-Naera
Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Fa'amanu Brown

Lock for Raiders is number 13 Adam Elliott

Interchange

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Fonua Pole

Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Tom Starling
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Zane Musgrove

Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Emre Guler
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Tyrone Peachey

Interchange for Raiders is number 16 Corey Horsburgh
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Austin Dias

Interchange for Raiders is number 18 Albert Hopoate

Reserves

Replacement for Wests Tigers is number 19 Fetalaiga Pauga

Replacement for Raiders is number 12 Elliott Whitehead

Match Officials

Referee: Gerard Sutton
Touch Judge: Peter Gough
Touch Judge: Drew Oultram
Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein

Last updated: 3/4/2024 11:32:37 PM

Last Time They Met

This will be the first meeting between the sides since round one of last year, when the Raiders claimed a 30-12 win at home.

Key Matchups

Jack Wighton v Adam Douehi

With so much on the line this weekend, both these sides will turn to their franchise playmakers to come up with something special as the battle between Douehi and Wighton may decide this match.

After having a great start to 2022, Wighton has only continued to improve as the season has gone on and he proved that again last weekend. In the Raiders 48-6 win over Manly, Wighton had two try assists, two line break assists and ran for 160 metres as he has continues to lead the side in the back half of the season.

After an injury sidelined him for the beginning of the season, Douehi has proven why he has been labelled as the Tigers’ future captain. In just 10 appearances this season, Douehi has three try assists, three line break assists and has scored two tries to go along with his 21 conversions.

Both of these superstar five-eighths have proven how valuable they are to their sides all season, and that will be the case this weekend with both seeing this as a must-win match.

Josh Papalii v James Tamou

Josh Papalii has enjoyed another great individual season in 2022 and will be hoping to continue that this weekend up against James Tamou.

While Joseph Tapine has risen to become one of the best forwards in the competition, Papalii has also continued to put in the performances which have seen him earn prop of the year awards. Together they have become one of the best prop pairings in the NRL, with Papalii doing his job by running an average of 124 metres.

Meanwhile, this could be the final game for James Tamou who has had an incredible career since debuting for the Cowboys in 2009. Not only has Tamou made multiple rep sides including the New South Wales Blues and Australian Kangaroos, but was also a key member in the Cowboys 2015 premiership and Panthers 2020 minor premiership.

Both of these veteran props have gone head to head for the better part of the last decade, both at club and Origin level. We could see this battle for one last time on Sunday and it will be just as important as it was all those years ago.

Sebastian Kris v Luke Garner

After starting the season having to deal with both COVID isolation and injuries, Kris has proven himself as a top-tier NRL centre and will have a chance to prove himself again when he matches up against Luke Garner.

Kris has started every game for the Raiders since round nine and has taken the most of that opportunity. In just his 17 appearances, Kris has scored 13 tries to go along with two try assists, nine line breaks, 34 tackle breaks and is averaging 99 running metres.

Garner has proven to be a versatile player who can shine at both centre and in the back row. The Panthers-bound 26-year-old has scored five tries in 2022 but has made his mark defensively, with some huge hits that intimidate the playmakers of the opposition.

While Kris has proven to be a lethal attacking weapon on the Raiders left edge there is no doubt that he will have to be at his best once again to make an impact against Garner.