NRLW Match Preview: Raiders v Sharks

After last weekend's defeat to the Dragons, Darrin Borthwick will be looking for an important win at home when the Sharks travel down the Hume to GIO Stadium.

Despite a late Raiders comeback, the Dragons ran away 36-14 winners in the side's first hit-out of the 2025 competition.

On the other hand, the Sharks went down 18-16 to the Eels last weekend at Shark Park in what was a tough and gritty game between the two clubs.

Talking Points

• Raiders five-eighth Sereana Naitokatoka returns from suspension, pushing Georgia Thomas to the reserves.
• Sharks forward Filomina Hanisi has been ruled out for the season with Stephanie Faulkner taking her place on the bench.
• Maddison Bartlett has scored 13 tries in her past 13 NRLW games
• Tiana Penitani has scored two tries in two games against the Raiders
• The Sharks are undefeated when taking on the Raiders.
• Chloe Saunders and Sereana Naitokatoka will take on their former club this weekend.

Last time they met

The last time these two sides faced up against one another was in round three 2024 at GIO Stadium, where the Sharks won 24-12.

Key Matchup:

Mackenzie Wiki v Tiana Penitani Gray

These two dynamic centres offer a strong combination of skills to lead their team to victory. This matchup is a clash of experience against youth.

Wiki has proven to be a valuable addition to the Canberra Raiders line-up. Known for her explosive power and athleticism, she adds a fresh edge to the team’s attack.

Wiki burst onto the NRLW scene in the Raiders’ inaugural season in 2023 and remains a key member of the squad as she enters her third season.

Her elite ball running ability allows her to make strong post contact metres, with a total of 939 running metres last season. Wiki also brings valuable international experience, having starred for the New Zealand Kiwi Ferns, including scoring a hat trick on debut.

Meanwhile, Penitani is a seasoned NRLW campaigner, entering her seventh season in the competition. She made her mark early as a young Olympian representing Australia in rugby sevens and has since developed into a key weapon and leader for the Sharks.

Scoring 11 tries last season, Penitani's attacking prowess is evident and driven by her exceptional positional awareness and ability to read the game.

Her ability to read defensive plays and strategies allows her to provide her team with crucial information to stop their opposition from crossing the line.

She runs her plays with more poise rather than power, but her game intelligence could be knocked down by the commanding plays that Wiki has up her sleeve.  

Expect to see an intense showdown between these two strike players. 

Head-to-Head

The Raiders and Sharks have met twice before, with the Sharks emerging victorious on both occasions.