NRL Match Preview: Raiders v Dragons

The Green Machine are flying high as they crack their ninth straight win after sending the Knights retreating with a dominant 44-18 victory in the Nation's Capital last Sunday.

Although being all levelled at the break, Ricky's Raiders in the second half have a knack of clicking into gear and putting teams to the sword.

The Raiders keep themselves atop the ladder for the fifth consecutive week and remain one win clear of the Bulldogs with a bye still in hand.

On the other hand, the Dragons suffered their 12th loss of the season and currently sit 12th on the ladder with a tough 38-32 defeat to the Cowboys last weekend.

Talking Points:

• Sebastian Kris returns for the Raiders with Simi Sasagi shifting back to the bench.
• The Green Machine will be aiming for their 10th straight win for the first time since 2016.
• Michael Molo returns to the starting side with Jayden Su’A out with injury, Hame Sele joins the bench.
• The Raiders have won their last five games against the Dragons.
• Tyrell Sloan has scored six tries in his last four games
• The Raiders have scored a total of 546 points this season, which has already surpassed last years total.
• The Raiders are aiming for their eighth consecutive away win.

Last time they met:

Last time these two teams met, the Raiders defeated the Dragons 28-24 at GIO Stadium in Canberra during round 18, 2025.

Key Match-up

Corey Horsburgh Vs Jack De Belin

The Strength, leadership and determination these two superstar lock forwards show towards their teammates is immeasurable to their team's success on and off the field.

Corey Horsburgh has been a key part of the Raiders' forward pack this season and has shown how important he is to the Raiders, his unorthodox running style and his ability to charge into the line have been superb throughout the season. Horsburgh has an average of 53.56 post-contact meters and ranks 16th in the NRL.

Big Red is an absolute menace on the field and loves to get into the heads of the opposition. Not knowing what he will do next is Horsburgh’s biggest strength. We all remember that Dragons game last year up in Jubilee with the grubber to himself to score the match-winner. That’s just a prime example of how dangerous Horsburgh can be at any given moment.

Horsburgh has led his forward pack from the front, being the second highest running meter forward for the Raiders (behind Joseph Tapine) with a total of 2489 running meters and an average of 138.28 per game. Big Red is one to watch out for in this clash, especially when he is fired up.

Meanwhile, Jack De Belin has been the backbone of the forward pack for the Dragons. His leadership and muscle to wrestle back his team's momentum have been a joy to watch for Dragons fans.

De Belin has been a tackling machine for his team, making a total of 607 tackles with an average of 33.72 per game and currently ranks 22nd in the NRL. His defence has been his strongest point, and when his team needs him the most, he will tackle his heart out. De Belin has been the hardest-working player in the Dragons forward pack in what has been a tough year for the red-v.

Although he is departing to play with the Eels for next season, he will be aiming to prove a point and fire up his teammates come Saturday and aim to dismantle the Raiders and show his leadership within the forward pack.

This game proves to be a battle of the two forward packs for both teams, and it will be a terrific showing between these two fantastic leaders, and both will be fired up and ready for a nail-biter this Saturday.

Head-to-Head

Since 1999, the Raiders have faced the Dragons 40 times, winning 26 of them for a 65% efficiency rate.