NSW Cup & Jersey Flegg Preview: Finals Week 1

The Raiders NSW Cup side kept their final hopes alive after a 34-8 win over the Panthers at GIO Stadium on Saturday night.

They now enter a sudden death round, where if they lose against the Jets their season will be over.

Their team will be missing many of their mainstay players this week, with a number moving up to NRL for the last round of the regular season. Last week’s try scorers Ethan Sanders and Matty Nicholson will both be missing from the side this weekend.

Their opponents, the Jets, went down 42–30 to the Manly Sea Eagles last week, but with a largely unchanged line-up they’ll be eager to end the Raiders’ season.

The last time these sides met was in Round 11, when Canberra claimed a 30-18 victory.

Jersey Flegg Cup

The Canberra Raiders Jersey Flegg side finished their season strong with a 40-18 victory over the Panthers on Saturday, securing third place on the ladder for the finals.

Finishing third gives them two chances in their finals campaign: first, a qualifier against the Cronulla Sharks, followed by, if victorious, a grand final qualifier against the Melbourne Storm.

If they lose this week, they will face the winner of the Panthers vs. Eels clash in the minor semi-final.

The Raiders enter the finals in top form after overtaking the Panthers last week. With 16 wins and only seven losses this season, their grand final chances are very much alive.

The Sharks sit just above them in second and have also had a strong season. The last time these sides met, the Sharks won 32-18, scoring six tries to secure the victory.

This week, the Raiders’ line-up has a few changes: Cooper Johnston moves from the reserves to fullback, Mitchell Brophy shifts to hooker, and Luke Cannon is named on the interchange. The Sharks have named Bryce Salt at halfback in place of Riley Pollard.