NRL Match Preview: Raiders v Sharks

The Raiders suffered a heartbreaking 29–28 loss to the Brisbane Broncos last week in a high stakes golden point thriller.

Canberra looked set to secure a preliminary finals berth at fulltime, but a late penalty locked the scores and sent the game into extra time.

Jamal Fogarty appeared to seal the win with a try, only for it to be disallowed for a knock on, allowing the Broncos to snatch victory with a 40-metre field goal.

Fortunately, finishing in the top spot gives the Green Machine another chance. They’ll now fight to keep their season alive in front of their home crowd against the Sharks.

Cronulla come into the clash off the back of a 20–10 win over the Roosters and are chasing their first grand final appearance since 2016.

Talking points:

• The last time these two sides met in a final, the Raiders were victorious with a 32 – 20 win in 2020.
• There are no changes to the Canberra Raiders side, with Matty Nicholson named as the 18th man.
• Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo has recorded six tries in his last eight finals appearances.
• Sharks prop Tom Hazelton is listed in the reserves returning from a knee injury, with Dan Atkinson named as the 18th man.
• Raiders five-eighth Ethan Strange has scored six tries in his last four games.
• The Sharks have only won one out of their last six games at GIO Stadium.
• In their last eight games at GIO Stadium, the Raiders have scored 24 points or more.

Last time they met:

The last time these two sides met, the Raiders defeated the Sharks 24 -20 at GIO Stadium in round five this season.

Key Matchup

Tom Starling v Blayke Brailey

These two dummy halves have been pivotal to their respective teams’ success this season and will play a major role in deciding which side controls the tempo of the game.

For the Raiders, the quick darting Tom Starling has been a standout. His footwork and ability to inject speed through the middle of the ruck makes him a constant threat in attack.

His skills have been on display this season, creating multiple scoring opportunities, crossing for four tries and assisting five.

Starling’s impact isn’t limited to attack. He has been a defensive workhorse and a tackling machine. With 890 tackles at a 92% efficiency rate, including 46 in last week’s qualifying final against the Broncos, he remains one of Canberra’s most reliable contributors.

In contrast, Blayke Brailey offers the Sharks reliability and a tireless defensive workload, racking up 1,108 tackles this season, averaging more than 40 per game.

One of the most durable hookers in the competition, his composure and consistency provide steady service for the Sharks.

With 14 try assists and 11 line break assists, he has been instrumental in creating attacking opportunities for the Sharks’ spine.

With sudden death on the line, both hookers must deliver near perfect performances and limit any weaknesses. The one who can control the ruck will be the key to deciding which side advances.

Head-to-head:

Since 1998, these two teams have faced off 52 times, with each side claiming 26 wins.