Junior Reps: Round Eight Preview

The day kicks off with the Westpac Lisa Fiaola Cup at 10:30am, where the Canberra Raiders face a tough battle against the Newcastle Knights.

The Raiders are currently sitting at nineth on the ladder after coming off a loss to the Roosters, making these final two rounds crucial for them to secure a spot in the finals. The Knights are experiencing a perfect season, with six from six wins and third place on the ladder.

A matchup between the sides occurred for the first-time last season, with the Knights claiming victory over the Raiders 22-14. One year later, the junior girls are here for round two, where the Raiders aim to even the score.

With both teams fresh off a bye and ready for action, the Raiders will need to dig deep to break the Knights winning streak and push up the ladder into finals contention.

Westpac Tarsha Gale Cup

Keeping the action going is the Westpac Tarsha Gale Cup at 12pm, where the Canberra Raiders and Newcastle Knights clash in the tightest matchup of the day.

The Raiders have climbed back up to nineth with the Knights placed slightly ahead at seventh on the ladder. Both teams are 2-2 this season and need this win to secure a place in the finals in two weeks.

The squads are coming off tough losses before their bye round last week and only making minor changes to the teams to strengthen cohesion and produce an epic game.

The Knights have a perfect record against the Raiders, winning six from six in their previous match ups and going into this weekend with the home ground advantage.

With an equal record for the season, the Raiders need to make a big push in their defence to beat the home side and secure a place in the top eight ahead of finals.

UNE Harold Matthews Cup

Kicking off the junior boys reps is the Harold Matthews Cup at 1:30pm, where the Canberra Raiders take on the competition’s leader, the Newcastle Knights.

The Raiders have worked their way into eighth on the ladder and are aiming to hold onto their current position in the finals. Going against the Knights perfect form, the Raiders are 2-2 and looking to improve upon their performance in their previous game where they defeated the Roosters 20-16.

Both sides have only made minor changes to the squads, with the Raiders bringing Max Lundy in at prop to combat the Knights forward pack. Meanwhile, Newcastle have brought winger Chayve Afa into the side to improve their edge.

The Knights are six wins and one draw against the Raiders, with the Canberra side now going for their first win against the home team.

Fresh off a bye, the Raiders are in for a competitive game to secure their place in the top eight ahead of finals.

UNE SG Ball Cup

Rounding out the day is the UNE SG Ball Cup in a competitive show down between the Canberra Raiders and the Newcastle Knights at 3pm.

The teams are sitting next to each other on the ladder, with the Raiders at nineth and fighting for the Knights place in eighth.

The Raiders have a dominating history against the Knights, winning three of their previous five head-to-head match ups. As the Knights come to even the score, the Canberra side aims to hold the off once more and prove they deserve a top eight spot.

After the 54-0 loss they received from the Roosters in their last game, the Raiders are naming two new wingers, Kodi Roberts and Kruger Roache, to break through the home sides defence and put points on the board.

If the Raiders can attack the line and get off to an early lead, they should have the strength to take home a win and look sharp going into the final round.

With finals looming, the Canberra Raiders are not ruled out yet as the four squads fight for their places in the top eight in a competitive Saturday in Newcastle.  

Image by Mrs G Sports Photography