NSW Cup & Jersey Flegg: Round 15 Preview

The Canberra Raiders Jersey Flegg squad will kick off the afternoon at 12pm against the Eels in a tight matchup between the sides for.

The Raiders are sitting in ninth on the ladder after three straight losses and are on the hunt for a place in the top eight.

Their last match-up saw the Canberra side fall to the Dragons 26-20 at home in round 13. Now fresh off a bye, the squad is rested and ready to bounce back and perform against the sixth-place Eels.

The Parramatta Eels are coming in off the back of a tough 40-16 loss against the Bulldogs in Belmore, despite their close 16-10 score line at halftime. T

he Eels will need to perfect their 80-minute performance to recover from their defeat, while the Raiders bring a rested side that will pressure the home side’s defence as fatigue sets in.

With a top-eight spot on the line for the Raiders and the Eels searching for their first win since round 10, this match-up will guarantee a high-stakes performance.

NSW Cup 

Rounding out the day in Parramatta is the Raiders NSW Cup side against the Eels at 2pm.

The competition is tight between the two sides, with the Raiders pulling away in front in ninth place, with an extra win over the Eels, who remain in 12th. 

The Raiders step into this game fresh off a bye and in peak form following their break in round 11. Their past two matchups have been impressive victories, crushing the Sea Eagles 35-16 and the Dragons 44-16 before they received another rest.

Raiders halfback Coby Black will be a key player in Canberra’s ability to score points after scoring a double against Manly and converting 11 tries across their two previous games. 

The Eels will be in search of confidence for this match-up after being thrashed by the Bulldogs 60-4 last week and by the Knights 50-16 the week before. Despite the losses, the home side has named an unchanged squad and will look to place a heavy focus on defending their line and preventing another flogging.

Mohamed Alameddine will be a key threat in their attack, with a try scored in three of their last four games.

The Raiders will look to build on their momentum and slot into the top eight in this exciting head-to-head to close out the day.