Canberra Raiders Cup: Round 18 Preview
Two weeks remain in the Blumers Lawyers Canberra Raiders Cup with this weekend to have massive finals ramifications.
Belconnen United Sharks vs Woden Valley Rams, Saturday 22 August, NSWRL HQ Bruce, 3:00pm
The Woden Valley Rams look to keep their finals chances alive this weekend as they travel to face the Belconnen United Sharks at NSWRL HQ Bruce.
The Belconnen United Sharks will be looking to bounce back after a couple of disappointing losses in a row, with co-coach Adam Kyle stating his side was out enthused last weekend.
"I think we were just out enthused it was their old boy's day, the Belconnen derby and they were certainly up for it and just didn't hit that level that we had been at for the last couple of weeks but keen to bounce back into this week," Kyle said.
This weekend is Belconnen United's last match before the final's series, with the club having the bye in the washout round which has come at an ideal time, with the focus this week on the effort areas.
"It's great timing the washout round, it certainly has benefited us being in the last round of the competition, it really is important we bounce back this week, not really around our technical skill but more our effort areas."
The previous matchup between the two sides saw the Sharks claim a strong victory, with Captain Coach Zac Patch leading from the front with a double, with Kyle declaring his performance a key in seeing where the Sharks are at, against a Woden side who will be up for the fight.
"They are super fit and super competitive, and we are expecting a good competition from them and the last time we played them Patch was unreal and he's the barometer for our side and he is really keen to bounce back after last weekend and that'll set the standard for where we are going."
Meanwhile, the Rams enter this weekend off the back of a tight four-point win away from home against the Gungahlin Bulls, which keeps the finals chances alive.
Forward Dan Prior stated that despite a couple of disappointing losses in the middle part of the season, they are still taking the season week by week and are confident in their final's chances.
"We are just playing it week by week at the moment, we've lost a couple during the year which have made it hard on ourselves but now we can't be chasing results we just take each week as it comes," Prior said.
At the beginning of the season, many people wrote Woden Valley off with this underdog tag being embraced by the Rams and fueling them for the season.
"Internally it didn't really do much, everyone was pretty okay with the idea of that's how we were looked at and everybody jumped on board behind Sean and Daine who have led from the front."
The Rams are aware of the dangers that the best attacking side in the competition present, with Prior saying his side needs to be on alert.
"They are strong across the park, and you're really need to have your wits about you when you come up against them."
This is going to be an exciting matchup and a critical two points for both sides, a win for the Sharks boosts their chances of a top two finish, whilst the Rams need to win to keep their finals aspirations alive.
Queanbeyan Kangaroos vs Goulburn City Bulldogs, Saturday 22 August, Seears Workwear Oval, 3:00pm
The Queanbeyan Kangaroos welcome the Goulburn City Bulldogs in a blockbuster clash at Seears Workwear Oval which will see Kangaroos president Troy Whiley play his 300th game.
The Kangaroos enter this weekend after a bye in round 17 with their previous performance a tight victory against the Sharks at Bruce which saw them secure their fourth consecutive minor premiership.
Club president and middle forward Troy Whiley brings up his 300th First Grade match for his beloved Queanbeyan Kangaroos, debuting with the club back in 2004.
Meanwhile, the Bulldogs enter this contest potentially one win away from locking in their finals football, with a victory and results going their way ensuring the feature in the top four.
Goulburn's confidence will be sky high after a comeback performance last weekend against the Bushrangers and their earlier matchup against Queanbeyan which they won 22-16.
Tuggeranong Bushrangers vs Queanbeyan Blues, Saturday 22 August, Greenway Oval, 3:00pm
The Queanbeyan Blues travel to Greenway Oval for a contest against the Tuggeranong Bushrangers as they look to continue their quest for a top two finish.
Tuggeranong suffered their second consecutive two-point defeat last weekend against the Bulldogs and are winless since round 13, with this sure to lift them ahead of the last couple of weeks.
Meanwhile, the Blues enter this matchup in scintillating form crossing the sixty-point mark in their last two games, against the Bulls and Magpies respectively, the halves combination of Dylan McLachlan and Connor Williams have been critical to the side's resurging form.
It was a high scoring affair the last time these two teams met each other with the Blues claiming a 34-24 victory, a win for Queanbeyan will keep their hopes of a top two finish alive.
Gungahlin Bulls vs Yass Magpies, Saturday 22 August, Gungahlin Enclosed Oval, 3:00pm
The Gungahlin Bulls and Yass Magpies face off at Gungahlin Enclosed Oval as both teams look to avoid the wooden spoon.
Gungahlin remain at home this weekend after a tight four-point defeat at the hands of the Woden Valley Rams last start and will be desperate to overturn a recent run of disappointing results in front of their home fans.
Whilst, for the Magpies their recent run has been difficult as well, suffering heavy defeats at the hands of the Sharks, Bulldogs and Blues; a victory this weekend will see them rise from the bottom of the ladder.
In the only previous matchup this year it was the Magpies that claimed the two points with a 16-10 win.
