The Canberra Raiders will feature in their inaugural NRLW finals campaign this Friday night at Campbelltown Stadium, when they take on the Wests Tigers in a do-or-die elimination final.
Match: Wests Tigers v Raiders
Finals Week 1 -
home Team
Wests Tigers
4th Position
away Team
Raiders
5th Position
Venue: Campbelltown Sports Stadium, Sydney
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Both the Raiders and Tigers have qualified for their first NRLW finals series since joining the competition in 2023.
It's deja vu for both these sides after facing each other only last weekend in the final round of the NRLW regular season, where the Raiders came out 22-10 winners at Leichhardt Oval.
Canberra coach Darrin Borthwick has named an unchanged lineup from the team that got the job done last weekend, given captain Simaima Taufa is still serving a three-match suspension.
Meanwhile, the Tigers have two big inclusions with captain Kezie Apps and livewire fullback Caitlin Turnbull both returning to the side.
Talking Points:
- The Raiders defeated the Tigers 22-10 last weekend.
- The Raiders have won all four matches against Wests Tigers.
- Raiders winger Mackenzie Wiki has scored six tries in her last five games.
- The Tigers have won only one of six games at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.
- Tigers captain Kezie Apps will play her 50th NRLW game.
We've been through the highs and lows and learnt a lot of lessons. To produce the group we've had this year, you can see those seven girls thriving on that so I'm really happy for them.
Darrin Borthwick on the seven girls who have been here since day 1. #1 - Head Coach
Last Time They Met:
The Raiders defeated the Tigers last Friday night 22-10 in the final round of the regular season.
Key Matchup:
Sophie Holyman v Sarah Togatuki
More often than not, finals games are won and lost by winning the ruck where key-front rowers Holyman and Togatuki will look to stamp their impact on Friday night's elimination final.
Sophie Holyman has been a stalwart for the Raiders since joining the club for their inaugural season in 2023.
Entering her fifth season of NRLW, Holyman has continued to raise the benchmark each season, now averaging over 120 running metres per game and a 96% tackle efficiency.
Renowned for her hard work, Holyman has showed her ability to play big minutes, averaging 47 minutes per game this season.
Meanwhile, Togatuki is a powerful middle forward for the Wests Tigers’ and has become a representative star for NSW, Australia and Samoa.
Better known for her tackle busting ability and post-contact metres, Togatuki will look to break the game open through short bursts of power.
Having faced-off only last Friday night, both star front-rowers will be looking to get the upper hand. With it all on the line and the chance to progress to the preliminary finals, these two will no-doubt leave it all on the field.
