BY ROB

Just over a year ago the Raiders of 2023 dragged their embarrassed, eviscerated selves up to Brisbane, and then set about staging one of the all-time great upsets, derailing the 1st placed high flying Broncos. It wasn’t a flashy victory, but rather a triumph of gritty determinism coupled with a smothering defensive game plan. The Green Machine got up in Brisbane’s business, forcing them into panicked errors which in turn stunted their attack.

There will be no ambush this year. I’ll tell the children.

The Broncos will be keenly aware of the threat the Raiders can pose. Canberra currently sit 3rd on the ladder, courtesy of a golden point win over the Titans that would make Steve McQueen nervous. The Raiders boast the best for/against in the league, quite the feat for a team that couldn’t win by 12+ last year.

Canberra’s attack has changed too. Last year it was the simplest of platforms, a bash and barge routine that had the Raiders forward pack ploughing a channel through the middle before inevitably using kickers to find an edge player falling over the line with the ball in hand. 2024 has seen a significant shift – there’s still the push through the middle, but now the Raiders are more willing to get the ball wide early, setting up the likes of Timoko and Savage in 1 on 1 battles where their strength and speed are considerable factors.

If there’s one offensive area yet to be mastered it’s the red zone/close-range attack. The Raiders are still a unit in development, not helped by the injuries starting to plague the side. They lack rhythm and deception inside the 10, and apart from crash balls currently have little to offer. There are occasional flourishes, like the mouse trap play they deployed against the Titans, but they desperately need to build some of the structured decoy sweeps that sides like the Panthers use to great effect.

If the Green Machine can’t generate doubt and deception at the ruck they’ll have to rely on Strange and Fogarty to provide it to them a bit further out. Strange in particular is a strong runner of the ball. With his former cup teammate Stewart in the side for the foreseeable future you can expect that they’ll start to combine the way they did in NSW Cup last year.

Defensively the Raiders have a big checklist this week, with the Broncos boasting strength wherever you look. Reynolds steers them with aplomb while the likes of Carrigan and Riki give them big go-forward. Out on the edges you’ve got Cobbo and Staggs waiting to strike whilst Reece Walsh is capable of popping up anywhere to skip through a gap in the line. The Raiders will need faith in themselves as defenders as well as their teammates if they’re to maintain a wall of green.

Changes

Poor Zac Hosking is set for a fair stretch out of the side. Reports are that the club will wait two weeks before reassessing his injured shoulder in terms of whether or not he needs injury. This means the second rower stocks have now dwindled to three: Young, Sasagi (returning from a week in cup) and Mariota, who must be digesting the realisation that he could well be a second rower for the remainder of the season. Elliott Whitehead is still nowhere to be seen.

The Opposition

Brisbane are currently 10th, sitting at the end of the 3 wins/mid-ladder logjam. They’re certainly scoring points but they’re also leaking them at quite the rate, leaving them with a differential of +16. Still, no-one wants to be the side that falls over just as the Bronx find their groove and hand a hapless opposition a pasting. I’m confident the Raiders can, at the very least, provide a good contest.

Match-ups

Jamal Fogarty vs Jock Madden

Surely Fog has the upper hand in this battle of the boot. His kicks seem to reach new heights every round, their immense hang time giving his fellow Raiders the chance to get down field and pin the kick receivers deep in their territory. Chuck his cross field chips into the mix and he’s currently one of the best kicking halves in the comp. Madden is more than serviceable in the 7, but Brisbane must be counting down the days until Reynolds is fit for duty again.

Matt Timoko vs Selwyn Cobbo

The Raiders rampaging power centre up against the Broncos athletic Adonis. Timoko will be itching for tackle busts and breaks after being stifled by Kelly last week, and if the Raiders can get him enough ball you can bank on him getting through the line. Cobbo should be treated with the wariness due a player of his calibre – if you choose wrong he’ll punish you instantly.

Rookie Radar

Chevy Stewart impressed all (unless you have rocks in your head) on debut, and will need to back up his first game form with an equally bright showing at Suncorp. News came through today that Schiller is off to Newcastle next year, but in the meantime we can enjoy what he does on the wing for us.

In Conclusion

Look, I’d love to tell you that this will be the holy grail of “Raiders by 56”, but it’s more likely to be a narrow margin in a tough contest between a bunch of surprising upstarts and a powerhouse club looking to climb the ladder.

Raiders by 6

Like the page on Facebook, follow me on Twitter, or share this on social media and I’ll tell you of all the times I’ve heard my name, never has it felt more true, never have I felt more alive than when it floats off your lips . Don’t hesitate to send us feedback (dan@sportress.org) or comment below if you think we are stupid. Or if we’re not.