BY ROB

Welcome, dear reader. You should make yourself comfortable because there is every chance that our beloved Raiders, now fallen to 12th on the ladder, may not be able to make their way back into the hallowed halls of the top 8. I’m not writing them off completely but a lot of things need to change very quickly if they’re to be alive come September.

There is some good news. Last week’s defence was marginally better (at least better than the defence of the two weeks leading into it). There were still some absolute brain-fades but the defensive structure managed to hang tough for the most part.

The other noteworthy point is that Adam Cook’s presence at 7 appeared to bring some much needed shape to the Raiders attack, his efforts stymied by his teammates inability to keep control of the Steeden.

There is every chance Canberra can turn things around, and even if they can’t they can at least start addressing some of their deficiencies.

The current roadblock to success is the Newcastle Knights. Canberra put on a win to remember all the way back in March, when they kicked off the Australian leg of round 1 by beating the Novocastrians in Newcastle.

Because the footy gods rarely smile on those clad in green they’ve decided this should be the round that Kalyn Ponga makes his return to the NRL. Canberra did a good job of nullifying him in round one and they’ll need to be ready for more of his left side incursions on Sunday arvo.

The only game management aspects the Raiders truly need to worry about are completion rates and kick defusals. You need to have the ball in your possession before you can worry about even the most basic of plays, an issue the Raiders have struggled with the last few weeks.

Changes

Young Jordan Martin put in a solid 5 minutes in Melbourne before a head knock saw him enter the 11 day protocol. Corey Horsburgh’s brain explosion in NZ means he’s also not an option.

The starting 13 remain as programmed from last week, with Simi Sasagi taking up the fourth bench spot. Fans eager for a bit more shake up will be watching the extended bench where Hohepa Puru is named.

The Opposition

Having spent the majority of the season chilling in the 8 the Raiders now find themselves back in the mud, a place that the Knights are desperately trying to climb out of. Newcastle have a recent record of 1-3, their lone victory from those four games coming last week when they edged past the hapless Eels. Still they’ve had to battle through much of this season without their star strike player, which means they could morph back into a lethal point-scoring machine this weekend.

Match-ups

Adam Cook vs Jackson Hastings

Cook has been guiding the Raiders Cup side with aplomb in ’24, and it was evident, even in the rain, how much he straightened the first grade side’s attack. His presence will also help ease the pressure on Strange. Hastings often draws the ire of those who want him to be a superstar 7 but when he’s in form he can be as sharp as the best of them.

Trey Mooney vs Daniel Saifiti

Two players in the same position but at very different career points. Mooney continues to build his portfolio off the bench, able to focus on his footy now that he’s locked in for the next few years. His minutes and form continue to grow each game. Saifiti meanwhile is a Knight errant, with the Newcastle club saying he’s free to look elsewhere as they try to alleviate cap pressure. He remains a formidable prop and should easily snap up a contract for ’25 and beyond.

Rookie Radar

Adam Cook certainly fits the bill – before last week he’d played just one game for the Raiders as a fullback all the way back in round 20 of the 2020 season. He’s since spent his time up in Queensland Cup, honing his skills as a half.

In Conclusion

The Raiders really need to hold onto the ball this week if they wish to emerge victorious. The Knights punished the Eels for poor ball control, and they’ll do it to Canberra if the Green Machine get lazy with their handling.

Raiders by 6!

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