BY VIV

RIP in peace to the Raiders NRLW final hopes. All there’s left is to get through these last four games and watch the Wrumble titles become more unhinged. This week we dream of the Valkyries feasting on headless chickens.

The theme for this season has been glimpses of promising football let down by lapses of judgment, game control, and just some all-time dumb errors. It’s not an effort issue because the team is giving it all out on the field. But it seems like we didn’t learn the lessons from last year, and maybe the Raiders should have been more active in the recruitment market last year.

We know that Ash Quinlan is going to the Bulldogs (Pauline Piliae-Rasabale is available or do we stick with Naitokatoka?). Word on the street is that Apii Nicholls has all but signed to the Warriors so we will need a fullback (Fran Goldthorp and Bo Vette-Welsh are off contract this year). I’m predicting a very different Raiders side for 2025 after these results.

The Opposition

The Roosters are sitting third on the ladder and have only lost two games this season, a close loss back in round one against the Knights and their pasting last week by the Titans.

The Chooks will be looking to bounce back this week with a reshuffled lineup.  Jaime Fressard is suspended for starting a scuffle, dare I say it, a fracas last weekend, so Taina Naividi moves back to her preferred position on the wing to cover. Tiana Davison starts at lock. The two spots on the bench filled by Samantha Economos who has come in and out of the Roosters side over the last couple of seasons, and Eliza Lopamaua.

At the start of the season, questions were being asked about the Roosters after their fullback Corban Baxter was injured in the preseason. They’ve simply pulled Sam Bremner out of retirement. Up front, Amber Hall is a huge runner of the ball and Pani Hopoate has had a great season this year coming off the bench. Our forwards will have their work cut out for them this weekend.

Isabelle Kelly has returned to the centres after the (failed) experiment of her at five-eighth and will be targeting our edge. Tarryn Aiken will be looking to take advantage of any defensive lapses in the Raiders

Changes

Monalisa Soliola returns from shoulder injury sending Kere Matua to the bench. Shakiah Tungai returns to the side and Dummett drops to reserves. Relna Wuruki-Hosea copped a one-match suspension for a grade two careless high tackle – although I doubt she would have been named this week as Ash Quinlan returns and Sereana Naitokatoka returns to the bench.

It sounds like a lot of changes but really we’re back with our preferred side. Amelia Pasikala is once again nowhere to be seen (not even named for Mounties this week). It’s frustrating to watch some of our forwards put in short stints and make silly errors in the back end of games and be rewarded with more field time when we have a literal kiwi fern in our extended bench. The club is only playing for pride now so why not try and give the youth some experience before footy wraps up for the year?

Match-ups

Sam Bremner and Apii Nicholls

Two wily old foxes line up at fullback this weekend. Sam Bremer has returned from retirement without missing a beat. In fact, she beat the Roosters record for fitness testing in preseason that was set by …herself. In comparison, Nicholls has had a mixed season, some really nice attacking work to set up some tries but also some atrocious drops and defensive misreads.

Mackenzie Wiki and Isabelle Kelly

Wiki has come along in leaps and bounds this year, 13 runs for 146 metres last week was the best of our backs. Her connection with Maddi Bartlett has been a source of joy this season. Isabelle Kelly is the leading centre in the competition, and last week produced similar numbers and strong efforts in defence. This is an opportunity for Wiki to see how she goes against one of the best.

Conclusion

Chooks by 8, if you’re a father reading this Wrumble, consider spending time with your kids on Sunday instead.

To get more of Viv’s takes follow her on Twitter here, or like our page on  Facebook. Don’t hesitate to send us feedback (dan@sportress.org) or comment below if you think we are stupid. Or if we’re not.