BY ROB

Each week the NRL 2025 season throws up a new challenge for the men in green. Each week they (almost always) overcome these challenges. But the NRL landscape in 2025 is a volatile one – teams can be paupers one week, princes the next.

The Roosters are currently in the middle of a rags-to-riches arc. They’ve had a (mostly) disastrous opening five rounds, punctuated only by a second round victory over the then equally hopeless Panthers. They had their revenge against their round one overlords Brisbane, but somehow found a way to lose to the floundering Titans.

They are a rocks and diamonds side in 2025, although recent weeks have them trending towards the sparkle of compressed carbon rather than sods of earth. Their last outing saw a Roosters side bereft of rep stars easily beating a full strength Sharks line-up.

They are once again dangerous.

Which is okay. Canberra have faced dangerous sides down the last four rounds, and have emerged victorious in three of those contests. They can chase teams down or grind them out. In 2025 they have that most precious footy asset of all: confidence. There’s a reason why they’re second on the ladder.

The last time these two sides met the Raiders shocked everyone by doubling down on their defeat of the Panthers the previous round. At the backend of 2024 the Raiders travelled to Allianz and engaged the Chooks in a hard-fought struggle that ended 14-12 in the Milk’s favour.

If one thing leans towards Canberra this week it will be freshness of troops, with only Hudson Young backing up from Origin. The Roosters will be banking on Angus Crichton, Connor Watson, Lindsay Collins, Robert Toia and Dickhead Leniu all coming through unscathed.

The Raiders do have personnel changes though, with Starling copping a week off due to naughty behaviour in the Warriors game. Owen Pattie steps up to the starting hooker spot, while Danny Levi slots in as back-up rake on the bench.

After last week’s sludge-fest in the Auckland rain I’m hoping the Raiders get a dry track on Sunday night. Canberra have speed to burn this year, and each round brings us closer to a genuine Kaeo Weekes long range try (look it could also be X, Sav, Seb or Mokes).

Canberra also seem to be getting better at having a proper portfolio of set plays, which everyone can agree is much better than endless crash balls. Fogarty demonstrated his running game well last round and we should hope to see a bit more of it this week.

The Milk will need to be on high alert for the aerial shenanigans of the Tri-colours. They may have parted ways with Manu and Tupou but Sydney are more than capable of finding that tall edge player mid leap with a sweetly timed cross chip. Kris and X need to be ready to counter-leap and defuse.

The Green Machine are almost officially a lock for a top 8 spot (three more wins should do the trick). If they can keep on winning at this ratio they’ll be a shoe-in for a top four berth and the sweet possibility of a home final the first week of September.

With a bit of hot blood and courage they can be eating fried chicken late on Sunday night.

In Conclusion

Expect some big moments in this game. If the Raiders can stay level with the Roosters they’ll be in prime position to grab the choccies.

Raiders by a scintillating try!

Do me a favour and like the page on Facebook, follow me on Twitter, or share this on social media because love is true and heaven is a Raiders victory. Don’t hesitate to send us feedback (dan@sportress.org) or comment below if you think we are stupid. Or if we’re not.