BY ROB

In the wind and rain of Wollongong Canberra’s 9 game winning streak came to an end in a miserable display of ineptitude. Straight after their loss to the Dragons their opponents for this round, Manly, went down to the Chooks in equally torrid conditions. Both teams will be desperate to get back in the winners circle.

Manly have been a bogey team for the Raiders in recent years, a fact glaringly obvious in round 3 this season when the Silvertails wrecked the Green Machine 40-12. Manly will be keenly aware of the psychological sway they exert over the Raiders when they run out in the nation’s capital this Friday night.

However the Raiders of round 23 are a much different proposition to the side of round 3. 20 rounds ago they were still developing combinations and partnerships, and while some of those things are still being fine-tuned (cough*right edge defence*) they’re clearly a much more cohesive unit now.

With DCE and the Roosters playing footsies under the negotiating table it increasingly looks like this might be the last time he will terrorise Canberra in a Manly jersey. The Raiders will be determined to shut him down, which means there’s a strong chance we will get to see another Big Red chargedown (hopefully with better follow-up play this time around).

With the Steeden in hand the Raiders will need to up their game considerably – their rhythm and coordination against the Dragons was on par with me air drumming. If Fogarty is to match DCE in the kicking department the Milk will need to ensure that he can actually get his mitts on the ball come the fifth tackle.

Line speed pressure is really the only way to stifle the creativity of the Manly halves, however the Raiders need to be mindful of Tom Turbo lurking out the back. He may not be operating at 100% due to that ever-present hamstring niggle but the Raiders cannot give him too much latitude lest he burn them.

Manly will be anticipating a front door raid from the Green Machine, so one way for the Milk to vary things is to experiment with some early shifts to the edge. If they can isolate defenders and put Weekes into a gap they can pull Manly’s edges to bits.

In Conclusion

This will be one of the tougher games Canberra’s had in a while and if they can get it right it will make good preparation for the Panthers after the bye.

Raiders by a hard-fought 8!

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