2024 Round 2 v Tigers: Teams and Previews *Teams p1*

[The Greenhouse]

2024 Round 2 v Tigers: Teams and Previews



Canberra Raiders v Wests Tigers
Saturday 16 March, 3:00pm AEDT
Canberra Stadium
Tickets: Click here
TV coverage: Fox League Channel 502
Radio coverage: ABC, Mix106.3, 2CC

The Canberra Raiders play the Wests Tigers at Canberra Stadium in Round 2 - the first game for the 2024 season at home. Who would you like to see line up in green in this match? Name your own team, and then see how close you were when the official teams are named at 4:00pm on the Tuesday before the match. We will have the official squads in the first post of this thread, once they are announced.

Canberra Raiders

1. Jordan Rapana
2. Albert Hopoate
3. Matt Timoko
4. Sebastian Kris
5. Xavier Savage
6. Ethan Strange
7. Jamal Fogarty
8. Josh Papalii
9. Danny Levi
10. Joe Tapine
11. Hudson Young
12. Zac Hosking
13. Morgan Smithies

14. Tom Starling
15. Emre Guler
16. Ata Mariota
17. Pasami Saulo

18. Nick Cotric
19. Kaeo Weekes
20. Simi Sasagi
21. Zac Woolford
22. Trey Mooney

Injury/Suspension
Corey Horsburgh, Suspension (Round 3)
Elliott Whitehead, Calf (Round 4)
Corey Harawira-Naera, Seizure (TBA)

Wests Tigers

1. Jahream Bula
2. Charlie Staines
3. Starford To'a
4. Solomona Faataape
5. Junior Tupou
6. Lachlan Galvin
7. Jayden Sullivan
8. Stefano Utoikamanu
9. Apisai Koroisau
10. David Klemmer
11. Isaiah Papali'i
12. John Bateman
13. Alex Seyfarth

14. Aidan Sezer
15. Fonua Pole
16. Alex Twal
17. Samuela Fainu

18. Asu Kepaoa
19. Tallyn Da Silva
20. Justin Matamua
21. Alexander Lobb
22. Jake Simpkin

Injury/Suspension
Justin Olam, Knee (Round 3)
Latu Fainu, Hamstring (Round 4)
Adam Douehi, Knee (Indefinite)

Officials

Referee: Peter Gough
Touch judges: Wyatt Raymond, Paki Parkinson
Video referee: Ashley Klein

Match Hashtags: #NRL #WeareRaiders #NRLRaidersTigers

[The Nickman]

Same team that beat the knights!

[-PJ-]

Same team that beat the knights!

+ Seb Kris

[IBG]

I dont want to be negative nancy after that win but we need to be prepared that Savage will be dropped for Hoppa.

I don't think after setting up the last two tries and running a gazillion times that Hoppa will be dropped.

[President Clinton]

I dont want to be negative nancy after that win but we need to be prepared that Savage will be dropped for Hoppa.

I don't think after setting up the last two tries and running a gazillion times that Hoppa will be dropped.

I think Cotric gets dropped before Savage.

Savage’s speed is a point of difference. He also showed he can take tough carriers and finish.

[IBG]

Yes agree, would prefer Cotric to be dropped over Savage, but will Sticky do it.

[-TW-]

Cotric was statistically the weakest of the 5

Which is a bit tough as he was very good



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[The Nickman]

Same team that beat the knights!

+ Seb Kris

Same team that beat the knights!

[The Nickman]

Cotric was statistically the weakest of the 5

Which is a bit tough as he was very good



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In all honestly, Kris as a straight replacement for Hopoate is the correct play here.

[President Clinton]

Cotric was statistically the weakest of the 5

Which is a bit tough as he was very good



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Solid to average in my opinion. Not a lot of impact in his carries.

[-TW-]

Cotric was statistically the weakest of the 5

Which is a bit tough as he was very good



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In all honestly, Kris as a straight replacement for Hopoate is the correct play here.

It is but we all know it won't happen

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[Billy Walker]

I dont want to be negative nancy after that win but we need to be prepared that Savage will be dropped for Hoppa.

I don't think after setting up the last two tries and running a gazillion times that Hoppa will be dropped.

I think Cotric gets dropped before Savage.

Savage’s speed is a point of difference. He also showed he can take tough carriers and finish.

+1 thanks

[Postman Pat]

Surely it’s as simple as Hoopa out for Kris, surely. Please

[Green Machine 2011]

Yeah I’m hoping it’s simply Kris for Hoppa

[zim]

Essentially just a straight swap Kris for Hoppa, with Hoppa left out of the reserves as he realistically only covers outside back.

1. Jordan Rapana
2. Xavier Savage
3. Sebastian Kris
4. Mathew Timoko
5. Nick Cotric
6. Ethan Strange
7. Jamal Fogarty (vc)
8. Josh Papali'i
9. Danny Levi
10. Joseph Tapine (c)
11. Hudson Young
12. Zac Hosking
13. Morgan Smithies

14. Tom Starling
15. Pasami Saulo
16. Emre Guler
17. Ata Mariota

18. Zac Woolford
19. Kaeo Weekes
20. Simi Sasagi
21. Trey Mooney

[Rick]

Chance Guler misses a few weeks? I think if Young was not already in the bin he would have found himself off the ground.


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[zim]

I didn't think there was anything in the "hip drop" but given the NRL judiciary I guess we wait and see. Mooney straight if Guler is out.

[-TW-]

He'll get charged but from memory his record is pretty clean

Might get away with a fine

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[Billy Walker]

Chance Guler misses a few weeks? I think if Young was not already in the bin he would have found himself off the ground.


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I didn’t think there was much in the Hudson contact but his record is poor. The Guler hip drop didn’t look great but I think his record is quite good. Last year Guler was 10 in the bin no questions asked. Who knows how they view it this year but I wouldn’t be shocked if it’s a week or two. I don’t believe there was intent, but it’s a tackle they need to get out of the game and you don’t achieve that through fines.

[Bay53]

Chance Guler misses a few weeks? I think if Young was not already in the bin he would have found himself off the ground.


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I doubt Guler will be suspended but agree he might have been binned if Young wasn’t already in the bin.

It shouldn’t make any difference of course but I think refs are hesitant to reduce teams to 11 as it really is impossible to defend then.

[NoMan]

I think last night made it clear that Hoppa cant be picked on the wing ever again and Savage has to be in the side.

I wouldn't be surprised if Kris comes back through NSW cup for a week or two though. He hasn’t played for a while now.

[Botman]

Kris in for Hoppa

Mooney in for Guler who I expect will get a week or two for that hip drop but as TW said he’s got a pretty clean record so might get out of it with a fine

[Rick]

While Horse is still out I would rather that one of Tapine or Papali is always on the field.

After Smithies performance I am really hoping Horse comes back into the prop rotation.

I am struggling to find a role for Whitehead that is not coming off the bench in case of injury or HIA.


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[skeepe]

Kris in for Hoppa

Mooney in for Guler who I expect will get a week or two for that hip drop but as TW said he’s got a pretty clean record so might get out of it with a fine

I'll have what he's having.

[-TW-]

Young and Guler both charged

$750 fine with a guilty plea for Young, $1000 for Guler

https://www.raiders.com.au/news/2024/03 ... mpf7Fqydes

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[hrundi89]

Explain to me again after watching the Young/Ponga clash in real time how that was a sin bin?

[Raiders_Pat]

It should be Kris in for Hopoate. However, I'm not confident that will be the outcome. It's tough for whoever drops out though as I thought they all played well. The bench will likely stay the same imo but I note Saulo only played 22 minutes and Guler 26 minutes... they will probably be rotated to NSW cup at some point to get some more minutes.

[The Nickman]

So Young and Guler are both fine to play? That's awesome, I really thought Hudson would get a few weeks due to his history.

In that case, Kris in for Hoppa and no other changes, thanks Fergus.

[Raiders_Pat]

Hopoate had 23 runs of the ball i.e. took on a lot of the grunt work which Ricky loves from his back 5 so I'm not hugely confident he will be the one that will make room for Kris.

[Dusty]

1. Rapana
2. Cotric / Hoppa
3. Kris
4. Timoko
5. Savage
6. Strange
7. Fogarty
8. Papalii
9. Levi
10. Tapine
11. Young
12. Hosking
13. Smithies

14. Starling / Puru
15. Mooney
16. Mariota
17. Saulo


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[Wiki Special]

I honestly don't know who the Coach will drop for Kris. I would be thinking Hopoate personally but past selections indicate Savage to be tbe odd man out. Hope I am wrong on that.

[Northern Raider]

Hopoate had 23 runs of the ball i.e. took on a lot of the grunt work which Ricky loves from his back 5 so I'm not hugely confident he will be the one that will make room for Kris.

Hoppa is great at those hit ups from our own end. Unfortunately that's all he really offers. Kris can take up some of that workload on return. Cotric can chip in for a few more hit ups too.

[Raiders_Pat]

Hopoate had 23 runs of the ball i.e. took on a lot of the grunt work which Ricky loves from his back 5 so I'm not hugely confident he will be the one that will make room for Kris.

Hoppa is great at those hit ups from our own end. Unfortunately that's all he really offers. Kris can take up some of that workload on return. Cotric can chip in for a few more hit ups too.

To his credit he did offer that nice assist to Rapana but I do generally agree. Let's hope Ricky also sees it that way.

[Botman]

Worth noting as far as metres per run...

Rapana: 7.15
Cotric: 7.3
Timoko: 12.78 (Jesus!)
Hoppa: 7.2
Savage: 8.13

So whilst Hoppa had a lot of yards, that's a volume thing more than being particularly good. And there is certainly value in having someone who consistently shows up to take those early tackle runs but with Kris in the team he'll take half of those and be better than 7.2, and the other half can be more evenly distributed across the back five and we'll get better results.

On top of that i think one thing last night showed and it is constantly undervalued/completely ignored by posters... Cotric is still an excellent defensive player. There was one instance last night in particular in the first half where a really dangerous opportunity was completely snuffed out by his ability to read the play and shut it down.

I fully expect Stuart will go for the high work rate, hard carry guy and it'll be Cotric or Savage that drops out, but for me and for the reasons above, it should be Kris straight in for Hoppa.
(and my obligatory Mooney in for Guler or Saulo but i concede that won't be happening on the back of a win)

[Raiders_Pat]

Worth noting as far as metres per run...

Rapana: 7.15
Cotric: 7.3
Timoko: 12.78 (Jesus!)
Hoppa: 7.2
Savage: 8.13

So whilst Hoppa had a lot of yards, that's a volume thing more than being particularly good. And there is certainly value in having someone who consistently shows up to take those early tackle runs but with Kris in the team he'll take half of those and be better than 7.2, and the other half can be more evenly distributed across the back five and we'll get better results.

On top of that i think one thing last night showed and it is constantly undervalued/completely ignored by posters... Cotric is still an excellent defensive player. There was one instance last night in particular in the first half where a really dangerous opportunity was completely snuffed out by his ability to read the play and shut it down.

I fully expect Stuart will go for the high work rate, hard carry guy and it'll be Cotric or Savage that drops out, but for me and for the reasons above, it should be Kris straight in for Hoppa.
(and my obligatory Mooney in for Guler or Saulo but i concede that won't be happening on the back of a win)

Agree with all of that and to add - I think Cotric so far is looking like he has improved his game significantly from his last few years. He looked much better in the trials and in last night's game compared to anything else we've seen from him in recent years imo.