2024 Round 8 v Sharks: Teams and Previews *Teams p1*

[The Greenhouse]

2024 Round 8 v Sharks: Teams and Previews



Canberra Raiders v Cronulla Sharks
Sunday 28 April, 4:05pm
Canberra Stadium
Gates Open: 11:45am
Jersey Flegg: 12:00pm
NSW Cup: 1:40pm
Tickets: Click here
TV coverage: Nine, Nine Now, Fox League, Kayo
Radio coverage: ABC, Mix106.3, 2CC

The Canberra Raiders host the Cronulla Sharks at Canberra Stadium in Round 8. Yes, the Raiders only just played them a month ago. 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. Chevy Stewart
2. James Schiller
3. Matthew Timoko
4. Sebastian Kris
5. Xavier Savage
6. Ethan Strange
7. Kaeo Weekes
8. Josh Papalii
9. Danny Levi
10. Joseph Tapine
11. Hudson Young
12. Simi Sasagi
13. Morgan Smithies

14. Tom Starling
15. Ata Mariota
16. Trey Mooney
17. Pasami Saulo

18. Albert Hopoate
19. Emre Guler
20. Zac Woolford
21. Nick Cotric
22. Peter Hola

Injury/Suspension
Elliott Whitehead, Calf (Round 9)
Corey Horsburgh, Groin (Round 11-13)
Jordan Rapana, Knee (Round 11-13)
Jamal Fogarty, Bicep (Round 20-22)
Zac Hosking, Shoulder (Indefinite)
Corey Harawira-Naera, Seizure (Indefinite)

Cronulla Sharks

1. William Kennedy
2. Sione Katoa
3. Jesse Ramien
4. Kayal Iro
5. Ronaldo Mulitalo
6. Daniel Atkinson
7. Nicho Hynes
8. Thomas Hazelton
9. Blayke Brailey
10. Oregon Kaufusi
11. Briton Nikora
12. Teig Wilton
13. Cameron McInnes

14. Jack Williams
15. Siosifa Talakai
16. Toby Rudolf
17. Braden Hamlin-Uele

18. Mawene Hiroti
19. Tuku Hau Tapuha
20. Samuel Stonestreet
21. Royce Hunt
22. Kade Dykes

Injury/Suspension
Braydon Trindall, Stood down (TBA)
Jesse Colquhoun, Foot (Indefinite)

Officials

Referee: Peter Gough
Touch judges: Jon Stone, Drew Oultram
Video referee: Gerard Sutton

Match Hashtags: #NRL #WeareRaiders #NRLRaidersSharks

NSW Cup teams: Click here
Jersey Flegg teams: Click here

[Billy Walker]

I could see Kris into the halves

[Colk]

This is going to be a bloodbath unfortunately.

[Colk]

I could see Kris into the halves

I hope not.

[Bloody_Burnham]

Is Weekes fit? If not, Cooky might come into the halves. Sisagi could probably do a job at 5/8th but Strange really can't be the first option kicker/organiser based upon the small sample size in the second half against the Broncos.

[HoraceBigCigar]

Is Weekes fit? If not, Cooky might come into the halves. Sisagi could probably do a job at 5/8th but Strange really can't be the first option kicker/organiser based upon the small sample size in the second half against the Broncos.

I’m gonna respectfully disagree. (I do agree with the small a sample size part though). As the 2nd half went on Strange grew into the role and the attack didn’t look any worse than it has with Fogs. This is a coming from a youngster who was dumped into the role at half time. Some naive optimism might think having Strange play half for a few months will just further develop his game and, assuming he goes back to 5/8 at some point, we would have two options instead of “oh it the fifth pass it Fogs for a kick”. I do agree on the kicking part, dunno if Weakes can kick?

[Finchy]

Same team that beat the Tigers!

[Colk]

Same team that beat the Tigers!

Haha

[Timbo]

I’m worried about our kicking game with a Strange/Weekes halves pairing. They’re both hall running 6’s.

If Sanders is keen to join us, I hope we negotiate a transfer fee with the Eels and get his m ASAP.

[Bloody_Burnham]

Is Weekes fit? If not, Cooky might come into the halves. Sisagi could probably do a job at 5/8th but Strange really can't be the first option kicker/organiser based upon the small sample size in the second half against the Broncos.

I’m gonna respectfully disagree. (I do agree with the small a sample size part though). As the 2nd half went on Strange grew into the role and the attack didn’t look any worse than it has with Fogs. This is a coming from a youngster who was dumped into the role at half time. Some naive optimism might think having Strange play half for a few months will just further develop his game and, assuming he goes back to 5/8 at some point, we would have two options instead of “oh it the fifth pass it Fogs for a kick”. I do agree on the kicking part, dunno if Weakes can kick?

Strange showed a decent kicking game in the Parra trial but it's a lot of pressure to put on a young half in the bright lights of the NRL.

I hope Whitehead is back next week as we do need some old heads to help keep the team composed when the chips are down.

If Weekes is fit he might get a run otherwise Adam Cook might be a good stop gap solution until we either get the Colonel to Canberra or when Fog eventually comes back. From what I've seen, Cook's NSW cup form has been decent.

[Bloody_Burnham]

I’m worried about our kicking game with a Strange/Weekes halves pairing. They’re both hall running 6’s.

If Sanders is keen to join us, I hope we negotiate a transfer fee with the Eels and get his m ASAP.

I would be too and both aren't really organisers either. That's why I think stick might pick Cook. The NSW cup team which runs out tomorrow will be telling.

[NoMan]

Weekes and Strange are adaptable and theres time to plan around them considering they both spent time at half during the offseason. They can play left and right half and share the kicking.

Cook might have some shock value for a few weeks but long term it doesnt make sense to play him.

[radicalraider]

Can Sanders play if eels release him

[SeeBee101]

I'd prefer Cook over Weekes, but if we play strange and Weekes, I suggest that Weekes takes over kicking. He seems to be a better kicker than Strange

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[Dylan’s Raiders]

Unfortunately, it’s time for some growing pains. Cookie is train and trial so ineligible I believe.

1. Chevy Stewart
2. Xavier Savage
3. Seb Kris
4. Matt Timoko
5. Albert Hopoate
6. Kaeo Weekes
7. Ethan Strange
8. Josh Papali’i
9. Danny Levi
10. Joseph Tapine (c)
11. Hudson Young
12. Simi Sasagi
13. Morgan Smithies

14. Tommy Starling
15. Trey Mooney
16. Ata Mariota
17. Pasami Saulo

[tommyhud9]

It is probably going to get worse before it gets better now with no halfback but at least the attitude tonight was really good.

[Regs Revolution]

1. Stewart
2. Schiller
3. Timoko
4. Kris
5. Savage
6. Weekes
7. Strange
8. Papa
9. Levi
10. Tapine
11. Sasagi
12. Mariota
13. Smithies

14. Puru
15. Mooney
16. Saulo
17. Young

18. EW

[Finchy]

Do we think losing Fog and Rapa that the lack of experience might see Whitehead make a miraculous recovery and parachute back into the team?

[Seiffert82]

That's quite the injury list.

Weekes seems to be the only viable option for the halves. These kids are now on a pretty steep learning curve.

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[NoMan]

Yeah, all senior players as well. It will definitely accelerate things. I think the young guys are quick studies but there will be some rough days.

[PerthRaider86]

I could see Kris into the halves

Ricky is stupid enough to do this.....

Id say its between Weekes or Sasagi for Fogs spot


but then again, ricky has put whitehead in the halves before........

[BadnMean]

Do we think losing Fog and Rapa that the lack of experience might see Whitehead make a miraculous recovery and parachute back into the team?

I think odds have dramatically shortened.

[Dusty]

1. Stewart
2, Hopoate
3. Timoko
4. Kris
5. Savage
6. Weekes
7. Strange
8. Papalii
9. Levi
10. Tapine
11. Young
12. Sisagi
13. Smithies

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


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[Raiders_Pat]

I could see Kris into the halves

Ricky is stupid enough to do this.....

Id say its between Weekes or Sasagi for Fogs spot


but then again, ricky has put whitehead in the halves before........

There is no chance Ricky will put ridiculous pressure on Strange by putting a bloke who can't kick alongside him in the halves. It will have to be Weekes or Cook.

[UncleDrew]

Time to drop Tom starling! Sick of seeing him at 14

[Neeeegz]

We still have a spot in our top 30, should promote Cook if he gets through today's nsw cup game unscathed. Weekes' defence isn't up to fg standard.

1. Stewart
2. Savage
3. Kris
4. Timoko
5. Shiller
6. Strange
7. Cook
8. Papalli
9. Woolford
10. Tapine
11. Young
12. Sasigi
13. Smithies

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

18. Weekes / Cotric

[NoMan]

Cooks defense is worse.

[Finchy]

I swear this is my fault. I genuinely thought before the game how lucky we’d been for no injuries to Fog when other teams are losing their halfbacks (Cleary, Moses, Walker), and that he was pretty much the only one we couldn’t adequately replace if he got injured. Then what happens? We also have no goal kicker now.

[NoMan]

Chevy was around an 80% goal kicker on 30 attempts last year so he will kick I guess. I don’t remember him drilling many from the sidelines though.

Cook has been goal kicking for NSW cup but hasn’t been great at it in the games I’ve seen.

[Raiders_Pat]

Time to drop Tom starling! Sick of seeing him at 14

I'm with you there 100% - get Starling out of the NRL side. He played less than 15 mins last night and does not add value when he comes on. Levi played for too long last night - 50 minutes seems to be his limit, 60 mins is pushing it, 75 mins we should never see again. But if we're not trusting Starling to do a job for 25-30 mins then he shouldn't be there.

[President Clinton]

Starling only played 14 minutes even after Fogarty didn’t play the whole second half.

He needs to be dropped. Levi played 75 minutes - so either get Puru in there who can cover hooker as needed and actually cover other positions. Or have Woolford start and Levi on the bench, who can then play hooker and in the forwards.

Honestly, Starling is just wasted in the 14 jersey.

[Raiders_Pat]

Starling only played 14 minutes even after Fogarty didn’t play the whole second half.

He needs to be dropped. Levi played 75 minutes - so either get Puru in there who can cover hooker as needed and actually cover other positions. Or have Woolford start and Levi on the bench, who can then play hooker and in the forwards.

Honestly, Starling is just wasted in the 14 jersey.

I would go Puru at hooker for the opening 20-25 mins, then bring Levi on to play the remaining 55-60 mins. We would also be able to use Puru at lock later in the game so Smithies doesn't have to smash out 80 mins each week in the NRL (although I note he was rested this weekend). The rest of the bench would then be filled out with two props and an edge/utility. I'm highly doubtful we will see this but I think this sort of set up would be far more likely to play 80 minutes of consistent footy each week, plus give us a bit more flexibility.

[Raider47]

Starling only played 14 minutes even after Fogarty didn’t play the whole second half.

He needs to be dropped. Levi played 75 minutes - so either get Puru in there who can cover hooker as needed and actually cover other positions. Or have Woolford start and Levi on the bench, who can then play hooker and in the forwards.

Honestly, Starling is just wasted in the 14 jersey.

I would go Puru at hooker for the opening 20-25 mins, then bring Levi on to play the remaining 55-60 mins. We would also be able to use Puru at lock later in the game so Smithies doesn't have to smash out 80 mins each week in the NRL (although I note he was rested this weekend). The rest of the bench would then be filled out with two props and an edge/utility. I'm highly doubtful we will see this but I think this sort of set up would be far more likely to play 80 minutes of consistent footy each week, plus give us a bit more flexibility.

Yep 100%.

When you have an injury like we did last night, you're essentially down to 2 on the bench. Having Starling there who can only play one position (and not well) isna complete and utter hinderance to the team. I truly just do not see what he offers, even as a bench hooker.

Puru is your man. Even more so than Sasagi. Can spell Levi. Can cover halves. And obviously can enter forward rotation. It's either that or we go with Woolford who is clearly a better dummy half than Starling.

It boggles my mind he is still being picked. I think it's 2020 since I've seen him be a threat for us.

[President Clinton]

Starling only played 14 minutes even after Fogarty didn’t play the whole second half.

He needs to be dropped. Levi played 75 minutes - so either get Puru in there who can cover hooker as needed and actually cover other positions. Or have Woolford start and Levi on the bench, who can then play hooker and in the forwards.

Honestly, Starling is just wasted in the 14 jersey.

I would go Puru at hooker for the opening 20-25 mins, then bring Levi on to play the remaining 55-60 mins. We would also be able to use Puru at lock later in the game so Smithies doesn't have to smash out 80 mins each week in the NRL (although I note he was rested this weekend). The rest of the bench would then be filled out with two props and an edge/utility. I'm highly doubtful we will see this but I think this sort of set up would be far more likely to play 80 minutes of consistent footy each week, plus give us a bit more flexibility.

Yep 100%.

When you have an injury like we did last night, you're essentially down to 2 on the bench. Having Starling there who can only play one position (and not well) isna complete and utter hinderance to the team. I truly just do not see what he offers, even as a bench hooker.

Puru is your man. Even more so than Sasagi. Can spell Levi. Can cover halves. And obviously can enter forward rotation. It's either that or we go with Woolford who is clearly a better dummy half than Starling.

It boggles my mind he is still being picked. I think it's 2020 since I've seen him be a threat for us.

I rate Sisagi. I think he overs more versatility compared to Puru, being able to play (and decently) in the backs and halves.

I think there is a spot in the 17 for both of them and can compare around to having Puru as starting 9 for the first 15-20 minutes.

Starling should be depth only.

[Rick]

I am hoping Ricky playing Starling for 5 minutes last night was to push Levi’s minutes.

I would prefer Woolford and Puru however would settle for Starling being dropped.


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