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In Round 9 of the Canberra Raiders Cup, the Sharks have a shot at jumping into the top four, if they can get their fourth win in row when they meet the Warriors at Kippax in the Belconnen derby.
Woden Valley Rams V Queanbeyan Blues
The last placed Woden Valley Rams are on a five game losing streak - and will be hoping to break that when they host the Queanbeyan Blues at Phillip on Saturday. Their last win - and only win of the season so far - was two months ago, when they defeated the Tuggeranong Bushrangers in Round 2. The Blues are coming off back to back losses, after they opened the season with a five game winning streak. They suffered a big 40-20 loss to the Bulls in Round 6, and a last gasp, 22-18, loss to the Warriors in Round 7. The Blues still have the best attack and defence in the competition on a per game basis - and no team has conceded fewer points. So coach Ken Nagas and his team will have their hands full in this one. If you get to this game, keep an eye out for a couple of Raiders SG Ball premiership players. Hooker Toby Thorburn and five eighth Mitchell Spencer are currently turning out for the Rams, while Michael Asomua - who recently made his Raiders NSW Cup debut - has linked with the Blues.
Season record: Rams 1 and 6 (9th, -102)
Blues 5 and 2 (2nd, +124)
Form: Rams LLLLL
Blues WWWLL
Attacking record: Rams 17, Blues 36 points scored per match
Defensive record: Rams 31, Blues 18 points conceded per match
Queanbeyan Kangaroos V Yass Magpies
The Queanbeyan Kangaroos produced a huge 60-14 win over Gungahlin Bulls in their last outing. The Bulls were previously undefeated this year, so the dimensions of that win were certainly unexpected. But their form line has been pretty good, when you consider that their only losses in their past five games have been by two points - to the Blues (24-22) and the Warriors (30-28).
Kangaroos winger Steven Numambo scored four tries - and was very impressive. Still just 20 years old, he was a part of the Kirwan High team that won the 2019 National Schoolboy Cup and has played for the Townsville Blackhawks. Numambo was named in the Raiders' NSW Cup squad at the start of the year, but is yet to get his chance in that grade. But if he keeps that up, he'll be coming into consideration. Five eighth Tom Casey - also part of the Raiders NSW Cup squad - and Kaine Pagura got themselves doubles. Casey originally hails from the Ipswich Jets, was part of the Broncos' development program, and also spent time with the Townsville Blackhawks.
Coach Adam Taylor told The Canberra Times that the win was built on the Roos' defensive work during the week of their bye.
"We worked on everything defensively and around the ruck, and it came to fruition today. I would've given them the week off, but after the way we played against West Belconnen I said, 'There's no way you're getting a day off. We're going to be training three times this week', and we trained on the Saturday" Taylor said.
The Yass Magpies have fallen to eighth place on the ladder after back to back losses to the Bulldogs (34-18) and Sharks (30-24). They've only had one win in their past five matches, but they came close to a win twice - losing to the Bulls by just two points (36-34) and drawing with the Warriors (30-30). It's very difficult to go past the Kangaroos on home turf this week.
The Magpies have a few players to watch from the Raiders SG Ball premiership team - forwards Caleb Esera, Jayden Clarkson and Loghan Lewis. Esera and Clarkson both scored tries in the loss to the Bulldogs and both are clearly future NRL players, in my view. Clarkson is not playing this week, but Raiders junior half, Sione Moala, makes his return from the injury he suffered in the SG Ball Grand Final in this game.
Season record: Kangaroos 3 and 4 (5th, +24)
Magpies 2 and 4, 1 draw (8th, -30)
Form: Kangaroos WWLLW
Magpies LDWLL
Attacking record: Kangaroos 29, Magpies 27 points scored per match
Defensive record: Kangaroos 25, Magpies 32 points conceded per match
West Belconnen Warriors V Belconnen United Sharks
The Belconnen United Sharks are on a three game winning streak - having beaten Bulldogs (22-16), Magpies (30-24) and the Rams (34-12). The Sharks didn't win a single match in the 2018 season - and won only six in 2019. If they can beat the Warriors at Kippax this week, they will jump the fourth placed West Belconnen club on the ladder - and could end up in the top four themselves.
Former Raiders forward Shaun Fensom gives the Sharks experience at lock. They've also been bolstered by the likes of prop Khalil Rahme, second rower Sam Wentworth and outside back Manase Kaho - who are all part of the Raiders NSW Cup squad. Kaho scored four tries in the win over the Rams - but he won't be available this week. He's been promoted to the Raiders NSW Cup side. The Sharks are being steered around by half Josh Pokoney, who was part of the Raiders SG Ball squad, while fullback Livai Kaloutolu is also a quality player. Kaloutolu started the year in Canberra's SG Ball team and hopefully, he can find his way back into the Raiders' system.
The Warriors are coming off a 24-22 loss to a 12 man Tuggeranong Bushrangers outfit in Round 8. The Bushies lost centre Wez Alexander-McCarthy at around the 20 minute mark. Despite that, they established a 24-10 lead in the second half. before a late comeback from the Warriors fell short. Warriors coach Matt Gafa was disappointed in his team's performance.
"We learnt a few lessons out of that game. We've got a lot of young guys and they're going to learn what first-grade football's all about ... you've got to have the right attitude and you've got to be prepared to do the tough stuff," he told The Canberra Times.
This should be a good contest. While this game is being played at Kippax, I'm going to tip the Sharks to produce something of an upset and keep on with their winning ways.
Season record: Warriors 3 and 3, 1 draw (4th, +12)
Sharks 3 and 4 (6th, -34)
Form: Warriors WDWWL
Sharks LLWWW
Attacking record: Warriors 26 points, Sharks 23 scored per match
Defensive record: Warriors 25 points, Sharks 28 conceded per match
Goulburn Bulldogs V Tuggeranong Bushrangers
The Goulburn Bulldogs now sit in third place on the ladder after back to back wins over the Rams (36-20) and the Magpies (34-18). Captain coach Tyson Greenwood scored three tries against the Magpies in Round 8, while his co-captain/coach Jesse Martin got one. Martin has been outstanding for the Dogs this season, and shares first place on the McIntyre Medal leaderboard, with Bulls half Tre Holten-Williams. Watch for Raiders NSW Cup players Joe Roberts at hooker and Sila Titiuti at prop this week.
The Bushrangers broke a four game losing streak with their two point win over the Warriors in Round 8. It was a gutsy effort, playing with 12 men for 60 minutes and holding out a fast finishing West Belconnen team. Winger Jayden Pollard and second rower Jordan Martin got doubles. Martin is another player who has come through the Raiders junior system, and was named as part of the NSW Cup squad at the start of the year. The Bushies have some other young Raiders to watch: fullback Jack Sandford and centre Josh Billing from the SG Ball premiership winning team. Prop Niu Mariota started the year in Canberra's SG Ball team too. He's an outstanding player, and hopefully he'll be back in Raiders colours next year.
While the Bushrangers showed a lot of courage to get the win last week, form lines dictate my tip in this one: Bulldogs at home.
Season record: Bulldogs 4 and 3 (3rd, +26)
Bushrangers 3 and 4 (7th, -44)
Form: Bulldogs LLLWW
Bushrangers LLLLW
Attacking record: Bulldogs 30, Bushrangers 25 points scored per match
Defensive record: Bulldogs 27, Bushrangers 32 points conceded per match
The Greenhouse will again be going around the grounds to cover the Canberra Raiders Cup matches whenever we can this season. Watch for our coverage on @TheGHRaiders on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, while we also provide live scores on Twitter via @CanberraCup.
Round 9
Saturday 19 June
Woden Valley Rams V Queanbeyan Blues, Phillip Oval, 3:00pm
Queanbeyan Kangaroos V Yass Magpies, Freebody Oval, 3:00pm
Sunday 20 June
West Belconnen Warriors V Belconnen United Sharks, Kippax, 3:00pm
Goulburn Bulldogs V Tuggeranong Bushrangers, Goulburn Arena, 3:00pm
BYE
Gungahlin Bulls
Click the links for the Bar TV Sports live streams!
Canberra Raiders Cup teams: https://www.raiders.com.au/siteassets/c ... -final.pdf
VIDEO: West Belconnen Warriors second rower Josh Ayers and Belconnen United Sharks five eighth Matthew Woolnough: https://www.raiders.com.au/siteassets/c ... -final.pdf
PODCAST: West Belconnen Warriors coach Matt Gafa and Belconnen United Sharks lock Shaun Fensom: https://www.raiders.com.au/news/2021/06 ... isode-ten/
McIntyre Medal Round 8 votes
Yass Magpies v Goulburn Bulldogs
3 Jesse MARTIN, Goulburn Bulldogs
2 Issac WALKER, Goulburn Bulldogs
1 Manu VANISI, Yass Magpies
Gungahlin Bulls v Queanbeyan Kangaroos
3 Thomas CASEY, Queanbeyan Kangaroos
2 Lachlan INGRAM, Queanbeyan Kangaroos
1 Aidan WOODS, Queanbeyan Kangaroos
Belconnen United Sharks v Woden Valley Rams
3 Manase KAHO, Belconnen United Sharks
2 Campbell WOOLNOUGH, Belconnen United Sharks
1 Steven FERRY, Woden Valley Rams
West Belconnen Warriors v Tuggeranong Bushrangers
3 Jack HEYMAN, Tuggeranong Bushrangers
2 Cooper PURCELL, Tuggeranong Bushrangers
1 Michael BROPHY, Tuggeranong Bushrangers
Leader board
12 Tre HOLTEN-WILLIAMS, Gungahlin Bulls
12 Jesse MARTIN, Goulburn Bulldogs
11 Joshua AYERS, West Belconnen Warriors
7 Joshua BAKER, Queanbeyan Blues
7 Tristan ELDRIDGE, Gungahlin Bulls
7 Thomas CASEY, Queanbeyan Kangaroos
7 Jack HEYMAN, Tuggeranong Bushrangers
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