2023 Rd 1 v Cowboys: Teams and Previews *Teams p1*

[The Greenhouse]

2023 Rd 1 v Cowboys: Teams and Previews



Canberra Raiders v North Queensland Cowboys
Saturday 4 March, 5:30pm AEDT (4:30pm local)
North Queensland Stadium
Tickets: Click here
TV coverage: Fox League Channel 502, Kayo
Radio: ABC, Mix 106.3, 2CC

The Raiders are yet again facing the North Queensland Cowboys in the heat of Townsville in Round 1 of 2023. 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 on the Tuesday before the match. We will have the official squads in the first post of this thread, once they are announced.

OFFICIAL SQUADS

Canberra Raiders

1. Sebastian Kris
2. Nick Cotric
3. Matt Timoko
4. Harley Smith-Shields
5. Jordan Rapana
6. Jack Wighton
7. Jamal Fogarty
8. Pasami Saulo
9. Danny Levi
10. Joe Tapine
11. Hudson Young
12. Elliott Whitehead ©
13. Corey Harawira-Naera

14. Tom Starling
15. Ata Mariota
16. Corey Horsburgh
17. Emre Guler

18. Albert Hopoate
19. Matt Frawley
20. Zac Woolford
21. Trey Mooney
22. Peter Hola

Injury/Suspension

Josh Papalii, Calf (TBA)
Xavier Savage, Jaw (Round 7)
Adrian Trevilyan, Shoulder/ACL (Mid-season 2023)

North Queensland Cowboys

1. Scott Drinkwater
2. Kyle Feldt
3. Valentine Holmes
4. Peta Hiku
5. Murray Taulagi
6. Tom Dearden
7. Chad Townsend
8. Jordan McLean
9. Reece Robson
10. Reuben Cotter
11. Coen Hess
12. Jeremiah Nanai
13. Jason Taumalolo

14. Jake Granville
15. Griffin Neame
16. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown
17. James Tamou

18. Brendan Elliot
19. Riley Price
20. Tomas Chester
21. Gehamat Shibasaki
22. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki

Injury/Suspension

Helium Luki, Knee (Round 4)
Ben Hampton, Hip (TBC)
Luciano Leilua, Stood down (Indefinite)

Officials

Referee: Adam Gee
Touch judges: Wyatt Raymond, Phil Henderson
Video referee: Kasey Badger

Match Hashtags: #NRL #WeareRaiders #NRLCowboysRaiders


Plus follow us on Twitter: @TheGHRaiders and Instagram: @TheGHRaiders

[greeneyed]

Predicted teams for Round 1 with big names set to miss

More than $6 million worth of talent is already sidelined for Round 1. North Queensland’s back-row is problematic with Luciano Leilua (NRL no fault stand down policy), Helium Luki (knee) and Mitchell Dunn (knee) unlikely to be available. It could mean St George Illawarra recruit Jack Gosiewski packs down alongside Kangaroos’ backrower Jeremiah Nanai.

CANBERRA

1. Xavier Savage 2. Nick Cotric 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Jack Wighton 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papalii 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Corey Horsburgh 14. Danny Levi 15. Corey Harawira-Naera 16. Emre Guler 17. Pasami Saulo

COWBOYS

1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Peta Hiku 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Reuben Cotter 11. Heilum Luki 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Jason Taumalolo 14. James Tamou 15. Mitchell Dunn 16. Coen Hess 17. Griffin Neame

Read more: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport ... b05b17f4c5

[RedRaider]

Starling in front of Woolford in this Tele-guess team. That's not how Sticky had them playing last year. Should all be fit, I think Woolford will start the match. I reckon the Number 17 bench place will be up grabs too. Given the heat in Townsville in early March I think a forward with the best fitness level will come in. it may well be Pasami, but it could also be Mariota or Mooney or a welcome back to NQ for Hola. The trial matches will have a big say on who is in imo.

[Rick]

Team list Tuesday snuck up on me!


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[Billy Walker]

Starling in front of Woolford in this Tele-guess team. That's not how Sticky had them playing last year. Should all be fit, I think Woolford will start the match. I reckon the Number 17 bench place will be up grabs too. Given the heat in Townsville in early March I think a forward with the best fitness level will come in. it may well be Pasami, but it could also be Mariota or Mooney or a welcome back to NQ for Hola. The trial matches will have a big say on who is in imo.

Rick tends to have a bit of a smokey in there every year. Nobody saw Semi getting a run last year or Kris the year before. I suspect we will see someone like Morkos or Hola leapfrog a few we otherwise thought would start. I like it - we need to unearth some new talent.

[BadnMean]

Starling in front of Woolford in this Tele-guess team. That's not how Sticky had them playing last year. Should all be fit, I think Woolford will start the match. I reckon the Number 17 bench place will be up grabs too. Given the heat in Townsville in early March I think a forward with the best fitness level will come in. it may well be Pasami, but it could also be Mariota or Mooney or a welcome back to NQ for Hola. The trial matches will have a big say on who is in imo.

Rick tends to have a bit of a smokey in there every year. Nobody saw Semi getting a run last year or Kris the year before. I suspect we will see someone like Morkos or Hola leapfrog a few we otherwise thought would start. I like it - we need to unearth some new talent.

I'm still not over Matt Allwood, one of the ultimate RIcky smokies from the early days.

Surely in the heat Woolford to start because he gets the forwards over the line and rolling and we look like we've played together before, then Starling come on later to terrorise tiring markers etc.

[Billy Walker]

Starling in front of Woolford in this Tele-guess team. That's not how Sticky had them playing last year. Should all be fit, I think Woolford will start the match. I reckon the Number 17 bench place will be up grabs too. Given the heat in Townsville in early March I think a forward with the best fitness level will come in. it may well be Pasami, but it could also be Mariota or Mooney or a welcome back to NQ for Hola. The trial matches will have a big say on who is in imo.

Rick tends to have a bit of a smokey in there every year. Nobody saw Semi getting a run last year or Kris the year before. I suspect we will see someone like Morkos or Hola leapfrog a few we otherwise thought would start. I like it - we need to unearth some new talent.

I'm still not over Matt Allwood, one of the ultimate RIcky smokies from the early days.

Surely in the heat Woolford to start because he gets the forwards over the line and rolling and we look like we've played together before, then Starling come on later to terrorise tiring markers etc.

Yep - Woolford to start but I’m happy to see Levi get the bench if he shows enough in trials.

[Finchy]

Same team that... *checks notes* ... beat the Tigers in the trial!

[Off]

Ground hog day.

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[Off]

17 players, all good blokes hurting in there.

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[Northern Raider]

Same team that... *checks notes* ... beat the Tigers in the trial!

If that happened we'd have a red hot team for the NSW Cup.

[Boomercm]

Starling in front of Woolford in this Tele-guess team. That's not how Sticky had them playing last year. Should all be fit, I think Woolford will start the match. I reckon the Number 17 bench place will be up grabs too. Given the heat in Townsville in early March I think a forward with the best fitness level will come in. it may well be Pasami, but it could also be Mariota or Mooney or a welcome back to NQ for Hola. The trial matches will have a big say on who is in imo.

Rick tends to have a bit of a smokey in there every year. Nobody saw Semi getting a run last year or Kris the year before. I suspect we will see someone like Morkos or Hola leapfrog a few we otherwise thought would start. I like it - we need to unearth some new talent.

my tip: Schiller

[Botman]

im hoping the Stuart round 1 bolter is Trey Mooney at #13.

[Sid]

Would croker count as a round 1bolter?
If so that's my round 1 bolter tip

[Billy Walker]

I think Morkos and possibly Mooney as well

[BJ]

David Fifita is my round 1 bolter. (Wish)

[RedRaider]

I'll go with Peter Hola as my bolter. He was the Raiders NSW Cup player of the Year in 2022 and he is from NQ so will know the conditions. A lot will depend on trial form though. Hopefully we get through the trials and pre Season without any injuries this year.

[Dylan’s Raiders]

Lock it in:

1. Xavier Savage
2. Nick Cotric
3. Matt Timoko
4. Seb Kris
5. Jordan Rapana
6. Jack Wighton
7. Jamal Fogarty
8. Josh Papali
9. Zac Woolford
10. Joseph Tapine
11. Hudson Young
12. Elliot Whitehead (D.Fifita)
13. Corey Horsburgh

14. Tom Starling
15. CHN
16. Emre Guler
17. Trey Mooney

18. Ata Mariota
19. Pasami Saulo
20. Peta Hola
21. Harley Smith-Shields
22. Jarrod Croker

[magoo]

im hoping the Stuart round 1 bolter is Trey Mooney at #13.

And holds the position all year

[Raiders_Pat]

Lock it in:

1. Xavier Savage
2. Nick Cotric
3. Matt Timoko
4. Seb Kris
5. Jordan Rapana
6. Jack Wighton
7. Jamal Fogarty
8. Josh Papali
9. Zac Woolford
10. Joseph Tapine
11. Hudson Young
12. Elliot Whitehead (D.Fifita)
13. Corey Horsburgh

14. Tom Starling
15. CHN
16. Emre Guler
17. Trey Mooney

18. Ata Mariota
19. Pasami Saulo
20. Peta Hola
21. Harley Smith-Shields
22. Jarrod Croker

Assuming who we've got now is our squad for round one, I hope the backrow is 11. Young 12. Harawira-Naera 13. Whitehead then Horsburgh, Saulo and Mooney on the bench. Although I'm doubtful we'll see it.

[Ilanraiders]

Anyone keen to catch up before this game
In Townsville??

[greeneyed]

[Dusty]

1. Savage
2. Cotric
3. Kris
4. Timoko
5. Rapana
6. Wighton
7. Fogarty (c)
8. Papalii
9. Woolford
10. Tapine
11. Young
12. Whitehead
13. Mooney

14. Starling
15. CHN
16. Horsburgh
17. New Knights bloke


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[gerg]

1. Savage
2. Cotric
3. Kris
4. Timoko
5. Rapana
6. Wighton
7. Fogarty (c)
8. Papalii
9. Woolford
10. Tapine
11. Young
12. Whitehead
13. Mooney

14. Starling
15. CHN
16. Horsburgh
17. New Knights bloke


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I think this would be close - with Levi and Guler possibly squeezing into the side. Could come down to how those two play in the trials. Most of us have written off Levi but he could be Sticky's project player this year.

[greeneyed]

NRL predicted teams Round 1 2023

Predicted round one team: 1. Xavier Savage 2. Nick Cotric 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Jack Wighton 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papalii 9. Zac Woolford 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Corey Horsburgh

Bench: 14. Tom Starling/Danny Levi 15. Corey Harawira-Naera 16. Emre Guler 17. Pasami Saulo

Read more: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport ... 182dac4c43

[Canberra Milk]

Why do all the predicted teams have Saulo over Mariota and Mooney? I think Mariota might be a sneaky start in the 17

[Sid]

Why do all the predicted teams have Saulo over Mariota and Mooney? I think Mariota might be a sneaky start in the 17

I guess because Saulo has 13 first grade games compared to Ariota and Mooney’s combined 2, also Saulo is probably seen as a direct Sutton replacement.

[Dusty]

6. Schneider


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[Bulldog]

6. Schneider

... or Frawley given Jack's implosion last night.

[BadnMean]

Why do all the predicted teams have Saulo over Mariota and Mooney? I think Mariota might be a sneaky start in the 17

My guess is media based outside of Canberra all have seen news/ have access to those list of ins/outs at each club and so throw the only name they've heard of in there, assuming we'll play the new recruit.

I doubt they pay as much/any attention to who the Raiders best juniors are coming through.

It's honestly probably a toss up between those 3 and Guler with an inside lane.

[Danaman137]

Based on the results from trial 1 I’m rolling with this for now:

1. Rapana
2. Cotric
3. Timoko
4. Kris
5. Schiller
6. Wighton
7. Fogarty
8. Papalii
9. Woolford
10. Tapine
11. Young
12. Whitehead
13. CHN

14. Starling
15. Horsburgh
16. Saulo
17. HSS

18. Guler


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[Hong Kong Raider]

I'm worried about the fitness of some in the 17. I would consider Mariota who looked good yesterday in defence and attack (with his footwork), and even Puru. It's going to be hot and humid in Nth Qld and we don't have a good record there.

[Chicka Chicka Chicka]

Same team that beat the Tigers.

[Dylan’s Raiders]

I’ll take two trial loses for a round 1 win.

I think stick will roll out:

1. Seb Kris
2. Nick Cotric
3. Matt Timoko
4. Harley Smith-Shields
5. James Schiller
6. Jack Wighton
7. Jamal Fogarty
8. Josh Papali
9. Danny Levi
10. Psami Paulo
11. Hudson Young
12. Elliot Whitehead
13. Joseph Tapine

14. Tom Starling
15. Corey Horsburgh
16. CHN
17. Ata Mariota
18. Trey Mooney

[Boomercm]

I'm worried about the fitness of some in the 17. I would consider Mariota who looked good yesterday in defence and attack (with his footwork), and even Puru. It's going to be hot and humid in Nth Qld and we don't have a good record there.

I don't think we can play Puru from outside the top 30 (until mid year) can we?