Canberra Raiders v Cronulla Sharks
Sunday 28 April, 4:05pm
Canberra Stadium
Gates Open: 11:45am
Jersey Flegg: Raiders v Sharks: 12:00pm
NSW Cup: Raiders v Jets: 1:40pm
Tickets: Click here
TV coverage: Nine, Nine Now, Fox League, Kayo
Radio coverage: ABC, Mix106.3, 2CC
Weather: Partly cloudy. The chance of morning fog. Light winds. Chance of any rain: 0 per cent. Min 3 Max 21
The Raiders return home in Round 8, looking to bounce back from a big loss to the Broncos. But it won't be easy to do - as they will host the first placed Sharks.
Last round: 2024 Round 7. Brisbane Broncos 34 - Canberra Raiders 10. It was a tough night. The toughest of nights for the Canberra Raiders. Torrential rain engulfed Lang Park, minutes before the start of the Green Machine's clash with the Broncos. And the Raiders seemed to enjoy the conditions - for a bit. But then Broncos fullback Reece Walsh brought out his stunning speed and left the Raiders in his wake. His try was the first of five in the first half for Brisbane. The first three tries were scored in the space of seven minutes. 18-0. And when Billy Walters kicked ahead for himself in the 28th minute, it was all over. The Broncos led by 24 points and the Raiders have never come back from 24 points down.
More on Round 7: As I saw it
Team news: The Raiders suffered a huge injury blow in the loss to the Broncos - with Jamal Fogarty unable to return for the second half, due to a biceps injury. He will have surgery on Tuesday and will be out for three months. Kaeo Weekes will make his NRL club debut in the No. 7 jersey. Coach Ricky Stuart promised he'd be patient with his young squad after the loss to the Broncos - and has made no other changes. Simi Sasagi will start in the second row, after he was a late switch into the starting team last week. Albert Hopoate (burns) made a comeback in NSW Cup last Sunday and has been named as the 18th man.
Sharks co-captain Dale Finucane announced his immediate retirement from the game on Tuesday, after suffering repeated concussions. The Sharks will also be without playmaker Braydon Trindall. He has been stood down after he failed initial roadside alcohol and illicit drug tests early on Monday morning. He's been replaced by Daniel Atkinson. Sione Katoa (suspension) returns on the wing, meaning Samuel Stonestreet drops out of the top 17.
Late changes: The Raiders left their top 17 unchanged on Saturday afternoon, while they retained Albert Hopoate and Zac Woolford on the reserves list. The Sharks put a line through the name of Toby Rudolph, adding Tuku Hau Tapuha to their bench.
Milestone: This will be Ricky Stuart's 500th NRL match as a head coach.
History: The Raiders have won 41 of 82 matches against the Cronulla Sharks, for a 50 per cent win rate. Canberra was on a nine game winning streak against the Sharks, until they lost to the Sharks at Cronulla in Round 27 last year. The two teams met only a month ago, with the Sharks producing a 36-22 victory at Shark Park.
The Raiders have won the last five games straight at Canberra Stadium. The Green Machine has won 18 of 32 matches played against the Sharks at the venue. Canberra also won five of the eight games played between the clubs at Seiffert Oval.
2024 Rd 4 Sharks 36 defeated Raiders 22 at Shark Park
2023 Rd 27 Sharks 24 defeated Raiders 6 at Shark Park
2023 Rd 3 Raiders 24 defeated Sharks 20 at Canberra Stadium
2022 Rd 10 Raiders 30 defeated Sharks 10 at Lang Park
2022 Rd 1 Raiders 24 defeated Sharks 19 at Canberra Stadium
Form: Raiders: LLWWL
Sharks: WLWWW
The Sharks are on a three game winning streak - and have just disposed of the North Queensland Cowboys (42-6) with ease. They have recorded only one loss so far, to the Tigers (32-6) in Round 3. The Raiders have only two recent wins, against the Eels (41-8) and Titans (21-20).
Betting: The Sharks are $1.41 favourites, with the Raiders paying $2.92. The Raiders have 7.5 points start in the line betting.
Stat attack: The Raiders have dropped to seventh place on the ladder - and are four competion points adrift of the two competition leaders, the Sharks and Storm. The Raiders' points differential - and rankings in attack and defence - took a bit of a hammering as a result of the big loss to the Broncos in Round 7.
Sharks back Ronaldo Mulitalo (8) is equal first for most tries in 2024, along with the Panthers' Sunia Turuva. James Schiller (5) and Xavier Savage (5) lead the way for the Raiders.
Joe Tapine (510) leads the NRL for most post contact metres. Matt Timoko (451), Xavier Savage (335) Josh Papalii (325) and Morgan Smithies (303) are also in the top 50 players in this department. Jesse Ramien (310) is the only Sharks player in the top 50.
No player in the league has more kicking metres to his name than Jamal Fogarty (4061). Sharks half Nicho Hynes (2278) ranks fifth. The Raiders are really going to miss Fogarty for the next few months.
2024 Season record: Raiders 4 and 2 (7th, +24), 3 and 0 at home
Sharks 5 and 1 (1st, +59), 2 and 1 away
Attack: Raiders 23 points and 4 tries scored per match, ranked equal 6th on average tries scored
Sharks 27 points and 5 tries scored per match, ranked 3rd on average tries scored
Defence: Raiders 20 points and 4 tries conceded per match, ranked equal 9th on average tries conceded
Sharks 17 points and 3 tries conceded per match, ranked 3rd on average tries conceded
Possession: Raiders 53 per cent, Sharks 50 per cent
Completion rate: Raiders 82 per cent, Sharks 80 per cent
Running: Raiders 1773 running metres per match
Sharks 1686 running metres per match
Tackle breaks: Raiders 31, Sharks 36 per match
Line breaks: Raiders 5, Sharks 5 per match
Try assists: Raiders 3, Sharks 4 per match
Offloads: Raiders 9, Sharks 9 per match
Kicking: Raiders 646 kicking metres per match
Sharks 629 kicking metres per match
Running metres conceded: Raiders 1386, Sharks 1411 per match
Missed tackles: Raiders 27, Sharks 31 per match
Ineffective tackles: Raiders 11, Sharks 13 per match
Tackle efficiency: Raiders 89 per cent, Sharks 88 per cent
Errors: Raiders 10, Sharks 11 per match
Penalties conceded: Raiders 4, Sharks 5 per match
Penalties awarded: Raiders 6, Sharks 4 per match
My tip: The loss of Jamal Fogarty is a huge blow for Canberra. This match will tell us a lot about how the Green Machine will cope without him. The Sharks will be a stern test. The form lines and most of the statistics confirm that. Cronulla is a deserved warm favourite. The head says Sharks by 1-12. I have to admit, I fear it might be worse. The Sharks are on fire right now.
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
20. Zac Woolford
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
17. Braden Hamlin-Uele
19. Tuku Hau Tapuha
18. Mawene Hiroti
21. Royce Hunt
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
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