Wests Tigers will look to end a five-game losing streak when they take on the Canberra Raiders in the nation’s capital this Saturday for their Round 25 clash.
Heavy defeats in the past month have seen Mick Potter’s side knocked out of finals contention for season 2014, but there’s no doubt that the visitors will be looking for a strong performance this weekend to bounce back into the winners’ circle and restore some much needed pride in the process. Wests Tigers showed promise against the Bulldogs in Round 24, but had simply fallen too far behind in the opening 25 minutes to mount a comeback, and will be desperate to ensure the same doesn’t happen this week.
Canberra have won just twice since their Round 16 defeat to Wests Tigers at Campbelltown Sports Stadium, but will be boosted by a last start victory over the Cronulla Sharks in Round 24. The likes of Anthony Milford and Jarred Croker continue to fire despite their side’s inconsistent form, and will no doubt be big threats that the visitors must contain this week.
The Raiders are notoriously tough to beat at hom, and it will certainly be a tough assignment for Wests Tigers to overcome the hosts at GIO Stadium this Saturday.
It’s shaping as an intriguing clash this weekend despite neither team being in the running for finals football, and one that could well go either way.
Read on for a full preview of the match including all the need-to-know game day details, team news, live stream information, statistical analysis and more.
Click here to secure your seat for our final home game of the year against the Cronulla Sharks at Leichhardt Oval on September 6.
Match Details
Date — Saturday, August 30, 2014
Time — 5:30pm (Gates open at 3:00pm)
Venue — GIO Stadium, Canberra
TV, Radio and Live Stream Details
TV — Fox Sports 1 (check local guides)
Radio — ABC Grandstand (check local guides)
Live Stream — Foxtel Go, NRL Digital pass (subscription required)
Twitter — Click here to follow Wests Tigers on Twitter for live scores and commentary
Match Officials
Referees — Henry Perenera and Adam Gee
Touch Judge — Dan Eastwood and Luke Potter
Video Referees — Steve Clark and Luke Phillips
Confirmed Squads
Pat Richards returns for the visitors this week, with his inclusion moving Cory Paterson back in the centres. Luke Brooks’ injury sees Mitchell Moses and Blake Austin partner together in the halves for the first time this year. Canberra have named an unchanged team from the one that defeated Cronulla in Round 24; the only change coming with Mitch Cornish starting in the place of Josh McCrone, who moved to the bench.
Wests Tigers |
|
Canberra Raiders |
Jy Hitchcox |
1 |
Jack Wighton |
Sitaleki Akauola |
2 |
Bill Tupou |
Cory Paterson |
3 |
Jarrod Croker (capt.) |
Chris Lawrence |
4 |
Jeremy Hawkins |
Pat Richards |
5 |
Edrick Lee |
Blake Austin |
6 |
Anthony Milford |
Mitchell Moses |
7 |
Mitch Cornish |
Aaron Woods |
8 |
Shannon Boyd |
Robbie Farah (capt.) |
9 |
Glen Buttriss |
Matthew Lodge |
10 |
Dane Tilse |
Curtis Sironen |
11 |
Josh Papalii |
Bodene Thompson |
12 |
Jarrad Kennedy |
Adam Blair |
13 |
Joel Edwards |
Ava Seumanufagai |
14 |
Josh McCrone |
Martin Taupau |
15 |
Matt McIlwrick |
Sauaso Sue |
16 |
Kyle O’Donnell |
Jack Buchanan |
17 |
Paul Vaughan |
Last Five Matches
Wests Tigers
R20 — St. George-Illawarra Dragons 28 def. Wests Tigers 12
R21 — Melbourne Storm 28 def. Wests Tigers 6
R22 — North Queensland Cowboys 64 def. Wests Tigers 6
R23 — Sydney Roosters 48 def. Wests Tigers 4
R24 — Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 30 def. Wests Tigers 10
Canberra Raiders
R20 — South Sydney Rabbitohs 34 def. Canberra Raiders 18
R21 — New Zealand Warriors 54 def. Canberra Raiders 18
R22 — Parramatta Eels 18 def. Canberra Raiders 10
R23 — St. George-Illawarra Dragons 34 def. Canberra Raiders 16
R24 — Canberra Raiders 22 def. Cronulla Sharks 22
Match History: Played 28, Won 17, Lost 10, Drawn 1
