Match Preview: NRL Round 26 vs Raiders
Wests Tigers head to the nation’s capital this Saturday as they get set to face a red-hot Raiders outfit in Round 26 at GIO Stadium.
Match: Raiders v Wests Tigers
Round 26 -
home Team
Raiders
1st Position
away Team
Wests Tigers
11th Position
Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Despite last week's heartbreaking loss to the Cowboys at Leichhardt Oval, the Tigers have plenty to play for as they chase a positive end to a much-improved season.
Head Coach Benji Marshall has made a handful of changes following Round 25:
- Adam Doueihi has been ruled out with a cheekbone fracture, with Latu Fainu named to start in the No.7 jersey.
- Starford To’a makes his return from a shoulder injury and slots into the centres, with Brent Naden dropping out.
- Utility back Heath Mason has been named on the interchange bench for his NRL return.
The Raiders have also been forced into changes for their final home game of the regular season:
- Speedster Xavier Savage has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a fractured shoulder. In his place, Savelio Tamale returns to the wing after overcoming a knee injury sustained in Round 14.
Wests Tigers will be seeking to avenge a tight 16-12 loss to Canberra in Round 16.
With Latu Fainu joining the starting side at halfback, Marshall will be counting on the young half and his fellow playmakers to create attacking chances against the best Raiders defence in years.
The Raiders, meanwhile, are riding high after a miracle win last week against Penrith and will be eager to give their home crowd one last regular season celebration before the finals begin.
Wests Tigers' last win over the Raiders was in Round 16, 2024, when the home side emerged 48-24 winners in a classic at Campbelltown.
Match Highlights: Round 16 vs Raiders
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Kaeo WeekesFullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Jahream Bula
-
Winger for Raiders is number 2 Savelio TamaleWinger for Wests Tigers is number 2 Sunia Turuva
-
Centre for Raiders is number 3 Matthew TimokoCentre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Taylan May
-
Centre for Raiders is number 4 Sebastian KrisCentre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Starford To'a
-
Winger for Raiders is number 5 Jed StuartWinger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Jeral Skelton
-
Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Ethan StrangeFive-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Jarome Luai
-
Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Jamal FogartyHalfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Latu Fainu
Forwards
-
Prop for Raiders is number 8 Josh PapaliiProp for Wests Tigers is number 8 Terrell May
-
Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Tom StarlingHooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Apisai Koroisau
-
Prop for Raiders is number 10 Joseph TapineProp for Wests Tigers is number 10 Fonua Pole
-
2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Hudson Young2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Samuela Fainu
-
2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Zac Hosking2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Sione Fainu
-
Lock for Raiders is number 13 Corey HorsburghLock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Alex Twal
Interchange
-
Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Owen PattieInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Heath Mason
-
Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Simi SasagiInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Royce Hunt
-
Interchange for Raiders is number 16 Morgan SmithiesInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Charlie Murray
-
Interchange for Raiders is number 17 Ata MariotaInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Tony Sukkar
Reserves
-
Replacement for Raiders is number 18 Noah MartinReplacement for Wests Tigers is number 18 Heamasi Makasini
-
Reserve for Raiders is number 19 Manaia WaitereReserve for Wests Tigers is number 19 Kit Laulilii
-
Reserve for Raiders is number 20 Danny LeviReserve for Wests Tigers is number 20 Krystian Mapapalangi
-
Reserve for Raiders is number 21 Trey MooneyReserve for Wests Tigers is number 21 Tristan Hope
-
Reserve for Raiders is number 22 Ethan SandersReserve for Wests Tigers is number 22 Brent Naden
Raiders Ins
- Danny Levi
- Ethan Sanders
- Manaia Waitere
- Savelio Tamale
- Trey Mooney
Wests Tigers Ins
- Heamasi Makasini
- Kit Laulilii
- Krystian Mapapalangi
- Starford To'a
- Tristan Hope
Raiders Outs
- Xavier Savage
Wests Tigers Ins
- Adam Doueihi
Match Officials
- Touch Judge: Kasey Badger
- Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins
Last updated:
Fast Facts:
- The Raiders have won nine of their past 10 games against Wests Tigers.
- Wests Tigers have not won at GIO Stadium since 2018.
- The Raiders have won nine from 10 at GIO Stadium this season.
- Wests Tigers centre Taylan May has scored four tries in his last four games.
- Raiders prop Josh Papalii will play his 150th game at GIO Stadium.
Stats supplied by NRL historian/statistician David Middleton.
