Bulldogs vs Raiders: Napa back from ban; Pack set to rotate
The Raiders want a spot in the top four and the Bulldogs want to move into the top 15.
Both clubs still have plenty to play for over the final weeks of 2020, with their Round 16 meeting to provide each with a chance to move towards their goal.
As has been the case on many occasions this season, Canterbury put up a good fight last weekend but lacked the attacking nous needed to put up match-winning scores.
The Raiders, on the other hand, can start planning for the finals.
Match: Raiders v Bulldogs
Round 16 -
home Team
Raiders
5th Position
away Team
Bulldogs
16th Position
Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra
The Rundown
Team news
Raiders: Josh Papalii, Siliva Havili and Hudson Young have all been moved back to the bench an hour before kick-off with Ryan Sutton, Tom Starling and Joseph Tapine coming into the starting side.
Corey Harawira-Naera is out of the side and 20-year-old centre Matthew Timoko will debut from the bench.
Harley Smith-Shields and Matt Frawley were omitted from the extended bench 24 hours before kick-off. Sam Williams and Kai O'Donnell were the final cuts an hour before game time.
The Raiders have won five of their past six games against Canterbury.
Bulldogs: The Bulldogs are 1-17. British recruit Luke Thompson plus Jack Cogger, winger Reimis Smith, centre Tim Lafai and bench players Jake Averillo and Sauaso Sue have all been left out of the side. In their places, Lachlan Lewis is at halfback, Marcelo Montoya at centre, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak wing, Dylan Napa is back from suspension at prop, Aiden Tolman at lock, Josh Jackson returns to an edge, Matt Doorey reverts to the bench and Renouf To'omaga and Dean Britt join the interchange.
Luke Thompson and Tim Lafai were the players cut from the reserves on Saturday. Jack Cogger and Reimis Smith were cut an hour before game time.
Match: Raiders v Bulldogs
Round 16 -
home Team
Raiders
away Team
Bulldogs
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-KlokstadFullback for Bulldogs is number 1 Will Hopoate
-
Winger for Raiders is number 2 Jordan RapanaWinger for Bulldogs is number 2 Nick Meaney
-
Centre for Raiders is number 3 Jarrod CrokerCentre for Bulldogs is number 3 Marcelo Montoya
-
Centre for Raiders is number 4 Curtis ScottCentre for Bulldogs is number 4 Kerrod Holland
-
Winger for Raiders is number 5 Nick CotricWinger for Bulldogs is number 5 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
-
Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Jack WightonFive-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Kieran Foran
-
Halfback for Raiders is number 7 George WilliamsHalfback for Bulldogs is number 7 Lachlan Lewis
Forwards
-
Prop for Raiders is number 10 Dunamis LuiProp for Bulldogs is number 8 Ofahiki Ogden
-
Hooker for Raiders is number 14 Tom StarlingHooker for Bulldogs is number 9 Jeremy Marshall-King
-
Prop for Raiders is number 16 Ryan SuttonProp for Bulldogs is number 10 Dylan Napa
-
2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 John Bateman2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 11 Josh Jackson
-
2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Elliott Whitehead2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 12 Raymond Faitala-Mariner
-
Lock for Raiders is number 15 Joseph TapineLock for Bulldogs is number 13 Aiden Tolman
Interchange
-
Interchange for Raiders is number 8 Josh PapaliiInterchange for Bulldogs is number 14 Sione Katoa
-
Interchange for Raiders is number 9 Siliva HaviliInterchange for Bulldogs is number 15 Renouf Atoni
-
Interchange for Raiders is number 13 Hudson YoungInterchange for Bulldogs is number 16 Dean Britt
-
Interchange for Raiders is number 17 Matthew TimokoInterchange for Bulldogs is number 17 Matt Doorey
Match Officials
- Referee: Chris Butler
- Touch Judge: Jon Stone
- Touch Judge: Liam Kennedy
- Senior Review Official: Steve Chiddy
Last updated:
Key match-up
Jack Wighton v Kieran Foran: Wighton proves almost weekly that he is one of the best attacking players in the competition. Foran, meanwhile, is playing for his future over the next five weeks. A strong showing against the Raiders will only help his chances.
Stat Attack
Unless there is an amazing reversal over the final five rounds, the Bulldogs will complete a fourth straight season in which they've averaged fewer than three tries per match. They are scoring them at a rate of 2.33 a game so far in 2020.
