This week the Raiders head to Belmore Oval to take on the Canterbury Bulldogs on Saturday night. Here are five things to watch out for.
Seeing Brad Abbey in action
Last week we were treated to watching one of the Raiders' most exciting young talents make his club debut against the Broncos.
Brad Abbey has been electric for Mounties this year and he transferred some of that attacking spark to the NRL when he pulled on the lime green jersey for the first time last Saturday.
Abbey starred for the Warriors in the NYC, winning the 2014 Grand Final with them as a 17-year-old, and the more first grade he plays the better a player he'll become. Against the Bulldogs he comes up against the side he made his NRL debut for, so you can expect him to be primed for a big game on Saturday.
Havili starting at lock
In the two weeks since Josh Hodgson's return the Englishman has made it clear just how much he adds to the Raiders.
While his composure and ability to read the game have been on show for everyone to see, one of the shining lights of the first 14 rounds was uncovering the talents of Siliva Havili.
Havili was fantastic for the Raiders through the first half of the season and this week we are treated to seeing Hodgson and Havili on the park at the same time, with Havili set to start at lock.
His solid frame has seen him slot into the second-row during games this season, but it will be great to see how he goes starting at lock, not to mention it gives the Raiders an extra ball player in the middle.
Doing the double
This is the second time the Raiders have taken on the Bulldogs this year after beating them 26-10 at GIO Stadium back in round five.
The Raiders have only played two other sides twice this season and they beat both the Sea Eagles and the Titans in the second meeting.
The Raiders will be hoping to keep that streak going with a win this week securing the 2018 double against the Bulldogs.
Suburban footy
The Raiders head out to the suburbs of Sydney this week as the Bulldogs have decided to take the clash to their spiritual home at Belmore Oval.
While Belmore hasn't been a happy hunting ground for the Raiders in the past, having won just two of their 13 clashes there, they did win 22-8 when these two last met at the ground in 2016.
Suburban grounds have a unique atmosphere with fans sitting right on top of the action which is sure to add to the spectacle on Saturday night.
Dean Pay coming up against Ricky Stuart
For the coaches, this week is a battle between the master and the apprentice.
Dean Pay and Ricky Stuart go back some way with Stuart giving Pay his first coaching role back in 2002 at the Roosters as well as having him as an assistant coach at Parramatta.
Pay also worked as an assistant coach to Stuart at the Raiders, joining the club in 2014 before leaving at the end of last year to accept the job as Bulldogs head coach.
It has been a tough introduction to the head coaching role for Pay as the Bulldogs have battled financial troubles, but last week was probably their best win of the season and no doubt Pay would love to get one over his old mentor this week.
