NRL Match Preview: Raiders v Sea Eagles

Author: Patrick Gaynor
Timestamp: Wed 30 Mar 2022, 03:09 PM

The Canberra Raiders will travel to Glen Willow Oval in Mudgee to take on the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles this Saturday in round four.

The Raiders will want to keep the momentum rolling after last week's incredible comeback win against the Titans. Meanwhile the Sea Eagles were also victorious last week picking up their first win of the season so both teams will be out to claim back-to-back wins.

The Raiders have made one change to last week's winning side as they welcome back Origin winger Nick Cotric from a quad injury in place of Sebastian Kris, who has been added to the COVID isolation list and will be unavailable for selection.

Round 4 - Round 4 - Saturday 2 Apr

Full Time

Sea Eagles

Raiders

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Tom Trbojevic

Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason Saab

Winger for Raiders is number 2 Nick Cotric
Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Morgan Harper

Centre for Raiders is number 3 Matthew Timoko
Centre for Sea Eagles is number 20 Tolutau Koula

Centre for Raiders is number 4 Semi Valemei
Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Reuben Garrick

Winger for Raiders is number 5 Jordan Rapana
Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Kieran Foran

Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Jack Wighton
Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-Evans

Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Brad Schneider

Forwards

Prop for Sea Eagles is number 10 Martin Taupau

Prop for Raiders is number 8 Josh Papali'i
Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Lachlan Croker

Hooker for Raiders is number 14 Matt Frawley
Prop for Sea Eagles is number 19 Josh Aloiai

Prop for Raiders is number 10 Joseph Tapine
2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu

2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Hudson Young
2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Andrew Davey

2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Corey Harawira-Naera
Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic

Lock for Raiders is number 13 Elliott Whitehead

Interchange

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 8 Sean Keppie

Interchange for Raiders is number 9 Tom Starling
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Dylan Walker

Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Emre Guler
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Karl Lawton

Interchange for Raiders is number 16 Adam Elliott
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Taniela Paseka

Interchange for Raiders is number 17 Corey Horsburgh

Reserves

Replacement for Sea Eagles is number 23 Christian Tuipulotu

Replacement for Raiders is number 18 Xavier Savage

Match Officials

Referee: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
Touch Judge: Jon Stone
Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein

Last updated: 6/3/2024 4:46:56 AM

Last Time they Met

The Raiders suffered a narrow 19-18 loss to the Sea Eagles in round 23 last year but were able to defeat the Sea Eagles at 4 Pines Park 30-16 in round 17.

Key Match-ups

Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad vs Tom Trbojevic

Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad will need to be at his best this Saturday against one of the best players in the NRL, Tom Trbojevic.

Nicoll-Klokstad has returned to some of his best form after an injury-free start to the season and played a crucial part in last week's win over the Titans. Nicoll-Klokstad came up with an incredible try saving tackle on Toby Sexton late in the first half and scored the match winning try while still running for 145 metres.

Meanwhile Tom Trbojevic hasn’t quite lived up to expectations after his incredible performance from last season which won him the Dally M medal. However, Trbojevic still currently sits second in running metres across the competition and ran for over 200 metres while scoring his first try of the season in Manly’s win over the Bulldogs last Sunday.

This is shaping up to be an incredible battle between two of the game's best fullbacks with both men willing to do whatever it takes to be victorious on Saturday.

Sea Eagles v Raiders Preview

Jack Wighton vs Kieran Foran

Jack Wighton will be looking to continue his great start to the season and this weekend is up against New Zealand international, Kieran Foran.

Wighton has returned to his best to start the 2022 season and led the side through last week's incredible comeback where he ran for 110 metres and set up a try for Matt Timoko in the left corner which kick-started the side's second half resurgence.

Kieran Foran also played a crucial role in his side's victory last week. Running for 140 metres as well as creating two line breaks, Foran also set up a Reuben Garrick try to end the first half.

Both players are so important to their side's performance which they proved last week and whoever can win this match-up will go a big way in securing their side the win.

Elliot Whitehead vs Jake Trbojevic

It's another crucial match-up in the middle for the Raiders captain this weekend where he will be up against the incumbent Australian lock, Jake Trbojevic.

Whitehead was able to get the better of his opposing lock last week, running for nearly 98 metres and making 33 tackles with an efficiency of 94.29%.

Jake Trbojevic has returned to some of his best form to start the season. Trbojevic currently leads the competition in tackles with 142 while having just missed five.

Both of these players will be wanting to lock up the middle of the field and make an impact defensively, whoever can do the better job there will go a long way in getting their side the victory.