NRL Match Preview: Raiders v Storm

Author: Patrick Gaynor
Timestamp: Wed 13 Jul 2022, 11:49 AM

The Canberra Raiders will travel to Melbourne to take on the Storm at AAMI Park on Sunday afternoon in round 18 action.

The Raiders are coming off a bye last week and will be hoping to bounce back after their loss to the Dragons in round 16.

The Green Machine currently sit eleventh on the ladder and are right in the hunt to play finals footy.

With results going the way of the Raiders they could find themselves in equal eighth position by the end of the round.

Meanwhile, the Storm have now suffered back to back losses which sees them fall to third place on the ladder so they will also be hoping to get back in the winners circle.

Jack Wighton and Josh Papalii are expected to back up for the Raiders after the Origin decider and James Schiller returns to the bench for Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad.

Round 18 - Round 18 - Sunday 17 Jul

Full Time

Storm

Raiders

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Storm is number 1 Ryan Papenhuyzen

Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Xavier Savage
Winger for Storm is number 2 Nick Meaney

Winger for Raiders is number 5 Jordan Rapana
Centre for Storm is number 3 Marion Seve

Centre for Raiders is number 3 Matthew Timoko
Centre for Storm is number 4 Justin Olam

Centre for Raiders is number 4 Sebastian Kris
Winger for Storm is number 5 Dean Ieremia

Winger for Raiders is number 15 James Schiller
Five-Eighth for Storm is number 6 Cameron Munster

Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Jack Wighton
Halfback for Storm is number 7 Jahrome Hughes

Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Jamal Fogarty

Forwards

Prop for Storm is number 8 Jesse Bromwich

Prop for Raiders is number 8 Josh Papali'i
Hooker for Storm is number 9 Harry Grant

Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Zac Woolford
Prop for Storm is number 10 Nelson Asofa-Solomona

Prop for Raiders is number 10 Joseph Tapine
2nd Row for Storm is number 11 Felise Kaufusi

2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Hudson Young
2nd Row for Storm is number 12 Kenneath Bromwich

2nd Row for Raiders is number 16 Adam Elliott
Lock for Storm is number 13 Josh King

Lock for Raiders is number 20 Corey Harawira-Naera

Interchange

Interchange for Storm is number 14 Tyran Wishart

Interchange for Raiders is number 13 Ryan Sutton
Interchange for Storm is number 15 Tui Kamikamica

Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Tom Starling
Interchange for Storm is number 16 Alec MacDonald

Interchange for Raiders is number 21 Emre Guler
Interchange for Storm is number 17 Jordan Grant

Interchange for Raiders is number 22 Albert Hopoate

Reserves

Replacement for Storm is number 19 Chris Lewis

Replacement for Raiders is number 18 Brad Schneider

Match Officials

Referee: Ashley Klein
Touch Judge: Drew Oultram
Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins

Last updated: 6/3/2024 4:46:48 AM

Last Time They Met

The Raiders played the Storm in Wagga Wagga earlier this year and suffered a 30-16 loss in a very physical battle.

Xavier Savage v Ryan Papenhuyzen

Xavier Savage will have a massive opportunity on Sunday as he goes head to head against Ryan Papenhuyzen in a battle of the game's two most electrifying fullbacks.

Savage has been touted as one of the best young talents in the competition and has lived up to those expectations.

Since moving into the starting fullback role in round 12, Savage has scored three tries and is averaging 190 running metres. Savage also has 23 tackle breaks to go along with five line breaks and two try assists across the season, proving to be a real x-factor for the Raiders.

Meanwhile, Papenhuyzen has gone to a new level in 2022 and sits second in the NRL for points scored despite missing the last month due to injury.

Regarded as one of the best fullbacks in the competition this season, Papenhuyzen has scored 14 tries in 11 appearances to go along with nine try assists, 35 tackle breaks and 11 line breaks.

Both these players can pop up out of nowhere and can create try scoring opportunities out of nothing. A bit of magic from either of these two players could be the difference on Sunday afternoon.

Jack Wighton v Cameron Munster

Two of the best playmakers in the competition will be out to make a statement when Jack Wighton takes on Cameron Munster in a battle of two of the game's best five-eighths.

Both men were superstars in Origin Game One for their respective sides, relishing taking the game on in the big moments.

It's been more of the same from Wighton in 2022. In his 12 appearances for the Raiders he has scored three tries to go along with six try assists and nine line break assists.

Munster has also lived up to his high standards this season. In his 13 appearances for the Storm he has scored seven tries to go along with 12 try assists and nine line break assists.

Both men have been struck down with COVID in recent weeks but that won't stop them from putting on one of the best battles this season.

The Raiders and Storm will look to these two to stand up if the game goes down to the wire on Sunday, and whoever can come up with that big play will earn his side a very important two points.

Joe Tapine v Nelson Asofa-Solomona

It all starts with the battle in the middle and it will be up to these two props to lead their sides as Joseph Tapine goes head to head with Nelson Asofa-Solomona.

Tapine has been incredible for the green machine in 2022 and has cemented himself as one of the best players in the NRL.

Tapine has started at prop every game this season and is averaging 162 running metres, the most metres of any forward in the competition. Tapine has also proven to be a lethal attacking weapon with 27 offloads and 40 tackle breaks.

Asofa-Solomona has stood up for the Storm this season through a tough injury toll to the side.

It's been more of the same from Asofa-Solomona who has been one of the most consistent props in the competition for a number of years. In his 14 appearances he has scored two tries to go along with 40 tackle breaks, 17 offloads and 1691 running metres.

In order for the players outside them to create opportunities, both props will be hoping to stand up and lay the platform for their sides. Whoever can win this battle in the middle will go a long way in deciding the game on Sunday.

Head to Head

The Raiders have met the Storm 50 times since their introduction to the competition with the Storm winning 36 of those meetings. The Raiders will be hoping to replicate their winning ways against the Storm that saw them win three straight matches over them in 2019 and 2020.