The Toyota Forklift Raiders will take on the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the opening match of Magic Round this Friday night at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
The Raiders will look to make it four wins in a row as they take on the 13th placed Bulldogs at 6pm on Friday night in front of a packed crowd in Brisbane.
Having won their past five games against the Bulldogs in previous years, the Raiders will look to continue their streak after their golden point victory over the Dolphins last weekend with Jamal Fogarty kicking his first career field goal.
The Bulldogs were also victorious last round, defeating the St George Illawarra Dragons in a narrow 18-16 win.
The two teams have met previously at Magic Round, with the Raiders recording a 20-18 win over the Bulldogs back in 2021.
The Green Machine have a 2-1 record at Magic Round since it started in 2019, whilst the Bulldogs are winless in all three of their previous Magic Round clashes.
Ricky Stuart has made two changes to the team this week. Xavier Savage returns to the team on the wing for what will be his first NRL match of the season, after suffering a broken jaw in the Raiders first trial match in February.
Savage replaces Albert Hopoate, who will miss the match to attend his sister’s wedding.
Ata Mariota also returns to the side after returning through NSW Cup last week following a broken hand. He replaces Corey Harawira-Naera, who has been named on the extended bench.
Cameron Ciraldo’s team also has a few changes ahead of the clash. Braidon Burns is out with an knee injury, with Jacob Kiraz taking his place on the wing.
Prop Max King returns from a rib injury, with Karl Oloapu and Franklin Pele named on the bench.
Match: Bulldogs v Raiders
Round 10 -
home Team
Bulldogs
away Team
Raiders
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Bulldogs is number 1 Hayze PerhamFullback for Raiders is number 1 Sebastian Kris
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Winger for Bulldogs is number 2 Jacob KirazWinger for Raiders is number 2 Xavier Savage
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Centre for Bulldogs is number 3 Jake AverilloCentre for Raiders is number 3 Jarrod Croker
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Centre for Bulldogs is number 4 Paul AlamotiCentre for Raiders is number 4 Matthew Timoko
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Winger for Bulldogs is number 5 Declan CaseyWinger for Raiders is number 5 Jordan Rapana
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Five-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Josh ReynoldsFive-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Jack Wighton
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Halfback for Bulldogs is number 7 Matt BurtonHalfback for Raiders is number 7 Jamal Fogarty
Forwards
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Prop for Bulldogs is number 8 Max KingProp for Raiders is number 8 Josh Papalii
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Hooker for Bulldogs is number 9 Reed MahoneyHooker for Raiders is number 9 Zac Woolford
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Prop for Bulldogs is number 10 Tevita Pangai JuniorProp for Raiders is number 10 Joseph Tapine
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2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 11 Corey Waddell2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Hudson Young
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2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 12 Jacob Preston2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Elliott Whitehead
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Lock for Bulldogs is number 13 Raymond Faitala-MarinerLock for Raiders is number 13 Corey Horsburgh
Interchange
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Interchange for Bulldogs is number 14 Karl OloapuInterchange for Raiders is number 14 Tom Starling
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Interchange for Bulldogs is number 15 Jayden OkunborInterchange for Raiders is number 15 Emre Guler
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Interchange for Bulldogs is number 16 Franklin PeleInterchange for Raiders is number 16 Pasami Saulo
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Interchange for Bulldogs is number 17 Samuel HughesInterchange for Raiders is number 17 Ata Mariota
Reserves
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Replacement for Bulldogs is number 21 Harrison EdwardsReplacement for Raiders is number 19 James Schiller
Match Officials
- Referee: Chris Sutton
- Touch Judge: Liam Kennedy
- Touch Judge: Matt Noyen
- Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein
Last updated:
Last time they met
The Raiders took down the Bulldogs in round nine last year with a 14-4 victory at GIO Stadium Canberra.
Key Match-ups
Jamal Fogarty v Matt Burton
Jamal Fogarty’s stellar performances in the past three weeks have inspired the Raiders to consecutive victories thanks to his willpower and determination.
Playing only 15 games for the Raiders last season, Fogarty was the Raiders top scorer with 116 points and ten try assists to his name.
However his game has gone to another level this season, averaging over 100 more kicking metres per game and a goal conversion rate of 92% so far this season.
Forcing seven drop-outs in the opening nine rounds, Fogarty is projected to surpass his career high of 13 drop outs in a year with ease, making him a threat with the boot changing the momentum of the game in a flash.
Opposite him will be Origin representative Matt Burton whose athleticism and flare with the ball creates numerous point-scoring opportunities for the Bulldogs.
Burton’s towering bombs are a challenge for all fullbacks but his decision-making and skill are elements to his game that make him a highly regarded player in the competition.
Averaging over 380 kicking metres this season, he has also set up three tries and scored three of his own.
Both players have the ability to dominate possession and field position, making them a key match-up going into this clash.
Corey Horsburgh v Raymond Faitala-Mariner
After playing his third straight game at lock, Corey Horsburgh has showed why he deserves his spot in the team after strong consecutive performances.
Horsburgh was a work horse against the Dolphins last weekend, with a monstrous 24 runs, 41 tackles, 5 offloads and 95 post contact metres in 71 minutes of football.
With two tries and one try assist to his name this season, Horsburgh is putting the rest of the competition on high alert.
Raymond Faitala-Mariner is also a highly respected forward in the NRL, as he enters his ninth season of first grade.
Fluctuating between second row and lock in 2023, Faitala-Mariner’s defence is one of his best qualities, accruing over 45 tackles and only missing three in their win over the Dragons.
With the Bulldogs riddled with injuries, Faitala-Mariner is doing everything he can to empower his team to courageous victories.
Josh Papali'i v Tevita Pangai Junior
Playing his fourth game of the season, Tevita Pangai Junior’s brute force makes him a powerhouse for every player that stands in his way.
After returning from injury, Pangai Junior’s physicality and hard hitting make him one of the fiercest forwards in the competition on his day.
With 120 running metres on average for the 2023 season so far, his ability to draw in defenders and find an offload to his teammates opens up the game drastically.
Josh Papali’i is an instrumental figure to the Raiders’ forward pack, playing his hand in attack and defence for the team.
Papali’i, who will be playing his 270th career appearance this weekend, has only missed three tackles this season while also making a season high of 82 post contact metres against the Dolphins last weekend.
His tackle efficiency and tackle breaks make him a strong and versatile player who the Raiders can rely on for their big moments.
Head to Head
In the 39 games played between the Raiders and the Bulldogs, the Raiders have won 21 of them as opposed to the Bulldogs 18.
