As the Toyota Forklift Raiders head into their final bye round of 2023, we look back on the season that has been so far while looking towards the final seven games of the regular season.
The Raiders have been on a winning spree coming into their bye this weekend, winning their past three games as they sit amongst the pack in the top eight of the NRL ladder.
Green Machine fans are set to enjoy the Raiders first-hand, playing four of their last seven games at home at GIO Stadium Canberra.
As we approach the pointy end of the season, the Raiders will look to use this round to refresh and rejuvenate, especially Hudson Young and Corey Horsburgh who both made their debuts for their respective states in this year's State of Origin series which concluded on Wednesday night.
These were both monumental occasions for the players and fans alike, as they cheered on Young and Horsburgh in what was their first taste at representative football.
The Raiders have also welcomed three debutants to the club so far this season, with Pasami Saulo, Danny Levi and Peter Hola all making their club debuts.
Going into round 19 the Raiders sit in fifth place on the ladder, only two points off top spot and four points from the Cowboys in ninth place in what is a tightly congested ladder with it all to play for in the remaining rounds.
The Raiders impressive away record of six wins from nine games this season will put them in good stead as they take on the Warriors, Storm and Sharks who will also look to vie for a top-eight spot come the season’s end.
Jarrod Croker has relished with the boot since returning to the side in round six, averaging 9.8 points per game and contributing to the Raiders 68 goals for the season so far, which is second in the competition behind the Sharks with 72.
The ability to score points and kick goals doesn’t come without the hard yards of Joseph Tapine who averages 65 post-contact metres per game this year, only bettered by Payne Haas and Brian To’o.
The 2022 Meninga Medallist and Dally M Team of the Year recipient is also instrumental for the Raiders defensively, accruing a 95.2% tackle efficiency rate so far this season.
Combined with Young’s 30 offloads this season, which is the fourth most in the competition, it gives plenty of opportunity for the Raiders’ playmakers to construct a fluent attack.
Halfback Jamal Fogarty has eleven try assists to his name so far as well as his first two field goal attempts of his career which were both successful and both led the Raiders to victory against the Dolphins and Rabbitohs.
Both Raiders centres have had impacts on the 11 wins this season, with Matt Timoko being a standout among the pack.
Timoko has played all 17 games for the Raiders this season, with eight tries and four try assists to his name.
His ten line breaks and 77 tackle breaks make him a threat every time he gets his hands on the ball, averaging 163 running metres per game and fourth overall for total running metres this year.
With the Raiders averaging 22.1 points per game, their discipline to complete their sets has been instrumental, only making 7.8 handling errors per game as a team, the third lowest amongst the 17 teams.
The Raiders will take on the Warriors in New Zealand in round 21 followed by two home games in a row for fans to keep an eye out on against the Newcastle Knights and Wests Tigers respectively.
