The Canberra Raiders are gearing up to play their first home game of the NRLW season on Saturday morning against the Newcastle Knights at GIO Stadium Canberra.
The Green Machine are riding high on confidence after their big win last week, claiming a demanding 32-12 victory over the Wests Tigers at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.
Match: Raiders v Knights
Round 2 -
home Team
Raiders
away Team
Knights
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Apii NichollsFullback for Knights is number 1 Tamika Upton
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Winger for Raiders is number 2 Madison BartlettWinger for Knights is number 2 Sheridan Gallagher
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Centre for Raiders is number 3 Cheyelle Robins-RetiCentre for Knights is number 3 Shanice Parker
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Centre for Raiders is number 4 Mackenzie WikiCentre for Knights is number 4 Abigail Roache
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Winger for Raiders is number 5 Shakiah TungaiWinger for Knights is number 5 Lilly-Ann White
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Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Zahara TemaraFive-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Georgia Roche
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Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Ashleigh QuinlanHalfback for Knights is number 7 Jesse Southwell
Forwards
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Prop for Raiders is number 8 Tommaya Kelly-SinesProp for Knights is number 8 Tayla Predebon
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Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Chanté TemaraHooker for Knights is number 9 Olivia Higgins
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Prop for Raiders is number 10 Sophie HolymanProp for Knights is number 10 Caitlan Johnston-Green
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2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Monalisa Soliola2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Laishon Albert-Jones
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2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Hollie-Mae Dodd2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Yasmin Clydsdale
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Lock for Raiders is number 13 Simaima TaufaLock for Knights is number 13 Hannah Southwell
Interchange
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Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Emma BarnesInterchange for Knights is number 14 Nita Maynard
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Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Grace KempInterchange for Knights is number 15 Kayla Romaniuk
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Interchange for Raiders is number 16 Kerehitina MatuaInterchange for Knights is number 16 Rima Butler
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Interchange for Raiders is number 17 Sereana NaitokatokaInterchange for Knights is number 17 Isabella Waterman
Reserves
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Replacement for Raiders is number 21 Georgia WilleyReplacement for Knights is number 18 Jacinta Carter
Match Officials
- Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Last updated:
Newcastle will also be looking to continue their winning ways, as the defending Premiers secured a tight 12-10 win over the Roosters last week at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle.
Talking Points
- The Raiders have won three of their last five games at GIO Stadium.
- The Knights are defending champions, having lifted the trophy in both 2022 and 2023.
- The Raiders will be motivated to prove themselves against the Knights after suffering a 28-8 loss to the Knights in a pre-season trial match earlier this month.
- The Raiders lineup remains largely unchanged from their win against the Wests Tigers, except for Shakiah Tungai who joins the wing in the place of Alanna Dummett who failed her HIA on Sunday.
- Newcastle winger Lilly-Ann White will be making her NRLW debut this weekend, with Isabella Waterman moving to the bench.
Last Time They Met
The Canberra Raiders suffered a 20-12 loss to the Newcastle Knights in round seven of last season at GIO Stadium Canberra.
Key Match-Up
Simaima Taufa v Hannah Southwell
When Canberra returns to GIO Stadium this Saturday morning, all eyes will be on the matchup between the powerful locks Simaima Taufa and Hannah Southwell.
Taufa has had an established career at both a representative and international level, playing for the NSW Sky Blues team since 2014 and winning two World Cups with the Australian Jillaroos in 2017 and 2021.
The 2017 Dally M Medallist was a top performer last week, crossing to score a try as well as making 30 tackles with a 93.8 percent efficiency and running 222 metres.
On the other hand, we have the Knights premiership-winning Captain Hannah Southwell, who has also represented NSW and Australia.
Southwell has demonstrated her ability to provide strength in the middle of the field, making 26 tackles last week with 92.9 percent efficiency.
The clash of these two strong forwards will be one to watch, as they will be instrumental in the outcome of the match.
Head-to-Head
This will be the second matchup between the two clubs, with the Knights holding the only win.
