NRLW Match Preview: Raiders v Knights

Author: Lucy Trotman
Timestamp: Thu 1 Aug 2024, 04:06 PM

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.

Round 2 - Round 2 - Saturday 3 Aug

1:00 am

Raiders

Knights

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Apii Nicholls

Fullback for Knights is number 1 Tamika Upton
Winger for Raiders is number 2 Madison Bartlett

Winger for Knights is number 2 Sheridan Gallagher
Centre for Raiders is number 3 Cheyelle Robins-Reti

Centre for Knights is number 3 Shanice Parker
Centre for Raiders is number 4 Mackenzie Wiki

Centre for Knights is number 4 Abigail Roache
Winger for Raiders is number 5 Shakiah Tungai

Winger for Knights is number 5 Lilly-Ann White
Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Zahara Temara

Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Georgia Roche
Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Ashleigh Quinlan

Halfback for Knights is number 7 Jesse Southwell

Forwards

Prop for Raiders is number 8 Tommaya Kelly-Sines

Prop for Knights is number 8 Tayla Predebon
Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Chanté Temara

Hooker for Knights is number 9 Olivia Higgins
Prop for Raiders is number 10 Sophie Holyman

Prop for Knights is number 10 Caitlan Johnston-Green
2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Monalisa Soliola

2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Laishon Albert-Jones
2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Hollie-Mae Dodd

2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Yasmin Clydsdale
Lock for Raiders is number 13 Simaima Taufa

Lock for Knights is number 13 Hannah Southwell

Interchange

Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Emma Barnes

Interchange for Knights is number 14 Nita Maynard
Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Grace Kemp

Interchange for Knights is number 15 Kayla Romaniuk
Interchange for Raiders is number 16 Kerehitina Matua

Interchange for Knights is number 16 Rima Butler
Interchange for Raiders is number 17 Sereana Naitokatoka

Interchange for Knights is number 17 Isabella Waterman

Reserves

Replacement for Raiders is number 18 Jaida Faleono

Replacement for Knights is number 18 Jacinta Carter
Reserve for Raiders is number 19 Tatiana Finau

Reserve for Knights is number 19 Viena Tinao
Reserve for Raiders is number 20 Felice Quinlan

Reserve for Knights is number 20 Jayde Herdegen
Reserve for Raiders is number 21 Georgia Willey

Reserve for Knights is number 21 Jules Kirkpatrick
Reserve for Raiders is number 22 Relna Wuruki-Hosea

Reserve for Knights is number 22 Simone Karpani

Georgia Willey
Jaida Faleono
Relna Wuruki-Hosea
Shakiah Tungai
Tatiana Finau

Jayde Herdegen
Jules Kirkpatrick
Lilly-Ann White
Simone Karpani
Viena Tinao

Alanna Dummett

Grace Kukutai

Match Officials

Senior Review Official: Chris Butler

Last updated: 7/31/2024 1:04:10 AM

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.