The Canberra Raiders are gearing up for another round at home where they will face the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks on Saturday 12:45pm at GIO Stadium, Canberra.
The Raiders will be looking to bounce back after a tight 26-20 loss to the Knights last weekend which saw a penalty try awarded to Newcastle in the final minute of the match.
On the other hand, the Sharks will be looking to carry over their winning momentum after securing a narrow 18-16 win against the Eels last weekend at Allianz Stadium, Sydney.
Talking Points
- Both teams currently boast impressive stats, as the Raiders have won four from six matches at GIO Stadium, meanwhile the Sharks are aiming for their fifth successive win.
- The Sharks defence will have to watch out for winger Madison Bartlett who has scored five tries in her past four games at GIO Stadium.
- The Raiders side has remained unchanged from their clash against the Knights, with the inclusion of Alanna Dummett in the extended squad, after missing last round due to concussion protocols.
- There are a few changes to the Sharks team list, notably captain Tiana Penitani has been named at fullback as Jada Taylor is out for the season with an ACL injury. Former Jillaroo Nakia Davis-Welsh will make her first appearance for the Sharks, being named on the interchange bench.
- Saturday will see an exciting quadruple header at GIO Stadium, as the Raiders NRL team will face Manly immediately after, followed by the NSW Cup, and the Jersey Flegg match in the morning.
Last Time They Met
The Sharks claimed a 28-14 victory over the Raiders in round one of last season at PointsBet Stadium, Sydney.
Key Match-Up:
Mackenzie Wiki v Annessa Biddle
This matchup between the two representative centres will be one to watch, as they will no doubt be instrumental in the outcome of the match.
The Raiders centre has had an impressive career so far, representing the Cook Islands at the 2021 Rugby League World Cup, scoring two tries in her three matches.
Wiki was a top performer last weekend, making the most line breaks in the clash against the Knights. So far in the 2024 season, she has scored two tries in two appearances, with 125 average running metres.
On the other side, Biddle has also had an impressive career, having represented New Zealand and claiming the 2023 NRLW Rookie of the Year award.
So far in the 2024 season, the Sharks centre has scored one try in her two appearances, with 173 average running metres.
As the Raiders prepare to take on the Sharks at GIO Stadium, all eyes will be on the exciting battle between the two young centres.
Head-to-Head
This will be the second matchup between the two clubs, with the Sharks claiming the only win.
