The Canberra Raiders are looking to bounce back this Saturday as they return home to face the North Queensland Cowboys at 12:45pm at GIO Stadium, Canberra.
After a string of heartbreaking losses, including last week’s 28-22 defeat to the Broncos, the Raiders will be desperate to secure a win in front of a home crowd this weekend.
On the other hand, the Cowboys will be looking to carry over their winning momentum, fresh off a slim one-point win against the Titans last weekend.
Match: Raiders v Cowboys
Round 5 -
home Team
Raiders
8th Position
away Team
Cowboys
7th Position
Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra
Talking Points
- Raiders lock Simaima Taufa was a top performer last week, making 42 tackles in the clash against the Broncos.
- Canberra will be motivated to prove themselves at home, after a tough string of defeats including tight losses to the Knights and Broncos.
- The Cowboys have had a mixed start to their season, with two losses and two wins.
- Raiders forward Monalisa Soliola will miss Saturday's match after suffering a shoulder injury against the Broncos.
Last Time They Met
The last time these teams met was in round eight of last season, where the Raiders claimed a 34-12 victory over the Cowboys at Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast.
Key Match-Up
Ashleigh Quinlan v Kirra Dibb
As crowds gather at GIO Stadium, all eyes will be on the exciting matchup between the two representative halfbacks, Ashleigh Quinlan and Kirra Dibb.
Both players come from Touch Football backgrounds, with Quinlan winning a Touch World Cup for Australia as well as several Trans-Tasman titles.
The New Zealand representative made her NRLW debut in 2022 and has since scored two tries in 19 appearances. In the 2024 season so far, Quinlan has made 53 tackles with an 82.8 percent efficiency, as well as running for 223 total metres.
The Cowboys captain has had a similarly impressive career, representing the NSW Blues and the Kangaroos, as well as crossing to score three tries in 31 appearances.
In the 2024 season so far, Dibb has made 51 tackles with an 87.9 percent efficiency, as well as running for 118 total metres.
This battle between halfbacks will be one to watch, as both players have the ability to make a strong impact on the outcome of the clash come Saturday.
Head-to-Head
This will be the second time these teams meet, with the Raiders holding the only previous win.
