The Canberra Raiders NRLW side will look to return to the winner’s circle this week when they travel to Allianz Stadium for a blockbuster clash against the Sydney Roosters on Sunday at 6:30pm.
Despite being in the game for the majority of the contest, the Raiders suffered defeat last weekend against the Cowboys at GIO Stadium Canberra and will be looking for the two competition points to inject momentum into their season.
Meanwhile, after an impressive three game win streak the Sydney Roosters suffered their second loss of the season after the Titans defeated them on the Gold Coast last round.
Match: Roosters v Raiders
Round 6 -
home Team
Roosters
4th Position
away Team
Raiders
9th Position
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Talking Points
- Monalisa Soliola and Ash Quinlan return after missing last round's loss through a shoulder injury and illness respectively, whilst Shakiah Tungai returns to the side on the wing.
- Jayme Fressard will miss the next two weeks through suspension, which results in a backline reshuffle for the Roosters with Taina Naividi shifting from lock to the wing to fill the vacant position.
- Sunday night will be the first time that the Canberra Raiders NRLW team plays at Allianz Stadium, with last year’s matchup between the two sides at GIO Stadium Canberra.
- The Canberra Raiders' defence will need to be wary of the dangerous attacking weapons in the Roosters side, with the Green Machine conceding at least 24 points in their last four games.
Last Time They Met
In round two last year, the Canberra Raiders secured a 24-14 victory over the Sydney Roosters at GIO Stadium Canberra.
Key Matchup
Sophie Holyman vs Millie Elliott
The battle in the engine room will be integral in deciding the outcome of the matchup, with both forward packs headlined by State of Origin representatives.
After transitioning from the Brisbane Broncos at the start of the 2023 NRLW season Sophie Holyman has been an instrumental player for Darrin Borthwick, playing every game in Raiders history.
In her 14 games for the club, the Queensland representative forward has scored three tries and in the 2024 season averages 101 metres from eight hit ups a game, whilst also boasting an impressive record averaging 23 tackles a game at a 90% efficiency.
Similarly, Millie Elliott’s first appearance for the Roosters was in the 2023 season after stints at the Broncos and Knights, with the middle forward making 33 appearances in her NRLW career.
In her five appearances this year, the NSW representative averages 159 metres a game off 14 hit ups whilst breaking nine tackles and has been instrumental defensively making 31 tackles on average at a 92% efficiency.
The battle in the middle of the field is always important in determining the outcome of the contest, with the two representative forwards a key in gaining the ascendency for their respective side.
Head to Head
Sunday evening will be the second match between these two sides in NRLW history, with the Canberra Raiders securing the only win on offer.
