NRLW Match Preview: Raiders v Titans

The Raiders enter the final round of the season, off the back of a tight two point loss at GIO Stadium last weekend against the Eels and will be looking to finish their season with a win on Sunday. 

Meanwhile, the Gold Coast Titans suffered a comprehensive defeat against the defending premiers, Newcastle Knights, at home last weekend. 

Talking Points 

• Coach Darrin Borthwick has named an unchanged lineup from the side that took the field last weekend at home against the Eels. 
• Danni Perese replaces Ngatokotoru Arakua who drops out of the side due to suspension, whilst Taliah Fuimaono returns five eighth, with Sraina Masaga coming into the centres.  
• Karina Brown will line up on the wing for her last NRLW game, after a 14-year Rugby League career. 
• Sunday afternoon will be the first NRLW game for the Canberra Raiders at CommBank Stadium. 
• The Gold Coast Titans enter the final round of the season after losing five of their past six games, whilst also conceding 92 points in their past three matches. 
• Raiders' flyer Madison Bartlett currently sits equal top try scorer in the NRLW this season, with eight tries and has scored in twelve of her past eleven games. 

Last Time They Met 

In the corresponding game last year, the Gold Coast Titans defeated the Canberra Raiders 30-6 at GIO Stadium.

Key Matchups 

Grace Kemp vs Shannon Mato 

The battle between the respective forward packs will be instrumental in deciding the outcome of the contest, with the representative props key in this battle. 

Switching codes from rugby union before the 2023 NRLW season, Grace Kemp has been a mainstay in the Raiders outfit appearing in 17 games over the past two seasons. 

Appearing in all games this season, the NSW representative has averaged 108 metres a game off 10 hit ups, while breaking 34 tackles and scoring two tries. 

Similarly, Shannon Mato converted from Rugby Union in 2020, making her NRLW debut with the Broncos, before moving to the Titans in 2021. 

Yet to miss a game this year, Mato has been a handful for opposition defenders averaging 182 running metres off 16 hit ups a game with 13 offloads. 

The fans who travel to CommBank will be in for a mouthwatering contest, with the battle between the front rowers a key aspect in establishing a foundation in the middle of the field.   

Head to Head 

This will be the second matchup between the two sides, with the Gold Coast Titans holding the only victory.