Canberra Raiders Cup: Round Two Preview

Round Two of the Blumers Lawyers Canberra Raiders Cup promises four highly competitive matchups, each with the potential to go either way.

Belconnen United Sharks vs Gungahlin Bulls

3:00pm, Saturday at NSWRL HQ Bruce

The Belconnen United Sharks begin their 2025 season with a test against a confident Gungahlin Bulls outfit fresh off a big win.

After drawing the round one bye, the Sharks have had an extra week to prepare for their season opener against a Bulls side that started the year with a commanding 40-16 win over Tuggeranong.

Belconnen welcomes a wave of fresh talent this season, including several key recruits from the Snowy River Bears' 2024 Group 16 premiership side.

Sharks forward Jack McDougall praised the impact of the new faces and the competitive edge they’ve brought to the squad.

“They’ve really come in from a winning mentality and they’ve shown what it takes to be able to lift that trophy at the end of the year,” McDougall said. 

“From the first training to the last training of the preseason they’ve shown that their willing to buy in, its added that extra layer that it’s the mentality that gets you all the way. It’s a long season and there can be ups and downs but if you’ve got that head on your shoulders then you get the results at the end of it.

McDougall said the internal competition for spots has lifted the entire group.

“That real competitive strength has come out towards the start of the season – boys want the number on their back and other boys have to prove why they deserve it. There’s been no hostility around it, no negative energy, it’s been real positive competitiveness.”

Despite Gungahlin’s strong start, McDougall said the Sharks are focused on their own game.

“We have to worry about ourselves. We know what we can do and we’re willing to show that to the comp but if we start looking at the other teams then we can get distracted.

“We saw what they did last week and they’ve had a good win but we’re willing to show what we can do now and we’re keen for it.”

The Bulls’ big round one win was particularly sweet after a disappointing 2024 season that ended with the wooden spoon.

Prop Jayden Ford believes the group has turned a corner and expressed his excitement for this weekend. 

"A lot of things have changed since last year, we grew a lot of confidence from the weekend and we’re just going to build on that," Ford said. 

“There’s always a bit of a rivalry with the Sharks so it should be good fun.”

Tuggeranong Bushrangers vs Queanbeyan Kangaroos

3:00pm, Saturday at Greenway Oval

The Tuggeranong Bushrangers will be eager to respond after a tough 40-16 defeat to Gungahlin in round one, returning home for a matchup they traditionally lift for.

They face a Queanbeyan Kangaroos side aiming to build on the momentum from a big second-half effort against the Blues, where they nearly overturned a 28-6 deficit.

The rivalry between the Bushrangers and Kangaroos has grown since their 2023 grand final clash and remained fierce in 2024, with both sides grabbing a win apiece last season.

Both teams come into the contest winless but with plenty to prove, setting the stage for an early-season statement. 

West Belconnen Warriors vs Yass Magpies 

3:00pm, Saturday at Raiders Belconnen 

The West Belconnen Warriors host the Yass Magpies with both sides eyeing their first win of the season.

The Warriors opened 2025 with a hard-fought 16-all draw against the Woden Valley Rams, showing strong resilience in a physical contest.

Yass fell 32-18 to Goulburn but impressed early, racing out to a two-try lead before the Bulldogs took control.

With the Magpies continuing to gel with a fresh-looking roster and the Warriors eager to go one better at home, this shapes as a tightly contested clash.

Queanbeyan Blues vs Goulburn City Bulldogs 

3:00pm, Saturday at Seiffert Oval 

Two confident sides coming off round one wins will go head-to-head at Seiffert Oval on Saturday. 

The Blues were electric early in their season opener, bursting out to a 28-6 lead before easing off late and nearly allowing the Kangaroos back into the game.

Meanwhile, Goulburn looked sharp in their 32-18 win over Yass, with returning halfback Mitch Cornish steering the ship brilliantly - scoring a try and setting up several more.

Queanbeyan will be aiming to put together a full 80-minute performance, while the Bulldogs have a chance to prove they’re serious contenders in 2025.