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Raiders v Dragons: Guler in for Tapine; Ramsey returns

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The Raiders play four sides below them on the ladder in the run to the finals and will fancy their chances of returning to the play-offs after missing out last year.

Currently ninth on 22 competition points, the Raiders meet the Dragons (11th), Knights (13th), Sea Eagles (10th) and Wests Tigers (15th) in their last four matches and will need at least three wins as well as a significant boost to their for-and-against which sits at -33.

The Dragons' narrow loss to Cronulla leaves them two games outside the eight with a points differential of -130, meaning they would need four massive wins to have any hope of sneaking in.

When these sides met six weeks ago and it was the Dragons prevailing 12-10 in a controversial finish at WIN Stadium.

Sportsbet Betting preview: Raiders v Dragons

The Rundown

Team news

Raiders: Named to take the field 1-17, with barnstorming prop Joseph Tapine out with a rib injury and Emre Guler taking his place in the starting front row. Corey Horsburgh joins the interchange, while Xavier Savage is back at fullback after missing round 21 with an ankle issue. Albert Hopoate is on the wing for the suspended Nick Cotric.

Dragons: Cody Ramsey returns from a knee injury at fullback, which triggers a big reshuffle across the 17. Moses Mbye moves from fullback to centre, taking the place of Jack Bird who will now start at lock. Michael Molo moves from the starting side to the bench. Tariq Sims' ban for a careless high tackle sees Josh McGuire move into the starting side and Tyrell Fuimaono join the bench for his first game since Round 12.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Xavier Savage
    Fullback for Dragons is number 21 Cody Ramsey
  • Winger for Raiders is number 2 Albert Hopoate
    Winger for Dragons is number 2 Mathew Feagai
  • Centre for Raiders is number 3 Matthew Timoko
    Centre for Dragons is number 1 Moses Mbye
  • Centre for Raiders is number 4 Sebastian Kris
    Centre for Dragons is number 4 Zac Lomax
  • Winger for Raiders is number 5 Jordan Rapana
    Winger for Dragons is number 5 Tautau Moga
  • Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Jack Wighton
    Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Talatau Amone
  • Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Jamal Fogarty
    Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Ben Hunt

Forwards

  • Prop for Raiders is number 8 Josh Papali'i
    Prop for Dragons is number 8 Jack De Belin
  • Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Zac Woolford
    Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Andrew  McCullough
  • Prop for Raiders is number 10 Emre Guler
    Prop for Dragons is number 10 Blake Lawrie
  • 2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Hudson Young
    2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Josh McGuire
  • 2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Elliott Whitehead
    2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Jaydn Su'a
  • Lock for Raiders is number 13 Adam Elliott
    Lock for Dragons is number 3 Jack Bird

Interchange

  • Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Tom Starling
    Interchange for Dragons is number 13 Michael Molo
  • Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Ryan Sutton
    Interchange for Dragons is number 15 Aaron Woods
  • Interchange for Raiders is number 16 Corey Horsburgh
    Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Tyrell Fuimaono
  • Interchange for Raiders is number 17 Corey Harawira-Naera
    Interchange for Dragons is number 17 Billy Burns

Reserves

  • Replacement for Raiders is number 18 James Schiller
    Replacement for Dragons is number 20 Jaiyden Hunt

Match Officials

  • Referee: Adam Gee
  • Touch Judge: Liam Kennedy
  • Touch Judge: Nick Beashel
  • Senior Review Official: Chris Butler

Last updated:

Key match-up

Jamal Fogarty v Ben Hunt: The Raiders No.7 has slowly found his feet since returning from a knee injury in Round 12, steering Canberra to victory in five of the nine games he has played. Fogarty's kicking game close to the line has produced 11 forced dropouts, the same number Dragons skipper Hunt has come up with in 19 games. Hunt is enjoying a superb season for the Red V with 15 try assists and six tries but too many times he has had to carry the can on his own as Anthony Griffin's men have stumbled to a 9-11 record.

Stat Attack

The Dragons have won only two from 12 against top-eight opposition in 2022. They beat the Roosters 14-12 on Anzac Day when the Chooks were sitting fifth on the ladder and they accounted for the seventh-placed Rabbitohs 32-12 in Round 15.

Related

Acknowledgement of Country

National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.