2019 NRL – Wests Tigers vs Canberra Raiders Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is Wests Tigers vs Canberra Raiders taking place? Friday 7th June, 10:55
Where is Wests Tigers vs Canberra Raiders taking place? Bankwest Stadium
What channel is Wests Tigers vs Canberra Raiders on?
UK – Sky Sports Arena
Australia – Fox Sports
Where can I stream Wests Tigers vs Canberra Raiders?
UK – Sky Sports subscribers can stream the match via Sky Go
Australia – https://www.telstra.com.au/tv-movies-music/sports-offer
Where can I get tickets for Wests Tigers vs Canberra Raiders?
Wests Tigers – https://tickets.nrl.com/team/500023
Canberra Raiders – https://tickets.nrl.com/team/500013
THE TEAM NEWS
WESTS TIGERS
Head Coach: Michael Maguire
Starting 13: Mbye, Jennings, Momirovski, Marsters, Thompson, Marshall, Brooks, Matulino, Farah, Twal, Matterson, McQueen, Eisenhuth – Interchanges: Liddle, Mikaele, Aloiai, Chee-Kam – Reserves: Nofoaluma, Taylor, Lawrence, Fonua
Unavailable: Josh Reynolds
- Wests Tigers were second best against South Sydney last time out despite a spirited display and they will be hoping their bye week can refresh them as they host Canberra in an important contest as we hit the midway point of the season.
- The Tigers are able to welcome back skipper Moses Mbye to the side and he should play despite making his State of Origin debut for Queensland on Wednesday but he is under pressure to perform after reports surfaced that he would have been dropped had he not picked up an injury before the South Sydney game.
- Corey Thompson will revert back to the wing due to Mbye’s return which means David Nofoaluma drops out whilst Chris Lawrence is expected to be promoted from the reserves before kick-off after three months out with a broken jaw.
CANBERRA RAIDERS
Head Coach: Ricky Stuart
Starting 13: Nicoll-Klokstad, Simonsson, Croker, Cotric, Rapana, Wighton, Williams, Papalii, Havili, Lui, J. Bateman, Whitehead, Tapine – Interchanges: Starling, Guler, Soliola, Sutton – Reserves: Sezer, Hunt, Oldfield, Kris
Unavailable: Joey Leilua, Josh Hodgson, Hudson Young
- An under-strength Canberra side defeated Canterbury last week and they will have their Origin players backing-up here as the Raiders look to go on a winning run to keep themselves in contention at the top of the NRL ladder.
- The Raiders were boosted by the return of John Bateman last week and Jordan Rapana is back to provide another shot in the arm this week but Hudson Young is suspended after he copped a five-match ban for contact with the eye against the Bulldogs.
- Aidan Sezer, Sebastian Kris and Royce Hunt are on standby in case any of the Origin players do not back-up with Nick Cotric looking the most doubtful to play after he suffered a knock to the knee during his debut for the Blues.
THE PREDICTION
Wests looked good at times in their last game against South Sydney but they are struggling to put in an 80-minute performance. They now host a Canberra side that will test them on both sides of the ball for the entire game and after their gutsy win last week, they can upset the odds to win again. The Raiders look an entirely different team with John Bateman in the side and his return last week highlighted his importance as he lifted his side to the win. They can make it back-to-back wins here with Wests lacking the consistency to do enough for the two points.
