Canberra Raiders vs St. George Illawarra Dragons Preview & Prediction | 2025 NRL | Regular Season
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The ladder-leading Canberra Raiders will look to continue their dominant run when they host a struggling St George Illawarra Dragons side at GIO Stadium.
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How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports / Australia – Foxtel / US – Some matches are televised live on Fox Sports
How to watch online: UK – Sky Go & Watch NRL / Australia – Kayo Sports / US – Watch NRL, and if the match is televised in the USA it can also be streamed live on Fox Sports platforms
Canberra Raiders team news
Morgan Smithies has been promoted to lock, with Corey Horsburgh shifting to prop with Josh Papalii absent due to his Origin recall. Trey Mooney has joined the bench.
Squad: 1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Jed Stuart 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Corey Horsburgh 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Simi Sasagi 12. Zac Hosking 13. Morgan Smithies 14. Owen Pattie 15. Noah Martin 16. Trey Mooney 17. Ata Mariota 18. Chevy Stewart 19. Pasami Saulo 20. Joseph Roddy 21. Danny Levi 22. Ethan Sanders
St. George Illawarra Dragons team news
Shane Flanagan has had to contend with the Origin selection of Valentine Holmes and host of injury blows suffered in Round 17 this week. Sione Finau and Tyrell Sloan have been named on the wings, with Corey Allan at centre. Raymond Faitala-Mariner, Loko Pasifiki Tonga, Hame Sele and Michael Molo come into the forwards with Toby Couchman (shoulder), Hamish Stewart (concussion) and Luciano Leilua (quad) all injured.
Squad: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Sione Finau 3. Moses Suli 4. Corey Allan 5. Tyrell Sloan 6. Lyhkan King-Togia 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Emre Guler 9. Damien Cook 10. David Klemmer 11. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Jack de Belin 14. Jacob Liddle 15. Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga 16. Hame Sele 17. Michael Molo 18. Blake Lawrie 19. Viliami Fifita 20. Nicholas Tsougranis 21. Lachlan Ilias 22. Jacob Halangahu
Canberra Raiders vs St. George Illawarra Dragons prediction
The Canberra Raiders (1st) are the competition's form team, currently on a six-match winning streak after defeating the Newcastle Knights 22-18 in Round 17 and are sitting pretty at the top of the ladder.
The St George Illawarra Dragons (11th) managed a 34-20 victory over the Parramatta Eels in Round 17. Their form over the last five games reads WLLWW.
Raiders hooker Tom Starling has been a defensive workhorse for the top-of-the-table side, leading his team with an impressive 595 tackles on the year.
In a difficult season for his team, winger Tyrell Sloan has been a bright spot for the Dragons, leading the club's try-scoring list with nine tries.
The Raiders hold a comfortable 25-13 advantage over the Dragons in their head-to-head history, with one match drawn. The last H2H meeting ended in a 2-point victory for Canberra in Round 27 last season.
This is a classic top-versus-bottom-half clash where the Raiders will be expected to maintain their momentum against a Dragons side battling for form and confidence.
Canberra Raiders vs St. George Illawarra Dragons tip: Canberra Raiders to win by 13+ points
