The Raiders fell to their thirteenth loss of the season, their seventh by a 13+ margin and their sixth at home when defeated 34 – 18 by the Rabbitohs last Monday night. It means the only win in the past seven rounds for the Raiders has been over the struggling Titans.
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The Raiders got off to the a bad start, allowing two Rabbitoh tires inside of the first ten minutes and if not for Adam Reynolds’ poor night with the boot, the game would’ve been over by the time the Raiders scored their first try in the 55th minute, which saw trailing 16 – 6 and somehow, still in the hunt. Three Rabbitoh tries in a ten minute periods, put the game beyond doubt. Coach Ricky Stuart is sticking with the same squad despite labelling their performance last week as “not first grade standard”. There’s not much light on the horizon for Stuart and the Raiders although a better star to their games would be a start and probably their only hope of winning here as it’s hard to see them being capable of running down a tem like the Warriors if they had to.
WARRIORS
The Warriors let what should’ve been a good win, slipe through their hands when defeated by Brisbane in round 19 and were keen to make amends against competition leaders Manly last week. Unfortunately though, the Warriors suffered a blow just before kick-off with star halfback Shaun Johnson and Feleti Mateo ruled out with injuries. Their absence was telling as the Warriors, who had plenty of opportunities to, couldn’t break the spirited Manly defence. Both will be a welcomed addition back into the team this week. The Warriors lost 22 – 12 and they are now involved in a six way tie on the ladder and battle for one of the last spots in the top eight.
The Warriors have been in a position to win their past two games, just some poor decisions and execution proving costly however, they do have a favourable draw in the run home this season, playing the likes of the Sharks, Newcastle and Gold Coast in three of the five remaining games, and will get the chance to get these aspects of their game right.
HEAD TO HEAD
The Warriors haven’t won in Canberra since 2001 when the game was played at Manuka Oval which is a stat that does make you stop and think – if only for a moment. The current form of the two teams than comes back into focus and it’s hard to see anything bar a Warriors win here. They recorded a 54 – 12 win when the two sides met earlier this year, making it the second time in succession that they’ve reached the 50 mark.
Teams:
Canberra Raiders: 
Anthony Milford, Reece Robinson, Jarrod Croker, Jarrad Kennedy, Sami Sauiluma, Terry Campese, Josh McCrone, David Shillington, Glen Buttriss, Brett White, Josh Papalii, Joel Edwards, Shaun Fensom. Interchange: Kurt Baptiste, Paul Vaughan, Dane Tilse, Shannon Boyd
Ins: None. Outs: None
New Zealand Warriors: 
Sam Tomkins, Ngani Laumape, Konrad Hurrell, Dane Nielsen, Manu Vatuvei, Chad Townsend, Shaun Johnson, Jacob Lillyman, Nathan Friend, Suaia Matagi, Ben Henry, Simon Mannering (c), Sebastine Ikahihifo. Interchange: Feleti Mateo, Ben Matulino, Sam Rapira, Thomas Leuluai, Tuimoala Lolohea, Sione Lousi
Ins: Shaun Johnson, Feleti Mateo, Sione Lousi. Outs: Jayson Bukuya
