Sunday’s NRL 2018 Round 23 match is between Canberra Raiders and Sydney Roosters. The opening kick is set to commence at 16:10 local time with the game to be played at GIO Stadium, Canberra. The away team Sydney Roosters are the favourites for the match.
View our preview and teams for the game between Canberra Raiders and Sydney Roosters.
When: 16:10 | Sunday 19/08/2018
Where: GIO Stadium, Canberra
Preview:
Another close defeat from the Raiders confirms to me that the Raiders are a side that loves the way they look in the mirror but not necessarily when they turn around.
They have one of the best attacking games in the league, however they fail when the tough part of the game is required!
Defence is an attitude and requires a belief in a team that cannot be questioned under pressure.
This style of team is the Roosters and because of that, I see the Raiders failing again.
That and also the fact that the minor premiership race is still well and truly on.
KEY BATTLE: BJ Leilua v Latrell Mitchell
The matchup between BJ Leilua and Latrell Mitchell will be a cracker and will no doubt give us some highlights to watch for weeks to come.
Roosters, who lead the Raiders 6-5 since 2010, should be too professional and will get home.
Unibet Odds:
Canberra Raiders at $2.85
Sydney Roosters at $1.43
Odds:
Tip: Sydney Roosters at $1.46
Value Tip: First Try Scorer: James Tedesco at $11.00
More Info:
Teams:
Canberra Raiders:
1. Brad Abbey 2. Nick Cotric 3. Elliott Whitehead 4. Joey Leilua 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Blake Austin 7. Sam Williams 8. Dunamis Lui 9. Josh Hodgson (C) 10. Shannon Boyd 11. Joe Tapine 12. Sia Soliola 13. Josh Papalii 14. Emre Guler 15. Luke Bateman 16. Siliva Havili 17. Junior Paulo 18. Jack Murchie 19. Liam Knight 20. Makahesi Makatoa 21. Michael Oldfield.
Sydney Roosters: 
1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Latrell Mitchell 4. Joseph Manu 5. Blake Ferguson 6. Ryan Matterson 7. Cooper Cronk 8. Dylan Napa 9. Jake Friend 10. Sio Siua Taukeiaho 11. Boyd Cordner 12. Isaac Liu 13. Victor Radley 14. Nat Butcher 15. Zane Tetevano 16. Mitchell Aubusson 17. Sean O’sullivan 18. Sitili Tupouniua 19. Kurt Baptiste 20. Paul Momirovski 21. Lindsay Collins.
NRL News:
Sydney Roosters enforcer Dylan Napa has declared himself ready to reclaim his role as forward pack leader in the absence of Jared Waerea-Hargreaves for the next month.
Waerea-Hargreaves was on Monday ruled out for up to the opening week of the NRL finals after breaking his ribs in Friday’s win over South Sydney.
His sideline stint is a whack for a Roosters side that has just claimed top spot on the ladder for the first time this year with just three games remaining.
“It’s really tough to lose him but there’s been plenty of games where we’ve played without Jared,” Napa told AAP on Tuesday.
“Our entire Roosters squad have been pushing for spots all year. So while we might be a man down, but it’s next man up.”
And Napa could be just that man, having only returned from injury himself.
The Roosters prop hasn’t played more than 28 minutes off the bench since coming back from a knee injury two weeks ago.
The ladder leaders will need Napa to quickly find his form as they look to replace Waerea-Hargreaves’ high-volume workrate.
The New Zealand international, who had only missed one game so far this year, is averaging 114m and 23 tackles in 46 minutes per game.
He also leads the Roosters forwards in offloads.
Napa’s opening comes after hurting his knee in their round 16 loss to Melbourne that also ruled him out of appearing for Queensland in State of Origin III.
“It was tough to cop, but I’m not the first person to miss an Origin game with injury,” he said.
“It was a little hard to get my running back, but I’m good now. I feel like I’ve been training really well, so we’ll see what happens on the weekend.”
The Roosters are also still without five-eighth Luke Keary, with Ryan Matterson filling in alongside Cooper Cronk in the halves in his absence.
A win against Canberra on Sunday will leave the Roosters in prime position to claim their fourth minor premiership in the past six years.
