Saturday first NRL Round 25 match is between New Zealand Warriors and Canberra Raiders with the opening kick to commence at 5:00pm local time. The game is to be played at Mt Smart Stadium with the home team New Zealand Warriors hold favouritism in the match. View our preview and teams for the game between New Zealand Warriors and Canberra Raiders.

Mt Smart Stadium

Saturday, 5pm (NZ)

New Zealand Warriors $1.03 vs Canberra Raiders $10.00 at Sportsbet Australia get a $250 FREE BET on this match

New Zealand Warriors $1.02 vs Canberra Raiders $16.00 at Luxbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match

Odds Comparison by NRL Odds:

New Zealand Warriors	1.30	1.30	1.32	1.30	1.30	1.28
Canberra Raiders	3.50	3.50	3.50	3.50	3.50	3.50

Preview:

These are two teams right in the middle of the ruck of seven sides vying for the final two final spots.

Both are on 24 competition points, equal with Penrith, Gold Coast, Cowboys and one point behind seventh placed Newcastle.

New Zealand literally came within an each from losing last week when taking on the Gold Coast Titans. They had to wait until the TMO ruled a no try against Gold Coast in the dying minutes of the game before they could claim the 24 – 22 win.

The victory sees them survive for another week.

Canberra had won five from seven in the lead up to last month however, the past four weeks have seen them not only lose each match, they’ve also lost coach David Furner.

In Canberra’s defence, they have had a horrid run in terms of the draw and have faced
Melbourne, Roosters, Canterbury and last week, Manly, coupled with their recent record of three straight wins over the Warriors, including a 20 -16 win in round 6 this year, the Raiders are not to be underestimated.

The Warriors have lost their last three at home but with so much riding on this match and with last week’s win under their belt, they’ll have no excuse for not putting in an effort.

Warriors at home, but not as comfortably as the market would suggest.

Teams:

New Zealand Warriors:
Kevin Locke, Jerome Ropati, Dane Nielsen, Konrad Hurrell, Manu Vatuvei, Thomas Leuluai, Shaun Johnson, Sam Rapira, Nathan Friend, Suaia Matagi, Elijah Taylor, Simon Mannering, Todd Lowrie. Interchange: Ben Matulino, Jacob Lillyman, Feleti Mateo, Dominique Peyroux, Ngani Laumape

Canberra Raiders:
Reece Robinson, Bill Tupou, Jarrod Croker, Joel Thompson, Sami Sauiluma, Terry Campese, Anthony Milford, David Shillington, Josh McCrone, Brett White, Josh Papalii, Joel Edwards, Paul Vaughan. Interchange: Glen Buttriss, Jake Foster, Dane Tilse, Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, Matt McIlwrick

Ferguson stood down by Raiders

Canberra have stood down absent centre Blake Ferguson, with his future NRL future in the nation’s capital seemingly over.

Attempts by Raiders chief executive officer Don Furner to make contact with Ferguson on Tuesday and Wednesday were unsuccessful, with the NSW Origin star a no-show at training.

“We have been left with little choice but to stand Blake down from all playing and training duties, until we find out both why he has missed scheduled training commitments and why he has been drinking whilst injured, which is a clear breach of the club’s rules,” Furner said in a statement put out by the club.

“Blake will be given the opportunity to explain his actions, and following that he may also be required to front the board to show cause.”

A date for the proposed board meeting has not yet been determined.

Ferguson’s future with the Raiders was placed in doubt last week following the sacking of coach David Furner, a move which triggered the option for a release in Ferguson’s contract with the club.