For vastly different reasons the Warriors and Raiders have so far both gone against the predictions most placed on them through the pre-season.
Tipped to contend for a spot in the top four again this campaign, the Warriors are instead one of four teams who are winless through the opening fortnight, after suffering a heartbreaking defeat in the dying seconds against the Storm last week.
The Raiders on the other hand were overwhelmingly unfancied leading into Round 1 but have been among the best teams to start the year with commanding wins over the Knights and Wests Tigers.
Aside from the emotional scars associated with last Saturday’s loss in Melbourne, the Warriors didn’t appear to suffer any new injuries, while hooker Wayde Egan will be a chance of returning from an elbow injury against the Raiders too.
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after he suffered a concussion in Round 2, while Jordan Rapana was also sent for a head injury assessment after a late head knock.
Friday night’s Multicultural Round clash at Apollo Stadium will be the ninth time the Warriors have played a competition game in Christchurch but the first time they’ll do so as the home side.
Last year the Warriors won both clashes against the Raiders, while across 25 matches in New Zealand – which span across five different venues – Canberra have 10 wins, 14 losses and a draw.
Match: Warriors v Raiders
Round 3 -
home Team
Warriors
11th Position
away Team
Raiders
3rd Position
Venue: Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch
Team News
Warriors: Hooker Wayde Egan has been ruled out after succumbing to an elbow injury which sidelined him in Round 2. Freddy Lussick moves to No. 9 while Chanel Harris-Tavita comes into the 17. Dylan Walker dropped out on Thursday due to an ankle injury with Jazz Tevaga replacing him on the bench.
Raiders: The visitors are 1-17 with no late changes. Captain Elliott Whitehead has overcome a groin injury and will play his first game of the season. That bumps Zac Hosking back to the bench and Ata Mariota out of the 17. The loss of Seb Kris (concussion) means Nick Cotric earns a recall after missing out on a spot in Round 2.
Match: Warriors v Raiders
Round 3 -
home Team
Warriors
away Team
Raiders
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Taine TuaupikiFullback for Raiders is number 1 Jordan Rapana
-
Winger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-ZelezniakWinger for Raiders is number 2 Nick Cotric
-
Centre for Warriors is number 3 Rocco BerryCentre for Raiders is number 3 Matthew Timoko
-
Centre for Warriors is number 4 Roger Tuivasa-SheckCentre for Raiders is number 4 Albert Hopoate
-
Winger for Warriors is number 5 Marcelo MontoyaWinger for Raiders is number 5 Xavier Savage
-
Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Luke MetcalfFive-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Ethan Strange
-
Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Shaun JohnsonHalfback for Raiders is number 7 Jamal Fogarty
Forwards
-
Prop for Warriors is number 8 Addin Fonua-BlakeProp for Raiders is number 8 Josh Papalii
-
Hooker for Warriors is number 14 Freddy LussickHooker for Raiders is number 9 Danny Levi
-
Prop for Warriors is number 10 Mitchell BarnettProp for Raiders is number 10 Joseph Tapine
-
2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Jackson Ford2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Hudson Young
-
2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Kurt Capewell2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Elliott Whitehead
-
Lock for Warriors is number 13 Tohu HarrisLock for Raiders is number 13 Morgan Smithies
Interchange
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Tom AleInterchange for Raiders is number 14 Tom Starling
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Bunty AfoaInterchange for Raiders is number 15 Emre Guler
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 20 Jazz TevagaInterchange for Raiders is number 16 Zac Hosking
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 23 Chanel Harris-TavitaInterchange for Raiders is number 17 Pasami Saulo
Reserves
-
Replacement for Warriors is number 22 Jacob LabanReplacement for Raiders is number 18 James Schiller
Match Officials
- Referee: Liam Kennedy
- Touch Judge: Chris Sutton
- Senior Review Official: Matt Noyen
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Warriors have won three of their past four games against the Raiders.
- The Raiders will play in Christchurch for the first time.
- The Warriors have won only three of eight games played in Christchurch.
- Ricky Stuart will coach his 250th game for the Raiders.
- Warriors winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has scored 24 tries in his past 18 NRL games.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the .
