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Raiders v Sea Eagles: Strange returns; Three big ins

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The stakes could not be higher for the Raiders and Sea Eagles as the battle for finals spots goes into overdrive with five rounds to go in the regular season.

The Sea Eagles sit seventh on 27 competition points and arrive in Canberra refreshed after a bye and ready to welcome back Haumole Olakau'atu from suspension, speedsters Jason Saab and Reuben Garrick from head knocks and hooker Lachlan Croker from ongoing concussion symptoms.

The Raiders pushed the Bulldogs to the limit in a hostile environment at Belmore on Sunday but the loss left them one win outside the eight with games against the Sea Eagles, Cowboys, Panthers, Roosters and Dragons to come.

A bumper crowd will be on hand at GIO Stadium to honour club favourite Josh Papali'i after he racked up 300 games on Sunday, with the Raiders looking to make it three straight on home soil.

The loss of powerful Englishman Morgan Smithies is a blow for the Raiders but Ricky Stuart has a crop of young forwards ready to do Big Papa proud by stepping up in a must-win match.

Sportsbet Betting Preview - Raiders v Sea Eagles

Team News

Raiders: Ethan Strange returns at five-eighth after being rested last week and Adam Cook goes to the bench, pushing Danny Levi to the reserves. Zac Hosking will miss the rest of the season due to a shoulder injury that requires surgery so Ata Mariota joins the bench. Albert Hopoate is 18th man.

Sea Eagles: Manly welcome back winger Lehi Hopoate from a facial injury so Tommy Talau pushes to the centres and Ben Trbojevic goes to the bench. Hooker Lachlan Croker makes his long awaited return from concussion symptoms and back-rower Haumole Olakau'atu returns from suspension. Reuben Garrick and Jason Saab have been named to play despite suffering head knocks against the Roosters in Round 21. Clayton Faulalo is 18th man.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Kaeo Weekes
    Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Tom Trbojevic
  • Winger for Raiders is number 2 Jordan Rapana
    Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason Saab
  • Centre for Raiders is number 3 Matthew Timoko
    Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Tommy Talau
  • Centre for Raiders is number 4 Sebastian Kris
    Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Reuben Garrick
  • Winger for Raiders is number 5 Xavier Savage
    Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Lehi Hopoate
  • Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Ethan Strange
    Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Luke Brooks
  • Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Jamal Fogarty
    Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-Evans  

Forwards

  • Prop for Raiders is number 8 Josh Papalii
    Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Taniela Paseka
  • Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Tom Starling
    Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Lachlan Croker
  • Prop for Raiders is number 10 Joseph Tapine
    Prop for Sea Eagles is number 10 Nathan Brown
  • 2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Hudson Young
    2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu
  • 2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Elliott Whitehead
    2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Karl Lawton
  • Lock for Raiders is number 13 Morgan Smithies
    Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic

Interchange

  • Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Adam Cook
    Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Gordon Chan Kum Tong 
  • Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Trey Mooney
    Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Ben Trbojevic
  • Interchange for Raiders is number 16 Ata Mariota
    Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Ethan Bullemor
  • Interchange for Raiders is number 17 Simi Sasagi
    Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Toafofoa Sipley

Reserves

  • Replacement for Raiders is number 18 Albert Hopoate
    Replacement for Sea Eagles is number 19 Clayton Faulalo

Match Officials

  • Referee: Grant Atkins
  • Touch Judge: Drew Oultram
  • Senior Review Official: Chris Butler

Last updated:

Stat Attack

  • The Raiders are aiming for home and away wins against the Sea Eagles for the first time since 2016.
  • Sea Eagles fullback Tom Trbojevic has scored six tries in his past four games against the Raiders.
  • Raiders halfback Jamal Fogarty has landed his last 20 attempts at goal.
  • Sea Eagles hooker Karl Lawton will make his 100th NRL appearance.
  • Raiders second-rower Hudson Young has scored five tries in his last seven games at GIO Stadium.

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, 

Related

Acknowledgement of Country

National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.