NRL 2020: Dragons v Raiders, round 18 preview

Author: NRL.com
Timestamp: Sat 12 Sep 2020, 03:02 PM

With their finals hopes finally extinguished St George Illawarra can settle into the role of spoiler and first up in a three-leg gauntlet of finals contenders are Canberra.

The Dragons' failure to take their chances against the Cowboys on Sunday means that now not even the numbers add up so they will be playing for pride and to impress newly named 2021 head coach Anthony Griffin.

But, having briefly flirted with an unlikely late-season run at the top eight, things don't get any easier because after they host fifth-placed Canberra they are away to sixth-placed Newcastle and at home to second-placed Melbourne to round out the season.

The Raiders, who can't afford another stumble after dropping two points behind the fourth-placed Roosters, will want to make it count against the Dragons because they also face a challenging finish to the regular season against the Warriors and Sharks.

Round 18 - Round 18 - Saturday 12 Sep

Full Time

Dragons

Raiders

Venue: WIN Stadium, Wollongong

Highlights Latest

The rundown

Team news

Dragons: Tyrell Fuimaono was a late inclusion after Jacob Host was a late scratching due to a calf injury in the warm-up. Cody Ramsey is set to make his NRL debut on the wing in place of Mikaele Ravalawa. Paul Vaughan will return from suspension in an all-new front row pairing with Kaide Ellis. Josh Kerr and Blake Lawrie have moved to the bench.

Eddie Blacker was cut from the reserves list an hour before kick-off after Brayden Wiliame and Max Feagai were omitted on Friday. The Dragons have lost four of their past five games at WIN Stadium.

Raiders: Dunamis Lui starts at prop with Ryan Sutton going back to the bench. Matt Frawley and Matthew Timoko were cut from the squad on game day after Soliola and Sam Williams were omitted from the squad 24 hours out from kick-off. Raiders captain Jarrod Croker requires two goals to become the 10th player to kick 800 NRL goals.

Round 18 - Round 18 - Saturday 12 Sep

Full Time

Dragons

Raiders

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Matt Dufty

Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
Winger for Dragons is number 2 Jordan Pereira

Winger for Raiders is number 2 Semi Valemei
Centre for Dragons is number 3 Euan Aitken

Centre for Raiders is number 3 Jarrod Croker
Centre for Dragons is number 4 Zac Lomax

Centre for Raiders is number 4 Jordan Rapana
Winger for Dragons is number 5 Cody Ramsey

Winger for Raiders is number 5 Nick Cotric
Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Corey Norman

Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Jack Wighton
Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Adam Clune

Halfback for Raiders is number 7 George Williams

Forwards

Prop for Dragons is number 8 Kaide Ellis

Prop for Raiders is number 8 Josh Papalii
Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Ben Hunt

Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Tom Starling
Prop for Dragons is number 10 Paul Vaughan

Prop for Raiders is number 15 Dunamis Lui
2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Tyson Frizell

2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 John Bateman
2nd Row for Dragons is number 17 Jackson Ford

2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Elliott Whitehead
Lock for Dragons is number 13 Cameron McInnes

Lock for Raiders is number 13 Joseph Tapine

Interchange

Interchange for Dragons is number 14 Billy Brittain

Interchange for Raiders is number 10 Ryan Sutton
Interchange for Dragons is number 15 Josh Kerr

Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Siliva Havili
Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Blake Lawrie

Interchange for Raiders is number 16 Hudson Young
Interchange for Dragons is number 19 Tyrell Fuimaono

Interchange for Raiders is number 17 Corey Harawira-Naera

Match Officials

Referee: Adam Gee
Touch Judge: Jon Stone
Touch Judge: Drew Oultram
Senior Review Official: Steve Chiddy

Last updated: 5/29/2023 4:41:17 AM

Corey Norman v Jack Wighton: Their 2020 numbers are remarkably similar given that both have solidified remarkably different perceptions - Wighton as the man who measures up in the big moments and Norman as a much less reliable playmaker when the pressure is on.

The Raider has the advantage when it comes to tries (8-4), average run metres (102-84) and average kick meters (280-260 per game) while the Dragon has more forced dropouts (13-7) and offloads (7-3). He is also less effective in defence.

Stat attack

Canberra's injury woes have captured most of the attention but their struggles in attack could prove decisive when it comes to securing a top-four finish and, from there, how far they progress in the post-season.

Only one other team in the top eight (Parramatta, 336) has scored less than the Raiders' 344 points and most of their serious finals rivals are around 100 points ahead in that category.