NRL Match Preview: Round 18 v Raiders

Author: Dragons.com.au dragons.com.au
Timestamp: Thu 3 Jul 2025, 09:44 AM

The Dragons make the trip to the nation's capital this weekend for an anticipated double-header featuring both the club's NRL and NRLW squads.

Round 18 - Round 18 - Saturday 5 Jul

Full Time

Raiders

Dragons

Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra

Highlights Latest

KEY INFO

Buy Tickets
Date Saturday, July 5th
Venue GIO Stadium, Canberra
Watch Kayo & Foxtel
12:30PM Gates Open
12:30PM Knock-On Effect NSW Cup | Raiders v Magpies
3:15PM NRLW | Dragons v Raiders
5:30PM NRL | Dragons v Raiders

A MASSIVE DOUBLE-HEADER

The long wait for the kick-off to the NRLW season is over with Nathan Cross' new-look squad opening their season in the lead-up to the men's clash.

Front-rowers Pia Tapsell (starting) and Trinity Tauaneai (bench) have been named to make their NRLW debuts while Nita Maynard-Perrin and Ahlivia Ingram will each make their club debuts off the bench.

Kasey Reh starts in the halves with co-captain Raecene McGregor while fellow co-captain Zali Hopkins will start at hooker and the returning Hannah Southwell starts at lock.

The squad will look to get the day off on the right foot when they take on Darrin Borthwick's Raiders at 3:15pm.

EMRE'S RETURN

Emre Guler makes his first trip back to Canberra since departing the Raiders over the offseason.

The 27-year-old, who played his 100th NRL game in the Dragons' Round 17 win over Parramatta, spent the previous seven seasons with Canberra playing 93 games.

A Junior Kangaroo and Under 20s Origin representative, Guler’s NRL debut came in Round 23, 2018 before coming off the bench for the Raiders in the 2019 Grand Final.

Guler ready for Canberra return

TEAM NEWS

DRAGONS

Shane Flanagan has forced into mass changes with Valentine Holmes (Origin), Nathan Lawson (shoulder), Luciano Leilua (quad), Toby Couchman (shoulder) and Hamish Stewart (head knock) all unavailable.
Corey Allan shifts into the centres with Sione Finau and Tyrell Sloan making up a new wing pairing.
Raymond Faitala-Mariner comes into the second row with Michael Molo joining the interchange for his first NRL game of 2025 alongside Loko Pasifiki Tonga and Hame Sele.

RAIDERS

Josh Papali'i is missing for the Raiders due to Origin selection with Corey Horsburgh shifting up front, Morgan Smithies named at lock, and Trey Mooney joining the interchange.

Round 18 - Round 18 - Saturday 5 Jul

Full Time

Raiders

Dragons

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Kaeo Weekes

Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Clinton Gutherson
Winger for Raiders is number 2 Jed Stuart

Winger for Dragons is number 2 Sione Finau
Centre for Raiders is number 3 Matthew Timoko

Centre for Dragons is number 3 Moses Suli
Centre for Raiders is number 4 Sebastian Kris

Centre for Dragons is number 4 Corey Allan
Winger for Raiders is number 5 Xavier Savage

Winger for Dragons is number 5 Tyrell Sloan
Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Ethan Strange

Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Lyhkan King-Togia
Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Jamal Fogarty

Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Kyle Flanagan

Forwards

Prop for Raiders is number 8 Corey Horsburgh

Prop for Dragons is number 8 Emre Guler
Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Tom Starling

Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Damien Cook
Prop for Raiders is number 10 Joseph Tapine

Prop for Dragons is number 10 David Klemmer
2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Simi Sasagi

2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Jaydn Su'A
2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Zac Hosking

2nd Row for Dragons is number 17 Michael Molo
Lock for Raiders is number 13 Morgan Smithies

Lock for Dragons is number 13 Jack De Belin

Interchange

Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Owen Pattie

Interchange for Dragons is number 14 Jacob Liddle
Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Noah Martin

Interchange for Dragons is number 15 Loko Pasifiki Tonga
Interchange for Raiders is number 16 Trey Mooney

Interchange for Dragons is number 18 Blake Lawrie
Interchange for Raiders is number 17 Ata Mariota

Interchange for Dragons is number 19 Viliami Fifita