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Raiders v Dragons: Smithies to start; Six called up from NSW Cup

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ljmpta.com
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The road trip to the national capital has long been one of the Dragons' most dreaded but Shane Flanagan's men must find a way to reverse the trend on Saturday if they're to keep the finals flame flickering.

The Red V found some of their best form of the season in the first half against the Eels and then defied a heavy injury toll to grip on in a tense second half at WIN Stadium.

Ladder leaders Canberra took their record to 13-3 with a gritty win over the Knights and with two byes still remaining they are well placed to claim their first minor premiership since 1990.

In the only meeting between the sides last season it was the Green Machine overturning a 14-point half-time deficit to prevail 26-24 at Kogarah thanks to a late Corey Horsburgh try.

Team News

Raiders: The Origin call-up for Josh Papalii means Corey Horsburgh slides from lock to prop, Morgan Smithies is promoted from the bench to start in No.13 and Trey Mooney is added to the interchange for his third appearance of the season. Simi Sasagi starts in the second row for the second consecutive week with Hudson Young in camp with the Blues.

Dragons: A host of injuries and Val Holmes' absence on Maroons duty have forced coach Shane Flanagan to dig deep into his squad with Sione Finau, Tyrell Sloan, Raymond Faitala-Mariner, Loko Pasifiki Tonga, Hame Sele and Michael Molo all coming into the 17 after playing NSW Cup last week. Hamish Stewart (concussion), Luciano Leilua (quad), Nathan Lawson (shoulder) and Toby Couchman (shoulder) are all missing from the team that beat the Eels. 

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 11 Raymond Faitala-Mariner
  • 2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Zac Hosking
    2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Jaydn Su'A
  • 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 16 Hame Sele
  • Interchange for Raiders is number 17 Ata Mariota
    Interchange for Dragons is number 17 Michael Molo

Reserves

  • Replacement for Raiders is number 18 Chevy Stewart
    Replacement for Dragons is number 18 Blake Lawrie
  • Reserve for Raiders is number 19 Pasami Saulo
    Reserve for Dragons is number 19 Viliami Fifita
  • Reserve for Raiders is number 20 Joe Roddy
    Reserve for Dragons is number 20 Nick Tsougranis
  • Reserve for Raiders is number 21 Danny Levi
    Reserve for Dragons is number 21 Lachlan Ilias
  • Reserve for Raiders is number 22 Ethan Sanders
    Reserve for Dragons is number 22 Jacob Halangahu

Raiders Ins

  • Chevy Stewart
  • Danny Levi
  • Ethan Sanders
  • Joe Roddy
  • Pasami Saulo

Dragons Ins

  • Blake Lawrie
  • Hame Sele
  • Jacob Halangahu
  • Lachlan Ilias
  • Michael Molo
  • Nick Tsougranis
  • Raymond Faitala-Mariner
  • Sione Finau
  • Tyrell Sloan

Raiders Outs

  • Josh Papalii

Dragons Ins

  • Hamish Stewart
  • Luciano Leilua
  • Nathan Lawson
  • Toby Couchman
  • Valentine Holmes

Match Officials

  • Referee: Gerard Sutton
  • Touch Judge: Dave Munro
  • Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein

Last updated:

Stat Attack

  • The Raiders have won their last four games against the Dragons.
  • The Dragons have not won at GIO Stadium since 2015.
  • The Raiders are aiming for seven consecutive wins for the first time in nine years.
  • The Dragons have won only two from seven away from home this season
  • Raiders winger Xavier Savage has scored five tries in his past four games at GIO Stadium.

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the 

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