For vastly different reasons the One New Zealand Warriors and Raiders have so far both gone against the predictions most placed on them through the preseason.
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 one 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 have lost Dylan Walker this week while hooker Wayde Egan was rated a chance of returning from an elbow injury against the Raiders.
Canberra will be without Seb Kris after he suffered a concussion in round two 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 One New Zealand 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
away Team
Raiders
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Taine TuaupikiFullback for Raiders is number 1 Jordan Rapana
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Winger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-ZelezniakWinger for Raiders is number 2 Nick Cotric
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Centre for Warriors is number 3 Rocco BerryCentre for Raiders is number 3 Matthew Timoko
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Centre for Warriors is number 4 Roger Tuivasa-SheckCentre for Raiders is number 4 Albert Hopoate
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Winger for Warriors is number 5 Marcelo MontoyaWinger for Raiders is number 5 Xavier Savage
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Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Luke MetcalfFive-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Ethan Strange
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Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Shaun JohnsonHalfback for Raiders is number 7 Jamal Fogarty
Forwards
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Prop for Warriors is number 8 Addin Fonua-BlakeProp for Raiders is number 8 Josh Papalii
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Hooker for Warriors is number 14 Freddy LussickHooker for Raiders is number 9 Danny Levi
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Prop for Warriors is number 10 Mitchell BarnettProp for Raiders is number 10 Joseph Tapine
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Jackson Ford2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Hudson Young
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Kurt Capewell2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Elliott Whitehead
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Lock for Warriors is number 13 Tohu HarrisLock for Raiders is number 13 Morgan Smithies
Interchange
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Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Tom AleInterchange for Raiders is number 14 Tom Starling
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Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Bunty AfoaInterchange for Raiders is number 15 Emre Guler
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Interchange for Warriors is number 20 Jazz TevagaInterchange for Raiders is number 16 Zac Hosking
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Interchange for Warriors is number 23 Chanel Harris-TavitaInterchange for Raiders is number 17 Pasami Saulo
Reserves
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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:
Team news
One New Zealand Warriors: Dylan Walker dropped out on Thursday due to an ankle injury with Jazz Tevaga coming in on the bench. Chanel Harris-Tavita remained in the squad when it was trimmed to 19 as potential back-up for hooker Wayde Egan, who has been named to return from the elbow injury that sidelined him in round two. Marata Niukore (foot) or Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (hamstring) are still on the injured list.
Raiders: Captain Elliott Whitehead returns from a layoff with a groin injury which bumps Zac Hosking back to the bench and Ata Mariota out of the 17. The loss of Seb Kris to concussion means Nick Cotric earns a recall after missing out on a spot in Round 2. He’ll line up on the wing with Albert Hopoate shifting to centre. No changes in Thursday's 24-hour update.
Stat attack
- The One New Zealand 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 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 official annual of the NRL.
