Raiders raise awareness of
Reconciliation

Canberra Raiders halfback Lincoln Withers and winger David Howell will be the familiar faces in not so familiar jumpers this Saturday night.

In a season interrupted by injury and suspension, Withers and Howell are the only two Raiders players to have played every NRL match with the club in 2005.

Withers and Howell yesterday helped launch the distinct black jumpers the Raiders will be wearing in this Saturday night?s match against the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Canberra Stadium.

Based on an indigenous design, the unique Raiders jumpers will be worn to raise awareness of Reconciliation and indigenous culture.

The Raiders began the initiative last year, wearing the indigenous-style jumpers against the Roosters at Canberra Stadium in Round 24.

The Raiders match this Saturday will be promoted with the theme - ?Give Reconciliation a Sporting Chance?.

?This is also a celebration of the valuable contribution the indigenous community has made to the sport of rugby league and to the Canberra Raiders in particular,? said Raiders General Manager Don Furner.

Having filled in for suspended skipper Simon Woolford at hooker over the past four games, Withers will return to the number 7 jumper this weekend.

Withers will partner teenager Todd Carney in the halves, with tireless utility Alan Tongue promoted to start at hooker. The movements were forced by a hand injury to play-maker Jason Smith.

?I?ve played halfback for most of the year so I think Todd and I will work well together,? Withers said.

?The Rabbitohs are dangerous. Obviously they don?t want to get the wooden spoon and they?ve played some good footy lately. If we want to make a run for the finals, this week we have to get the win.?

Forwards Ben Cross and Alan Rothery have been recalled to the top grade squad, both players starting on the bench.

The Raiders have played without luck in the last three weeks, losing matches to the Warriors, Broncos and Tigers by narrow margins. Raiders coach Matt Elliott said a win on Saturday night was vital.

?Each week the guys are coming out and putting in a winning effort, what we?ve got to do is turn that into a winning performance.?

1. CLINTON SCHIFCOFSKE 2. DAVID HOWELL 3. PHIL GRAHAM 4. ADAM MOGG 5. MATT GAFA 6. TODD CARNEY 7. LINCOLN WITHERS 8. JOSH MILLER 9. ALAN TONGUE 10. TROY THOMPSON 11. KRIS KAHLER 12. IAN HINDMARSH 13. JASON CROKER (c)

INTERCHANGE 14. BEN CROSS 15. MARSHALL CHALK 16. ALAN ROTHERY 17. JASON WILLIAMS