Round 18: Raiders v Wests Tigers preview
Can you feel it? The weather has turned, the Canberra Raiders have a home game - it will be cold. Speaking of temperature, the hot-and-cold Wests Tigers sit unnaturally in twelfth and need a win to spark their finals hopes.
The Raiders were ruthless in demolishing the Dragons last Sunday, despite the send-off of Nick Cotric. The Green Machine sit in third and remain - if possible - a dark horse to usurp the Storm/Roosters/Rabbitohs triple threat.
Gone is the fragility that has plagued the Green Machine in recent seasons, led by an English backbone that has them low on the tackles and missed tackles count. Add the flair of Charnze Nicholl-Klokstad and Jack Wighton and it makes them the most popular thing down in the nation's capital (although, that isn't hard).
For the Tigers, it is a case of which side will turn up - on an occasion that was celebratory in club stalwart Benji Marshall's 300th - they limped to a loss against Parramatta. One benefit for the joint venture though, is that they have turned up against the bigger sides this season, with narrow losses to the Storm and Roosters.
Stuck firmly in the peloton of mediocrity the Tigers can break their finals drought with a strong end to the season. There is the experience in 2005 winners Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah but the cast around them has to put in to match their expectation.
So, whilst it'll be cold down in Canberra, the action will be white-hot between two sides that enjoy much more free-flowing football as the middle portion of Super Saturday.
Last meeting: Round 13 2019 - Wests Tigers 0 Raiders 28
Who to watch: There is a new movement happening where the Raiders fans have embraced Charnze Nicholl-Kolkstad, the fullback has educed them to go all the way for him. The former Warrior has eight tries this season with a run average of 174 metres. He usually gets Canberra's sets off to a rollicking start and if he gets room, watch him go.
Goalkicking has become a vital part of rugby league. The Tigers have had their issues on the tee, Kiwi representative Esan Marsters is kicking at 65% which in a few spots has cost them points which might just have had them in the top eight. Against a sharpshooter like Jarrod Croker, Marsters will have to bump that average higher to try and get them over the line and a huge scalp.
The favourite: Canberra are clear favourites to entrench themselves in the top four with a win here.
My tip: Coming off their huge win down in Wollongong, the Raiders are ready to add another victory to their tally against a hot-and-cold Tigers outfit. Raiders by 6.
