Round 21: Raiders v Rabbitohs preview
Whitehead reaches a milestone as Wighton returns
The Canberra Raiders will close out the round on Sunday evening against the South Sydney Rabbitohs in a contest with major ramifications on both sides hopes of featuring in September.
Breaking a run of losses with a sorely-needed win at home last Friday, the Canberra Raiders will be determined to rise to the occasion as captain Elliott Whitehead become only the 15th man to play 200 NRL games for the club.
Holding off the Warriors - despite being outscored four tries to three - most recently, coach Ricky Stuart has stuck solid with the same squad despite only using 16 players in the 20-18 victory.
Currently sitting two points adrift of the top eight with a -91 points differential, the Raiders face a difficult run home with all six of their remaining matches against teams ranked above them on the ladder after this weekend.
The Raiders have enjoyed a strong record over the Rabbitohs during Stuart's tenure with nine wins from 13 clashes, including a historic preliminary final victory in 2019 played before largest recorded crowd at GIO Stadium.
Surging up the premiership ladder to stand as a dark horse for the finals based on recent performances, the South Sydney Rabbitohs will be hoping to defy a poor historical record in the nation's capital.
Getting away with a 42-28 victory over the Wests Tigers last Saturday, interim coach Ben Hornby has shifted Michael Chee Kam into the centres after Richie Kennar was ruled out with concussion; Jacob Host will return following a two month lay-off in the second-row.
Winning seven out of 18 appearances at GIO Stadium over the past three decades, the Rabbitohs have only recorded a single win at the venue when scoring less than five tries.
Local junior Keaon Koloamatangi will make his 100th appearance for the club; the in-form forward has never scored against the Raiders in first grade.
Last meeting: Round 13 2023 - Rabbitohs 26 Raiders 33
Who to watch: Arriving in the ACT eight years ago as an unknown English forward determined to prove his worth in the NRL, Elliott Whitehead has surpassed all expectations to stand as club legend. Becoming only the 15th player to achieve 200 first grade games with the Raiders, the 34-year-old has developed into one of the club's finest signings through his leadership on and off the field. Helping the Raiders reach the finals in five of his eight seasons with the club, Whitehead will be giving his all over the closing weeks before departing Australian shores to rejoin Catalans at season's end.
Returning to Canberra for the first time in opposition colours, Jack Wighton will be out to spoil the party for his old club on Sunday evening. Playing over 200 games in more than a decade as a Raider, the 31-year-old has played an instrumental role in reviving the Rabbitohs season by reverting to five-eighth. Remaining a formidable running threat and carrying the load as a kicker, look for Wighton to cause plenty of havoc as the Rabbitohs strive to pull off the unlikeliest surge towards September.
FAVOURITE: The Raiders are expected to build upon last week's performance and push their home ground record back into the black.
MY TIP: Elliott Whitehead played his 100th game for the Raiders in a win over the Rabbitohs at home. The Raiders will be hoping for a similar result on Sunday evening. Raiders by 8.
