Raiders v Knights preview

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Canberra Raiders v Newcastle Knights Sunday 2:00pm at GIO Stadium Canberra, Bruce / Ngunnawal

Canberra looking to maintain premiership charge

The Canberra Raiders are looking to keep a two-game gap in the race for the minor premiership when they host the Newcastle Knights at GIO Stadium this Sunday.

The boys from the national capital have been the side that has turn the most heads in the 2025 season. Having been predicted by the pundits to be in the bottom four or end up with the spoon, the Raiders have quickly become one of the more entertaining teams to watch throughout the competition to date. The excitement machines of Kaeo Weekes, Ethan Strange and Hudson Young along with the experienced pack of forwards and the kicking game of Jamal Fogarty have given oxygen to the Raiders this year. 

To beat the Knights, they are going to have to showcase their creative flair throughout this contest. For as bad as the Knights have been with the ball at times throughout the season, their defence has always remained a constant, sturdy force that has taken some magic to penetrate. Look for long range efforts, as that's what got the Knights caught out in their first meeting in Newcastle just a few weeks ago. 

Onto team news. The loss of Seb Kris sees Simi Sasagi move into the starting side at centre and Noah Martin join the bench. 

For the Knights, they were brutally unlucky to defeat the Warriors last weekend. Having only five players rock up to their captain's run due to a virus that swept the playing group isn't the most ideal preparation, but they were resilient and locked in from minute one to the last play until Leka Halasima did Leka Halasima things. Besides that, they should be damn proud of their effort given the adversity of the week following the less than flattering headlines over Adam O'Brien's future.

To beat Canberra, they need to watch the first half of the game last week that Canberra played. Look at the negatives and pick out every single one of them. Their left edge attack was humming last week so it's fair to say we should expect that to be a focal point of the Knights game plan in this fixture. Elsewhere, the emergence of Kai Pearce-Paul sees it's first major test as he goes opposite Hudson Young in what shapes as a potential Ashes dress rehearsal. 

Onto team news. Just the one change to the 17 with Jack Hetherington recalled on the interchange after four games in NSW Cup with Thomas Cant moving to 18th man.

Last meeting: Round 17 2025 - Knights 18 Raiders 22

Who to watch: Dane Gagai has been instrumental since his move the fullback a fortnight ago. Still currently without a deal for the 2025 season, the former QLD Origin representative has done himself no harms since the move to the back. He has been safe under the high ball, whilst being a hard man to tackle. Watch for Gagai to smash it out of the park. 

Joe Tapine left the Knights as he was developing. Since leaving Newcastle in the beginning of the 2016 season, he has emerged as one of the game's best forwards. Tapine has averaged over 100 metres a game and defended stoutly in the middle. Watch for Tapine to deliver in this one.

Favourite: Canberra are the bookies favourites for this game.

My tip: It's hard to go against the Raiders in this one. A good pack of forwards that will work around the park well in this one. Newcastle will be resilient, but the mountain will be too hard for the Knights to climb in this fixture. Raiders by 18.

1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Jed Stuart 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Simi Sasagi 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali'i 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Zac Hosking 13. Corey Horsburgh 14. Owen Pattie 15. Noah Martin 16. Morgan Smithies 17. Ata Mariota 18. Manaia Waitere 19. Trey Mooney 20. Joseph Roddy 21. Danny Levi 22. Ethan Sanders

1. Dane Gagai 2. Dominic Young 3. Fletcher Hunt 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Jackson Hastings 7. Jack Cogger 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Leo Thompson 11. Jermaine McEwen 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Phoenix Crossland 14. Tyson Gamble 15. Mathew Croker 16. Tyson Frizell 17. Jack Hetherington 18. Thomas Cant 19. James Schiller 20. Matthew Arthur 21. Brodie Jones 22. Kyle McCarthy

Referees: Wyatt Raymond; Sideline Officials: Matt Noyen, Phil Henderson; Video Referees: Grant Atkins;