Round 5 Preview - Canberra Raiders Cup

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Canberra Raiders Cup Round 5 Preview



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Canberra Raiders Cup Round 5 Preview

All games are Saturday May 12 at 3.00pm

Belconnen United Scholars v Gungahlin Bulls at West Belconnen Leagues Club

Gungahlin Bulls Coach Josh Ayres has labeled this Saturday’s clash with the Belconnen United Scholars at West Belconnen Leagues Club as a “grudge match” for his side.

The Bulls have lost several talented players to the Scholars in recent years and none more so than last year when they lost the highly regarded Channon McAskill to the Scholars. McAskill is now the Scholar’s Captain.

“There are a few boys that have jumped ship from our team last year so it’s obviously a bit of a grudge match,” explained Ayres.

“Over the years we’ve probably lost six or seven blokes, but from last year there’s been quite a few in Channon McAskill, Shane Pustavrh, Aidan Greenwood and Blake and Ryan O’Sullivan, so there’s a few over there that were with us.”

Despite losing those quality players to the Scholars, the Bulls have unearthed some quality up and coming players who are also a part of the Raiders under 20s program.

One of those players is Sheen Lomax, the son of former Raiders enforcer and New Zealand international John.

Ayres believes that Sheen has been highly unlucky to have not played more Toyota Cup games, although conceded that it’s a tough side to crack considering they have just won five games in a row.

“He’s been one of our best all year and had an absolute blinder last week where he scored two tries.”

“We’ve got a good mix in the team with a lot of young blokes coming through. The team’s obviously a lot younger than previous years and although whilst we’d prefer some more old heads in there we’ve been blessed with the great young talent coming through.”

“We’ve also got guys like Willie Raston, Todd Reinberger and I to give these young blokes guidance.”

“Big Willie has been unbelievable. He got three tries on the weekend. He’s a bloke that’s at training all the time no matter what and his aggression and his running game provides a lot of intimidation for us.”

Ayres knows that his side is in for a tough encounter against the Scholars this week, but believes the side has been improving on a weekly basis and confidence is building within the squad after they narrowly went down to top three sides Yass and the Queanbeyan Blues.

“We’ve been travelling pretty well but the Scholars are the team to beat. They’ve got a monster pack and are big all over the park. They’ve also got a lot of mobility with Brent Crisp and McAskill is almost impossible to stop from twenty metres out with his good footwork and size.”

“We all know though that if we play to our best each week we’ll be towards the top of the competition. It will be a good test this for us this week.”

Yass Magpies v West Belconnen Warriors at Walker Park

Yass Magpies will be the clear favourites in this encounter against the West Belconnen Warriors at Walker.

Yass enjoyed a well earned rest with the bye last week after having won all three of their previous games. Their form so far this year has seen them as this year’s biggest improvers and sitting comfortably in second position on the ladder.

In a blow to West Belconnen, they will be without in-form winger Brad Smith who scored a double last weekend. Smith has been recalled to the Canberra Raiders Toyota Cup side.

Queanbeyan Kangaroos v Goulburn Workers Bulldogs at Freebody Oval

The clash between the Queanbeyan Kangaroos and the Goulburn Workers Bulldogs at Freebody Oval see’s the key individual match-up between Aaron Gorrell and James Aubusson come to fruition.

Both are Captain-Coaches of their respective sides and extremely influential and integral to their sides success.

The pair’s combined NRL experience amounts to 141 first grade games in both the NRL and English Super League and whichever counterpart is able to successfully dominate the ruck area will determine the victor in this encounter.

Tuggeranong Bushrangers v Queanbeyan Blues at Greenway

The fourth placed Blues will look to bounce back from last week’s defeat from cross-town rivals the Kangaroos against the Bushrangers at Greenway this Saturday.

The Blues will have to be wary of the threat Tuggeranong pose at home however with the Bushrangers always keen to impress their home crowd.

Woden Rams have the bye

Source: Raiders