Raiders V Storm - Holden Cup Preview Sunday, 11.45am, Canberra Stadium
Melbourne face a daunting trip to the nation’s capital this Sunday in a desperate attempt to arrest a form slide that has seen them lose four matches in a row and slump to within a whisker of relegation from the top eight.
They face a mighty Green Machine who have lost only three times all year and triumphed 46-12 in a Round 8 thumping when last the teams met.
Canberra’s most recent dose of jubilation came in the form of a tight win over the Dragons.
Winger Jonathon Reuben and centre Andrew Heffernan both bagged two tries each in the 18-12 grudge match – one that takes the Raiders three points clear at the top of the table.
Heffernan was the most stylish man in green at the weekend, laying on one of his winger’s tries in addition to his brace, running for 197 metres, busting four tackles and making four of his own.
Melbourne had far less to cheer about after their trip across the Tasman, surrendering a halftime lead to the Warriors to eventually go down 20-16.
The Storm missed 30 tackles in a match they looked like winning. Halfback Matt McGahan was their best, setting up a try and making 22 tackles.
In a cruel fortnight, Melbourne have been dealt two of the toughest road trips in the Holden Cup.
They can only hope the Raiders are for some reason off-song, or they face a repeat of last weekend’s result and thusly banishment from the top half of the draw.
Tip: Raiders by six points.
Source: http://www.nrl.com/holden-cup-preview--round-21/tabid/10874/newsid/73798/default.aspx
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