Raiders to Take on Defending Premiers Manly - Round 9 Preview

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Round 9 NRL Preview: Raiders v Sea Eagles

CANBERRA RAIDERS v MANLY SEA EAGLES



Round 9, 2012 NRL Premiership
Sunday, May 6, 2012
NRL Kick-Off 2:00pm, NYC Kick-Off 11:45am
Brookvale Oval
Referees: Jared Maxwell/Tony De Las Heras

ROUND 9 GAME PREVIEW

Coming In To Round 9
Canberra Raiders are 1-3 in their last four games, and are coming off a 44-22 defeat at the hands of Cronulla in Round 8.
They have averaged 16.5 ppg since Round 5, and have conceded 27.0 ppg in that period.
They sit 13th on the competition ladder, 2 points out of the Top 8.

Manly Sea Eagles are 2-2 in their last four games, and are coming off a 12-10 win over Canterbury in Round 8.
They have averaged 19.0 ppg since Round 5, and have conceded 16.3 ppg in that period.
They sit 8th on the competition ladder, due to their points differential.

Last Time They Met
Round 9, 2011 - Watch game highlights of Manly’s 20-0 win in the wet at Brookvale last season.
Last 10 Games - Sea Eagles 8 Raiders 2.

Manly won easily in the wet last year and have dominated the Raiders for the last eight years.

Team Changes and Late Mail
Find all the Canberra Team and Injury News from Tuesday and full Round 9 Lineup here

CANBERRA RAIDERS
J Dugan, B Ferguson, J Croker, S Berrigan, R Robinson, J McCrone, S Williams, D Shillington ©, T Waddell, T Learoyd-Lahrs, J Papalii, J Thompson, S Fensom.
Bench: J Picker, B Harrison, S Mataora, D Tilse, M McIlwrick.
MANLY SEA EAGLES
B Stewart, J Taufua, J Lyon ©, S Matai, D Williams, L Foran, D Cherry-Evans, J King ©, M Ballin, B Kite, A Watmough, J Buhrer, G Stewart.
Bench: V Mauro, J Galuvao, D Lussick, G Rose, D Harrison.

Bottom Line

Despite an average couple of weeks the Canberra Raiders find themselves with an opportunity to draw level with six teams on eight competition points ( four of those six teams are in the Top 8 ), when they take on Manly at Brookvale on Sunday afternoon.

The returns of Josh Dugan and Shaun Fensom were overshadowed by a disappointing team performance at home to the Sharks but the beauty of footy is there is a game next week to make amends.

Canberra have lost Glen Buttriss to a knee injury and Travis Waddell starts in his place in the only key change for the Raiders, while Manly will still be without Kieran Foran due to a hamstring strain.

With Brookvale Oval an unhappy hunting ground for the Raiders in recent times, David Furner’s men simply cannot afford to spot the Sea Eagles a lead, sticking in the contest and finding an extra leg when needed will be Canberra’s best chance of knocking off the defending premiers. As will the continued influence of Sam Williams at halfback and the game breaking ability of Dugan at the back.

Source: Raiders