Raiders to hit Jamal Idris hard"ALL hands on deck". That's the call the Raiders will use this week for their defence in a desperate bid to try to contain Gold Coast runaway train Jamal Idris.
Canberra coach David Furner is a fan of the former Bulldog and watched the giant centre's two-try effort to help the Titans destroy the Cowboys.
He knows if the Raiders don't contain Idris on Saturday they'll be starting the season with two straight losses after going down to Melbourne in round 1.
Furner didn't mince words when asked how they would contain Idris at Skilled Park on Saturday.
"We probably (need) three or four people," he said. "He's a damaging player if you allow him to be so we've got a job on our hands on our right edge.
"We have to make sure we deny him space and time."
Man-on-man it's certainly shaping as a mismatch in the size stakes with Idris up against former Bronco veteran Shaun Berrigan.
Idris tips the scales at 115kg and stands a whopping 194cm while Berrigan at 87kg and 178cm will need all his years of experience at club, state and Test level to manage the monster.
Despite giving away height, weight and reach, Furner is confident in the 33-year-old, provided he has friends in support when Idris is on the charge.
"I think he warmed up to the task defensively," Furner said of their 24-19 loss to the Storm.
"Berro on our edges made some really good decisions. They had to pull out some classy plays, and they did, to score tries on us."
As well as trying to contain Idris the Raiders are mindful of the threat the Titans pose around the ruck.
With prop Tom Learoyd-Lahrs ruled out with a toe injury Furner has added Trevor Thurling to the side as the Raiders look to shut down young hookers Kayne Lawton and Matt Srama.
"His leg speed is going to be important," said Furner of Thurling's selection.
"With the Titans and the hookers they've got, there is a lot of threat around that marker area.
"So someone like Trevor who's got some really good leg speed is going to be important to the team."
The Raiders may also be forced into further changes with Jack Wighton needing a successful judiciary appearance to make his debut. Wighton was called up as cover for injured winger Reece Robinson but will need to have a dangerous throw charge from the Toyota Cup game, downgraded to play against the Coast.
Should he fail there's every chance former Burleigh Bear Dimitri Pelo could get the nod. An Australian Schoolboy from Palm Beach-Currumbin in 2002, Pelo failed in his bid to win a contract with the Titans but went on to play for France against the Kangaroos in 2009.
Source: GoldCoast.com.au
Topic: Raiders Set To Target Idris
