Golden Points: Canberra climbs off canvas
Barring a final-round disaster, Canberra will qualify for the top eight, while a victory over the Warriors in Auckland could secure sixth place and a home final in the first week of the finals.
Sitting in second-last at the halfway mark of the season and 13th after 21 rounds, the Raiders' late-season charge is one of the finest – and most underappreciated – achievements of 2012. The Raiders have defied a horrific injury toll that claimed captain and chief playmaker Terry Campese (seven games) and Brett White (four) early in the year to win seven of their last nine games, simultaneously saving under-fire coach David Furner's bacon.
Previously unheralded young players such as Reece Robinson, Josh McCrone, Sam Williams, Sandor Earl and Josh Papalii have been outstanding, while lock Shaun Fensom is destined for representative honours and is a future long-term captain of the club.
The Green Machine's extraordinary turnaround mirrors the club's efforts of 2008 and 2010, when the Raiders recovered from seemingly hopeless positions to sneak into the finals. It keeps alive Canberra's phenomenal streak of not missing the finals in consecutive seasons since 1986 – a record no other team in the competition can boast.
The Raiders are not being tipped to make much of an impact in September, but they have built their reputation on proving the doubters wrong. Purely making the finals after winning just four of their opening 13 games is a massive accomplishment for the club.
Warriors to field Iro-nic line-upThe New Zealand Warriors are on the brink of a club record eight straight losses, equalling seven-match losing streaks suffered in 1997, 2000 and 2004 with their demoralising 32-point defeat to St George Illawarra.
Caretaker coach Tony Iro has virtually assured the Warriors will take sole ownership of the record under his watch with the naming of a ludicrous line-up to face finals-bound Canberra.
Shaun Johnson has been dropped altogether, while halves partner James Maloney and utility Lewis Brown have been relegated to an extended seven-man bench. The trio have performed poorly of late, but no worse than a host of their teammates who have somehow avoided the axe. Brown's versatility should he him make the cut, but Maloney is likely to be one of the three interchange players omitted.
The match is a dead-rubber for the Warriors, while Brown and Maloney depart for rival clubs following the clash. Maloney's demotion, in particular, is a slap in the face for a player that has been the Warriors' linchpin for three seasons. To make matters worse, the pair will be paraded in front of the crowd post-match, along with retiring veteran Micheal Luck and a clutch of lower-profile departing players. It is a sour end to the tenures of two of the club's most consistent performers.
Johnson, meanwhile, is the future of the club, and dropping him is a stupid move. He may line-up for the club's NSW Cup affiliate the Auckland Vulcans this weekend and is now at long odds to retain his place in the Kiwi Test team. Feleti Mateo has been picked out of position at five-eighth and will be partnered by NRL novice Pita Godinet against the Raiders.
Fellow stragglers Parramatta, Penrith and the Sydney Roosters are finishing disappointing campaigns respectively on a positive note – sadly, Iro's preposterous selection policy has ruined any chance of the Warriors following suit.
Source: http://www.backpagelead.com.au/league/7315-golden-points-canberra-climbs-off-canvas
Topic: Win Against #Warriors Would Keep Canberra's Phenomenal Final Streak Alive
