Team List Canberra Raiders v NZ Warriors - [Round 2, 2026]

[sydneywarrior92]

So do I. They are a stacked and strong team with pace out wide and I still remember them clobbering us and cut us to shreds last year so the two I'm picking to really do some damage are Demi and Laban. But Cambra are no easy beats. And one of my customers is a Cambra die hard so the banter is good fun

They didn't really cut us to shreds in the last game at MSS- it was 16-10. It was really close and if we had iced our opportunities (ie Pompey surrendering our lead at HT due to being offside at the dropout), we could have actually won that game.

Looking through the Raiders pack, it strikes me that just like we get irritated with Aussies for hanging on to the myth of us being a "monster" pack, maybe we are guilty of doing the same for the Raiders. Just googling the physiques of their middle rotations, they don't seem to have many hulking monsters in the 6'4 120+ kg mould of a NAS, Haas or AFB. They are all reasonably sized middles in the 6'1 106ish mould.

They are however all incredibly mobile, can play big minutes, can offload the ball at will and have quick PTBs which generates the ruck speed necessary to allow their quick dummy halves and back five to blow open the game. That is infinitely more important than having a bunch of monster forwards who might make you huge post-contact metres but as a result have a slow PTB and can only last 20 mins at a time. The way they dismantled Manly in that middle third of the game without big Pappa was impressive. Albeit the Manly pack is in my view one of the weakest in the comp.

We are made of much sterner stuff than Manly and Canberra are much tougher than the Chooks pack which we exposed as being a bit of a paper tiger. The two packs are quite well matched against each other imo. Gonna be a hell of a battle. Whoever wins it will go a long way to winning the game. Last time, we had both our book ends out and they essentially fielded a full strength outfit due to Horsborough being overlooked for origin. With Big Pappa out this time and JFH in, I feel we have the upper hand this time.

 

[Lance155]

Ali is also lacking on kick chase efforts as well so it isn't just a D issue. Again something he has been called out for. Both are heavily impacted by mindset so can be an easier fix.

 

[Garry Saloon]

So if Pompey goes on maternity leave it will be CNK at centre I guess?

If Ali doesn’t improve and they need to change then CNK is the only viable option but if he’s leveled up with the jungle ball game plan then it will be a big call to move your FB

Capewell or possibly Leka to centre for me. CNK was too good last week.

 

[Canonball]

They didn't really cut us to shreds in the last game at MSS- it was 16-10. It was really close and if we had iced our opportunities (ie Pompey surrendering our lead at HT due to being offside at the dropout), we could have actually won that game.

Looking through the Raiders pack, it strikes me that just like we get irritated with Aussies for hanging on to the myth of us being a "monster" pack, maybe we are guilty of doing the same for the Raiders. Just googling the physiques of their middle rotations, they don't seem to have many hulking monsters in the 6'4 120+ kg mould of a NAS, Haas or AFB. They are all reasonably sized middles in the 6'1 106ish mould.

They are however all incredibly mobile, can play big minutes, can offload the ball at will and have quick PTBs which generates the ruck speed necessary to allow their quick dummy halves and back five to blow open the game. That is infinitely more important than having a bunch of monster forwards who might make you huge post-contact metres but as a result have a slow PTB and can only last 20 mins at a time. The way they dismantled Manly in that middle third of the game without big Pappa was impressive. Albeit the Manly pack is in my view one of the weakest in the comp.

We are made of much sterner stuff than Manly and Canberra are much tougher than the Chooks pack which we exposed as being a bit of a paper tiger. The two packs are quite well matched against each other imo. Gonna be a hell of a battle. Whoever wins it will go a long way to winning the game. Last time, we had both our book ends out and they essentially fielded a full strength outfit due to Horsborough being overlooked for origin. With Big Pappa out this time and JFH in, I feel we have the upper hand this time.

We're going run straight through them after a they tire through an early onslaught is my prediction - fitter and faster than them - simple game of controlling the ruck again

 

[sydneywarrior92]

We're going run straight through them after a they tire through an early onslaught is my prediction - fitter and faster than them - simple game of controlling the ruck again

they are also super fit like us. The comparison between the chooks vs raiders when dealing with the adversity of no early possession was really telling. Chooks just gave up and started doing Hollywood acting whereas the Raiders got stuck in and wore Manly down in a very impressive manner. This game will go down to the wire. I just feel like we have the edge this time given i) big papa being out, ii) we are at home and iii) they have had the rub of the green against us recently.

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Capewell or possibly Leka to centre for me. CNK was too good last week.

It's unfair to stick Capes out into the centres with the speed Canberra have in their backline. Altho, He is our Mr Fixit. He is not superman.

 

[sydneywarrior92]

It's unfair to stick Capes out into the centres with the speed Canberra have in their backline. Altho, He is our Mr Fixit. He is not superman.

feel like in this unlikely scenario, the obvious choice is CNK to center and TT into FB. Capes is acing it in the back row and Leka is great with the impact off the bench. You don't strengthen a position by weakening 2 others.

 

[Lance155]

they are also super fit like us. The comparison between the chooks vs raiders when dealing with the adversity of no early possession was really telling. Chooks just gave up and started doing Hollywood acting whereas the Raiders got stuck in and wore Manly down in a very impressive manner. This game will go down to the wire. I just feel like we have the edge this time given i) big papa being out, ii) we are at home and iii) they have had the rub of the green against us recently.

At some point the Raiders will throw a hectic 20 minutes at you. If you can keep that scoreless it would pretty much guarantee a win

 

[CWC]

They didn't really cut us to shreds in the last game at MSS- it was 16-10. It was really close and if we had iced our opportunities (ie Pompey surrendering our lead at HT due to being offside at the dropout), we could have actually won that game.

Looking through the Raiders pack, it strikes me that just like we get irritated with Aussies for hanging on to the myth of us being a "monster" pack, maybe we are guilty of doing the same for the Raiders. Just googling the physiques of their middle rotations, they don't seem to have many hulking monsters in the 6'4 120+ kg mould of a NAS, Haas or AFB. They are all reasonably sized middles in the 6'1 106ish mould.

They are however all incredibly mobile, can play big minutes, can offload the ball at will and have quick PTBs which generates the ruck speed necessary to allow their quick dummy halves and back five to blow open the game. That is infinitely more important than having a bunch of monster forwards who might make you huge post-contact metres but as a result have a slow PTB and can only last 20 mins at a time. The way they dismantled Manly in that middle third of the game without big Pappa was impressive. Albeit the Manly pack is in my view one of the weakest in the comp.

We are made of much sterner stuff than Manly and Canberra are much tougher than the Chooks pack which we exposed as being a bit of a paper tiger. The two packs are quite well matched against each other imo. Gonna be a hell of a battle. Whoever wins it will go a long way to winning the game. Last time, we had both our book ends out and they essentially fielded a full strength outfit due to Horsborough being overlooked for origin. With Big Pappa out this time and JFH in, I feel we have the upper hand this time.

We have Fish and an upgraded again Ford while they are missing Papa this time. Would be interesting to see how their 7 goes Fogarty was great against us

 

[WAH MAN]

It's unfair to stick Capes out into the centres with the speed Canberra have in their backline. Altho, He is our Mr Fixit. He is not superman.

EIT can cover centre if we are desperately plugging holes. And he's middle forward able as well. Probably second rower too. So Koro Capewell can stay at his preferred pozzy.

 

[Ryno 2.0]

Ooof looking forward to this game, we owe Tapine some receipts from last year.

Just on one topic, I hope Leka runs a bit harder and straighter this game, I think he tends to try to fend off and muscle players, instead of trying to hit a gap.

 

[sydneywarrior92]

We have Fish and an upgraded again Ford while they are missing Papa this time. Would be interesting to see how their 7 goes Fogarty was great against us

Sanders is still a rookie who is learning the game, especially defense wise. Too much attention has been paid by the media to his clutch field goal and not enough for his suspect edge defense which is a huge reason why Manly came back in that game. I'm sure Webby will have a plan to exploit that, just like he did in exposing DCE last Friday.

 

[sydneywarrior92]

Ooof looking forward to this game, we owe Tapine some receipts from last year.

Just on one topic, I hope Leka runs a bit harder and straighter this game, I think he tends to try to fend off and muscle players, instead of trying to hit a gap.

that's on our halves to put him into those situations where he is hitting a gap. Asking him to do the Newcastle miracle play every touch he gets is not really fair on the young lad.

 

[Brightman]

Ooof looking forward to this game, we owe Tapine some receipts from last year.

Just on one topic, I hope Leka runs a bit harder and straighter this game, I think he tends to try to fend off and muscle players, instead of trying to hit a gap.

Yeah that right edge attack has a lot to unlock, if the young backrowers can run lines like Capewah and if Ali pulls his finger out then Boyd can look good playing right to left too..

 

[watcher]

For me Leka is still learning. He does tend to run around in circles. For the Halves to be able to put him in gaps he has to play within the structure too. He will learn.

 

[RobRoyMcCoy]

Where is Barnett? I thought he was due back this round?

 

[CWC]

Where is Barnett? I thought he was due back this round?

In Brisbane spanking McGuire for a better swap deal as we speak

 

[sydneywarrior92]

I'm seeing TT a lot in the training pics on instagram. A sign that Pomps is a late exclusion due to the potential baby situation and TT comes into FB and CNK to center?

 

[Sammyw]

I'm seeing TT a lot in the training pics on instagram. A sign that Pomps is a late exclusion due to the potential baby situation and TT comes into FB and CNK to center?

this would be the play if pomps is out, but contingency planning at this stage. Pompey is definitely still present in the training pics

 

[Ref]

I'm seeing TT a lot in the training pics on instagram. A sign that Pomps is a late exclusion due to the potential baby situation and TT comes into FB and CNK to center?

I’d say that’s been the clubs Plan B all along for 2026 until Berry is available or one of Cup boys lights it up.
You can’t disrupt the epic forward line up from last week.