Match Preview: Top four teams in battle of the round
<div>
<p>It doesn't get much better with rivals the One New Zealand Warriors and Canberra facing off in a mid-season top four battle at Go Media Stadium tonight (6.05pm kick-off).</p>
<p>The Warriors haven't enjoyed playing in front of their faithful at home since Luke Metcalf sent fans into raptures with his golden point match-winning 50-metre penalty against the Broncos on April 19.</p>
<p>Since then it has been airports, buses and hotels as they've travelled to Christchurch for Anzac Day, Brisbane for Magic Round, a long haul to Wollongong and back to Brisbane once more last weekend.</p>
<p>With wins in each of their last five games they've put together an 8-1 record since their opening round loss to the Raiders in Las Vegas to sit second on the ladder with 18 points. Canberra, yet to have a bye, is 8-3 after 11 rounds now sitting fourth.</p>
<p>This promises to be a high-octane contest between two tough packs and a host of lethal attacking weapons featuring the home side's <span>Luke Metcalf, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad facing </span><span>Canberra's Xavier Savage, Kaeo Weekes and Ethan Strange.</span></p>
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<h3>Team news</h3>
<p><b>One New Zealand Warriors:</b> Centre Ali Leiataua is back from the ankle injury he suffered in round 8, added to the squad on Saturday. New captain Kurt Capewell reverts to the back row, Marata Niukore moves to prop and Jackson Ford goes to the bench in his return from concussion. Tanner Stowers-Smith dropped back to the reserves in the 24-hour update.</p>
<p><b>Raiders:</b> With Hudson Young chasing Origin glory with the Blues, Simi Sasagi will start a game for the first time this season after eight games off the bench and 20-year-old Noah Martin joins the bench for his NRL debut. No changes in Saturday's 24-hour update with Jed Stuart the 18th man. </p>
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<h3>Stat attack</h3>
<ul>
<li>The Warriors have won all four games in New Zealand this season.</li>
<li>The Raiders have not won in New Zealand since 2019.</li>
<li>Warriors winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has scored 15 tries in his last 17 games at Go Media Stadium.</li>
<li>Raiders winger Xavier Savage has scored four tries in his past two games.</li>
<li>Warrior Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has scored a try in his last four games against the Raiders.</li>
</ul>
<p>Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of <a href="https://rugbyleagueannual.com.au/">the official annual of the NRL</a>.</p> </div>
<div>
<p>It doesn't get much better with rivals the One New Zealand Warriors and Canberra facing off in a mid-season top four battle at Go Media Stadium tonight (6.05pm kick-off).</p>
<p>The Warriors haven't enjoyed playing in front of their faithful at home since Luke Metcalf sent fans into raptures with his golden point match-winning 50-metre penalty against the Broncos on April 19.</p>
<p>Since then it has been airports, buses and hotels as they've travelled to Christchurch for Anzac Day, Brisbane for Magic Round, a long haul to Wollongong and back to Brisbane once more last weekend.</p>
<p>With wins in each of their last five games they've put together an 8-1 record since their opening round loss to the Raiders in Las Vegas to sit second on the ladder with 18 points. Canberra, yet to have a bye, is 8-3 after 11 rounds now sitting fourth.</p>
<p>This promises to be a high-octane contest between two tough packs and a host of lethal attacking weapons featuring the home side's <span>Luke Metcalf, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad facing </span><span>Canberra's Xavier Savage, Kaeo Weekes and Ethan Strange.</span></p>
</div><div>
<h3>Team news</h3>
<p><b>One New Zealand Warriors:</b> Centre Ali Leiataua is back from the ankle injury he suffered in round 8, added to the squad on Saturday. New captain Kurt Capewell reverts to the back row, Marata Niukore moves to prop and Jackson Ford goes to the bench in his return from concussion. Tanner Stowers-Smith dropped back to the reserves in the 24-hour update.</p>
<p><b>Raiders:</b> With Hudson Young chasing Origin glory with the Blues, Simi Sasagi will start a game for the first time this season after eight games off the bench and 20-year-old Noah Martin joins the bench for his NRL debut. No changes in Saturday's 24-hour update with Jed Stuart the 18th man. </p>
</div><div>
<h3>Stat attack</h3>
<ul>
<li>The Warriors have won all four games in New Zealand this season.</li>
<li>The Raiders have not won in New Zealand since 2019.</li>
<li>Warriors winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has scored 15 tries in his last 17 games at Go Media Stadium.</li>
<li>Raiders winger Xavier Savage has scored four tries in his past two games.</li>
<li>Warrior Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has scored a try in his last four games against the Raiders.</li>
</ul>
<p>Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of <a href="https://rugbyleagueannual.com.au/">the official annual of the NRL</a>.</p> </div>
