GIO Stadium will play host to Friday's Round 20 NRL game between Canberra Raiders and New Zealand Warriors. The game kicks off at 8:00 pm with Canberra Raiders heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Canberra Raiders vs. New Zealand Warriors game and give you our free tips and bets.
When: Friday July 19, 2024 at 8:00 pm
Where: GIO Stadium
Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE
Canberra Raiders vs New Zealand Warriors Odds
Canberra Raiders vs New Zealand Warriors Preview
Round 20 kicks off with the first of several massive swing matches between finals hopefuls: slumping Canberra hosting the up-and-down, injury-hit Warriors.
The Raiders sit 11th on 20 points; the Warriors are one point back in 12th.
Canberra has lost four straight, following up embarrassing blowouts against North Queensland and Wests with low-scoring defeats at the hands of Melbourne and Newcastle before last weekends bye.
The Green Machine welcome back No.7 linchpin Jamal Fogarty in a timely boost, as well as valuable back-rowers Hudson Young and Zac Hosking, Kaeo Weekes remains in the side at fullback.
The Warriors had the bye weekend to recuperate from a brave but courageous golden point loss to Canterbury.
The upshot is they will be without Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Marcelo Montoya this week, on top of Tohu Harris season-ending injury news.
Livewire Taine Tuaupiki gets a chance at fullback, with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck shifting to the wing and Ali Leiataua coming in at centre, Mitch Barnett and Kurt Capewell have both been named to back up 48 hours after the Origin decider.
The Warriors are on a three-match winning streak against the Raiders, including a hard-fought 18-10 result in Christchurch in Round 3.
Their outstanding 36-14 victory in Canberra in Round 15 last year was the Warriors fourth from their last six matches at GIO Stadium.
The Raiders are also striving to avoid five straight losses at the venue for the first time since 2014 after some horrendous performances at home over the past couple of months.
The Warriors last outing uncovered some chinks in the make-up of flavour-of-the-month halfback Te Maire Martin, but the addition of Tuaupiki should alleviate some playmaking pressure. Barnetts ability to back is a make-or-break factor he has been the heart and soul of the Warriors pack.
The Raiders are the narrowest of $1.87 favourites but have shown little recently.
Expect the desperate nature of both teams finals prospects to be reflected by a low-scoring cliff-hanger.
Content provided by Ladbrokes
Canberra Raiders vs New Zealand Warriors Tip
We're tipping Canberra Raiders to win at $1.68 odds.
Canberra Raiders vs New Zealand Warriors Teams
Raiders team: 1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Jordan Rapana 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Morgan Smithies 14. Danny Levi 15. Trey Mooney 16. Ata Mariota 17. Zac Hosking 18. Adam Cook 19. Albert Hopoate 20. Simi Sasagi 21. Zac Woolford 22. Emre Guler
Warriors team: 1. Taine Tuaupiki 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Ali Leiataua 4. Adam Pompey 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Te Maire Martin 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Marata Niukore 12. Kurt Capewell 13. Dylan Walker 14. Freddy Lussick 15. Jackson Ford 16. Jazz Tevaga 17. Leka Halasima 18. Tom Ale 20. Bunty Afoa 21. Edward Kosi 22. Moala Graham-Taufa 23. Jacob Laban
