The Raiders are out to continue their late-season resurgence when they host a desperate Wests Tigers on Saturday afternoon. 

Ricky Stuart’s men have kept their finals hopes alive with three-straight victories and are eager to keep stringing wins together in the run to the finals. 

The Raiders have been dealt a blow with Hudson Young rupturing his Achilles last weekend but Ethan Strange remains one of the most dangerous playmakers in the game and Joe Tapine continues to lead from the front. 

Canberra will need to be at their best to topple the Tigers, who are also fighting to keep their finals hopes alive. 

Benji Marshall’s men have struggled in recent weeks but claimed an impressive victory over the Raiders at Leichhardt Oval earlier this season and will look to emulate that performance on Saturday afternoon. 

Outgoing five-eighth Jarome Luai has promised to deliver for the club before his departure and his battle with Strange shapes as an entertaining contest between two free-running halves. 

Team News

Raiders: With Owen Pattie serving a one-game suspension, Tom Starling starts the game at hooker and Jayden Brailey joins the bench. The loss of Hudson Young to a season-ending Achilles injury sees Zac Hosking slide to second row and Morgan Smithies line up at lock. Englishman Matty Nicholson (shoulder) has been added to the six-man bench for his first appearance of 2026 while Seb Kris also joins the bench after recovering from a hamstring injury.

Wests Tigers: Adam Doueihi and Latu Fainu were listed among the reserves pending their judiciary hearings on Tuesday night. Fainu was found guilty of a Grade 3 Dangerous Contact charge and has been banned for three games while Doueihi had his Careless High Tackle charge downgraded and will take his place against the Raiders. Rising star Javon Andrews had been named at halfback pending Doueihi’s hearing. Patrick Herbert returns from a shoulder injury in the centres while Sunia Turuva moves from wing to centre. Junior Tupou and Faaletino Tavana are the new wingers. Star To’a moves to the interchange and Heamasi Makasini drops to the reserves. Skipper Api Koroisau is back in the starting side after coming off the bench last week. Ethan Roberts has been promoted to start in the back row with Sione Fainu going to the bench. Prop Bunty Afoa is back from a suspension on the bench. 

Stat Attack 

The Raiders have won 10 of their last 12 games against the Tigers.
Wests Tigers have not won at GIO Stadium since 2018.
The Raiders have scored 98 points in three consecutive wins.
The Tigers have not defeated the Raiders twice in a season since 2011.
The Raiders have won only one of their last five games without Hudson Young.

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.

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