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Nick Markham | Rugbyleaguelive.com | 18/04/08
VIDEO - Heart, soul and Tongue of the Raiders
Canberra Raiders v Melbourne Storm
Monday 21st April, 7.00pm
Canberra Stadium
Referee: Jared Maxwell
HEAD TO HEAD
Raiders 5 wins, Storm 16 wins.
FORM GUIDE
Raiders: LWWLW
Storm: WLLWW
The Storm’s premiership defense continues to gather steam, with last week’s clinical 26-4 dismantling of the Sea Eagles the clearest indication yet that Melbourne is more that capable of regaining the form that delivered last year’s title.
Canberra also head into the match in good spirits after coming back from the dead to down the Tigers 30-24 at Canberra Stadium, but the Raiders traditionally struggle against the Storm (admittedly, they aren’t alone), having copped a 34-6 hiding at Olympic Park the last time these two sides met.
In a worrying sign for the home side, Melbourne head in with an unchanged lineup from last week’s thumping of Manly, while for the Raiders; Tom Learoyd-Lahrs comes onto the bench in place of the injured Josh Miller.
As if the Raiders don’t already have ample motivation as they prepare to clash with last year’s benchmark side, the game also marks an impressive milestone for inspirational Raiders skipper Alan Tongue.
The tireless back-rower is set to run out for the 150th time in the top grade for the Raiders, a rare feat in today’s game, where players often play for list of clubs longer than Mike Tyson’s rap sheet.
THE BURNING QUESTION
Can the Raiders contain Billy Slater, the man universally recognized as the number one player in the game at the moment?
KEY MATCH UPS
Billy Slater vs. Bronx Goodwin – Looks like a total mismatch on paper, and in reality it probably is. Slater continues to be the standout in a star-studded backline, all the while making an undeniable claim to the Australian fullback position for next month’s Centenary Test.
Goodwin has been solid, if unspectacular since being drafted into the fullback position to cover for the injured William Zillman, and will rely heavily on his teammates in defence to nullify Slater’s attacking brilliance.
Cooper Cronk vs. Todd Carney – The performance of two of the best young halfbacks in the game will go a long way to deciding the result here.
Cronk is the link-man that unleashes the potent Storm backline, with a clever passing game combined with pin-point kicking and is also impressive running the ball when he so chooses.
Carney is a precocious talent that has been mentioned in dispatches as a contender for the NSW halfback position. He can be brilliant at times, but almost non-existent at others. He’ll need to be at his absolute best if he’s to orchestrate enough scoring chances for the Raiders to be competitive.
COACHES CORNER
The Storm will undoubtedly be boosted by the announcement that Craig Bellamy has signed a new five-year deal to remain with Melbourne, finally putting to rest the intense speculation that had the game’s gun mentor set to link with Brisbane after 2009.
Bellamy commitment to the game’s southern sons in signing a mammoth five-year, $2.5 million deal to remain with the club until the end of 2013, can only have a positive effect.
Neil Henry, on the other hand, is in the uneasy position of coaching the Raiders until season’s end, before taking up a lucrative deal with the Cowboys from 2009.
The highly-rated coach appears to have the support of the players, but it’s hard to imagine that the player’s morale would be particularly high give the coach’s decision to fly the coop at season’s end.
PUNTERS GUIDE
Canberra $3.50, Melbourne $1.28
The bookies don’t give the Raiders much hope despite home-ground advantage, and I tend to agree with them.
It’s hard to see where the Raiders points are going to come from, but one look at the Storm lineup suggests that they have ample in them.
Melbourne 13+ at $2.05 with TAB Sportsbet looks to be the logical bet, and for those playing the exotics, back either Anthony Quinn or Steve Turner (both $11) to finish off a slick Storm backline move and register the first try.
CASUALTY WARD
Raiders: Josh Miller – ankle (Rd 10), Neville Costigan – leg (Rd 7), Glen Turner – ankle (Rd 7), William Zillman – knee (season), Ryan Hinchcliffe – thumb (Rd 11)
Storm: Ben MacDougall – knee (indefinite), Danny Vaughan – knee (season)
BAD BOYS
Raiders: Michael Weyman – Round 13
Storm: Brett White – Round 7
TEAM LISTS
Raiders: Bronx Goodwin, Colin Best, Marshall Chalk, Joel Monaghan, Adrian Purtell, Terry Campese, Todd Carney, Scott Logan, Lincoln Withers, Dane Tilse, Joe Picker, Nigel Plum, Alan Tongue (capt). Interchange: Trevor Thurling, Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, Ben Jones, Troy Thompson, David Milne, Joel Thompson (two to be omitted).
Storm: Billy Slater, Steve Turner, Will Chambers, Israel Folau, Anthony Quinn, Greg Inglis, Cooper Cronk, Jeff Lima, Cam Smith (capt), Adam Blair, Jeremy Smith, Ryan Hoffman, Dallas Johnson. Interchange: Matt Geyer, Antonio Kaufusi, Michael Crocker, Clifford Manua, Sika Manu (one to be omitted)
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