Panthers v Raiders
Glen Willow Oval, Mudgee, NSW. 6pm.
Raiders and Panthers Set for a Finals-Style Clash
Mudgee will come alive on Friday night as Glen Willow Oval hosts a showdown that feels every bit like September. The table-topping Raiders roll into town to face the reigning premiers Penrith in a blockbuster that could reshape the ladder and sharpen the finals picture.
For Ivan Cleary’s Panthers, the stakes couldn’t be higher. The defending champions, sitting just one point adrift of the Warriors in fourth, know their run home won’t be forgiving — with the Bulldogs and Dragons looming after this week’s test against Canberra. Every game is now a must-win.
The occasion promises more than just points. League fans from across the state will converge on the picturesque country ground to see stars light up the night — Nathan Cleary’s precision, Jamal Fogarty’s composure, and the flair of Brian To’o, Izack Tago, Kaeo Weekes, and Xavier Savage.
Penrith also look set to welcome back their heartbeat. After two weeks sidelined with a shoulder injury, skipper Isaah Yeo has been named in the extended squad and could make a timely return. His presence would be a massive lift for the premiers as they fight to reclaim a top-four spot. Paul Alamoti remains on standby as the 18th man.
The stage is set: the country crowd, the heavyweights of the competition, and the kind of tension that only late-season footy can bring.
Panthers
1. Dylan Edwards 2. Thomas Jenkins 3. Izack Tago 4. Casey McLean 5. Brian To’o 6. Blaize Talagi 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. Lindsay Smith, 11. Luke Garner 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaiah Papali’i Bench: 14. Brad Schneider 15. Liam Henry 16. Matt Eisenhuth 17. Scott Sorensen Reserves: 18. Paul Alamoti 19. Isaah Yeo, 20. Mavrik Geyer 21. Daine Laurie 22. Luke Sommerton.
Raiders Eye History as Panthers Look to Bounce Back
Canberra stands on the brink of history. A win at home this week would propel the Raiders closer to their first minor premiership since 1990, a milestone more than three decades in the making. But standing in their path are the fifth-placed Panthers, still smarting from the heartbreak of Round 24 when their nine-game winning streak was snapped by the Storm in a golden-point thriller.
Ricky Stuart sees no reason to tinker with success. The Green Machine will roll out the same 17 that dismantled Manly before the bye, their cohesion and confidence growing by the week. At the heart of their charge is young five-eighth Ethan Strange, whose dazzling form has lit up the capital — eight tries in his last nine games marking him as one of the competition’s most dangerous threats.
For Canberra fans, the air is thick with possibility. The minor premiership dream is alive, but to keep it burning, the Raiders must first outlast the reigning heavyweights.
Raiders: 1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Jed Stuart 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. Zac Hosking 13. Corey Horsburgh Bench: 14. Owen Pattie, 15. Simi Sasagi 16. Morgan Smithies 17. Ata Mariota Reserves: 18. Noah Martin , 19. Manaia Waitere 20. Danny Levi 21. Trey Mooney 22. Ethan Sanders.
Key Stats
The Panthers have won five of their past six games against the Raiders.
The Raiders have played in Mudgee twice for two losses.
Panthers centre Casey McLean has scored six tries in his last five games.
Raiders five-eighth Ethan Strange has scored eight tries in his last nine games.
The Panthers have won two of their last three games against top-four opposition.
Officials
Referee: Grant Atkins ,Touch Judges, Matt Noyen, Drew Oultram, Bunker, Liam Kennedy.
Panthers Aim to Halt Raiders’ Momentum in Finals-Shaping Showdown
The Panthers left Melbourne last week with frustration etched across their faces, having fallen just short in a golden-point classic. Still, their resurgence continues as they charge towards September with renewed confidence and belief.
Canberra, meanwhile, enjoyed a timely week off — a chance to heal battered bodies and sharpen their focus for one of the biggest tests of the season. But rest can be a double-edged sword. Will the break leave the Raiders refreshed and ready, or risk seeing them start flat against a Panthers outfit desperate to make a statement?
This clash looms as a true barometer of Canberra’s premiership credentials. Beat the Panthers here, and their status as genuine title contenders hardens. Slip up, and questions will resurface about their ability to stand tall against the league’s elite.
Tip: Panthers by 6.
Storm v Bulldogs
AAMI Park, Melbourne,8pm.
Storm Fortress Awaits as Bulldogs Face Crucial Test
It’s all on the line at AAMI Park this Friday night. The Bulldogs, stumbling with two losses from their past three, arrive desperate to rediscover their rhythm. Waiting for them is a Storm side chasing their ninth home victory of the season — and building momentum at just the right time.
Only once in 2025 has Melbourne been breached at home, a Round 20 slip against Manly. Since then, heavyweights like the Panthers, Sharks, and Broncos have all been sent packing, proof that AAMI Park remains one of the most daunting fortresses in the competition.
Last week, the Storm showed their resilience yet again, edging Penrith in a golden-point thriller. With Harry Grant scheming and Cameron Munster in irresistible touch, Melbourne look every bit like a side on a mission to avenge last year’s grand final heartbreak.
There’s more intrigue in the team sheet, too. Star fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen has been named in the extended squad as he eyes a return from concussion, with Munster slotting in at fullback in the meantime. Injuries bring change elsewhere, with Joe Chan promoted to the back row in place of Shawn Blore and Bronson Garlick joining the bench. And among the reserves looms Nelson Asofa-Solomona, edging closer to an NRL return after a stint with the Sunshine Coast Falcons.
For the Bulldogs, the challenge is as big as it gets: crack the Storm’s fortress, or risk slipping further from the finals frame.
Storm
1. Cameron Munster 2. Grant Anderson 3. Marion Seve 4. Nick Meaney, 5. Xavier Coates 6. Jonah Pezet 7. Tyran Wishart 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Harry Grant , 10. Josh King 11. Joe Chan 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero Bench: 14. Bronson Garlick , 15. Alec MacDonald 16. Tui Kamikamica 17. Ativalu Lisati, Reserves: 18. Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown 19. Lazarus Vaalepu 20. Kane Bradley, 21. Ryan Papenhuyzen 22. Nelson Asofa-Solomona.
Bulldogs Hunt Redemption After Roosters Setback
The Bulldogs return to action this week with plenty to prove after a bruising loss to the Roosters at Allianz Stadium. Still holding third place, they know the race for a top-two finish — and the prized home final that comes with it — is slipping from their grasp unless they can quickly rediscover their spark.
Coach Cameron Ciraldo has kept faith with the same 17 that faltered last week, but reinforcements may not be far away. Back-rower Sitili Tupouniua, sidelined with a hamstring injury, and winger Marcelo Montoya, battling a neck issue, are both edging closer to a comeback after extended stints out. Their inclusion later in the week would add power and experience at just the right time.
For the Bulldogs, the mission is clear: steady the ship, reignite their rhythm, and ensure momentum swings back in their favour before the finals storm arrives.
Bulldogs
1. Connor Tracey 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Enari Tuala 6. Matt Burton 7. Lachlan Galvin 8. Max King 9. Bailey Hayward 10. Samuel Hughes, 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Jaeman Salmon Bench: 14. Kurt Mann 15. Harry Hayes 16. Josh Curran 17. Reed Mahoney Reserves: 19. Toby Sexton 20. Jake Turpin, 21. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 22. Marcelo Montoya 23. Sitili Tupouniua.
Key Stats
The Storm have won eight of their last nine games against the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs have won four of their last seven games at AAMI Park.
Storm winger Xavier Coates has scored 11 tries in his last eight games at AAMI Park.
Bulldogs winger Enari Tuala has scored four tries in his last four games.
Officials
Referee: Adam Gee, Touch Judges, Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski, David Munro,Bunker, Ashley Klein
Storm Look to Tighten Grip as Bulldogs Face Crucial Response
Melbourne lived dangerously last week but found a way — Harry Grant’s brilliance steering them past the Panthers in another classic at AAMI Park. The Bulldogs, by contrast, were left reeling after being dismantled by the Roosters, a defeat that raised more questions than answers.
For coach Cameron Ciraldo, the task is as big as it gets: steady a rattled Bulldogs outfit and restore belief against the most unforgiving of opponents. If he can untangle the wreckage from that Roosters flogging, his reputation as one of the game’s sharpest minds will only grow stronger.
But history offers a harsh reminder — tipping against the Storm rarely pays. With momentum building and September looming, Melbourne look ready to press their advantage once more.
Tip: Storm by 6.
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