NRL, ROUND 10, MAY 5th, 2023 CANTERBURY BULLDOGS v CANBERRA RAIDERS
SUNCORP STADIUM,BRISBANE
Welcome to Magic Round where all games this round are played at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Canberra and Canterbury are set to go head-to-head to kick-start Magic Round for 2023 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
The Raiders are on a roll after defeating the Dolphins in dramatic fashion in Wagga Wagga with halfback Jamal Fogarty kicking the first field goal of his career.
Ricky Stuart’s side have now strung three straight wins together and will be a tough side to face with the club showing its resilience and character last week, orchestrating a tough win in the wake of five-eighth Jack Wighton signing with South Sydney.
Bulldogs team:
1. Hayze Perham 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Jake Averillo 4. Paul Alamoti 5. Declan Casey 6. Josh Reynolds 7. Matt Burton 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Tevita Pangai Junior 11. Corey Waddell 12. Jacob Preston 13. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 14. Karl Oloapu 15. Jayden Okunbor 16. Franklin Pele 17. Samuel Hughes 19. Kurtis Morrin 20. Jackson Topine 21. Harrison Edwards 22. Kyle Flanagan 23. Blake Wilson
The Bulldogs after their win over St George Illawarra will head to Brisbane with just a five-day turnaround.
Cameron Ciraldo’s side has had a horror injury toll to start the season but will need star centre Jake Averillo and halfback Matt Burton to back-up their Round 9 performances if they’re to get the job done against Canberra on Friday.
In 2021, it was the Raiders who prevailed when the two sides met in a thrilling 20-18 Magic Round clash.
The Green Machine enjoy Magic Round more than their opponents with a 2-1 record since 2019 while the Bulldogs are yet to feel the magic, having never recorded a win at the NRL’s festival of football.
Braidon Burns (knee) is out after his heroic effort playing on with a MCL injury last week but in a boost, Jacob Kiraz is back a week ahead of schedule to take his place on the wing. Max King has also been named to return from a rib injury with Harrison Edwards moving to the reserves. Teenage prodigy Karl Oloapu is listed to come off the bench for a second game while Franklin Pele (arm) has been included in the 17.
Raiders team:
1. Sebastian Kris 2. Xavier Savage 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Matthew Timoko 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Jack Wighton 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Zac Woolford 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Corey Horsburgh 14. Tom Starling 15. Emre Guler 16. Pasami Saulo 17. Ata Mariota 18. Brad Schneider 19. James Schiller 20. Trey Mooney 21. Corey Harawira-Naera 22. Peter Hola
Xavier Savage makes a return for the Green Machine on the wing at the expense of Albert Hopoate while Ata Mariota comes into the 17 after making a successful return from a broken hand a fortnight ago. Corey Harawira-Naera moves to the reserves.
Referee: Chris Sutton
Touch Judge: Liam Kennedy
Touch Judge: Matt Noyen
Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein
Prediction.
The Bulldogs have lost all three Magic Round games since 2019.
The Raiders have won their past six games against the Bulldogs.
The Raiders have the best goalkicking percentage in the NRL this season (90 per cent).
The Bulldogs have not won at Suncorp Stadium since 2015.
This could be close so be careful if betting. For me I will go Raiders but only by a couple of points.
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