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Round 10 Preview: Raiders v Rabbitohs
Peter Cassidy
rugbyleaguelive.com
15/05/08

Canberra Raiders v South Sydney Rabbitohs
Monday 19th May, 7.00pm
Canberra Stadium
Referee: Gavin Badger

HEAD TO HEAD
Raiders 24 wins, Rabbitohs 15 wins.

FORM GUIDE
Raiders: LWWLWLBLL
Rabbitohs: LLLLLLLWB

The battle of the battlers.

Canberra enters this match on the back of three straight losses, but will be looking to turn that around against the competition cellar dwellers. This mightn't be the prettiest game to watch, but some mixed form lines makes it a tough one for tippers.

The good news for Canberra fans? The Raiders always grow an extra leg on their own soil.

The bad news? A horrific injury toll, and a worrying downward trend in form. In Round 6, the Green Machine took reigning premiers Melbourne all the way before falling 23-16 in the final stages. Two weeks later they held the Warriors at bay across the ditch but were finally pipped 14-6.

Last week, they had 30 points embarrassingly pumped through them by the Roosters.

Having notched up their first win of the season against the Cowboys in Round 8, the Rabbitohs have finally got the monkey off their back. They're finally on a winning streak (of one) and coach Jason Taylor has already started doing the maths as they hunt for their second consecutive finals berth.

The good news for South Sydney fans? Still just six competition points out of the top eight, mathematically the Bunnies are a chance.

The bad news? 'Mathematically' is not a word you want your coach using just ten rounds into a 26 round competition.

Despite the match being unaffected by Origin, both teams will be dealing with ins and outs.

For Canberra, club stalwart Alan Tongue has been forced into hooker with regular rake Lincoln Withers ruled out for the season. Prop Dane Tilse has been ruled out with Troy Thompson to start in his absence.

Utility Marshall Chalk is also gone while Glen Turner returns from injury and Joe Picker will shuffle into lock.

David Milne replaces Brett Kelly on the wing.

The Rabbitohs have only made two minor changes from the team which broke the club's hoodoo in Round 8. Fetuli Talanoa comes back onto the wing in place of rookie John Tamanika, while Germaine Paulson has been dumped in favour of veteran winger Shannon Hegarty.

THE BURNING QUESTION
What has a win done for the Rabbitohs' confidence? And what will a weekend off have done to diminish it?

KEY MATCH UPS
Todd Carney v Issac Luke
The Raiders are now facing the prospect of life without Lincoln Withers, and Todd Carney looks to be the man who will shoulder the bulk of the playmaking responsibilities. His talent is unquestionable but with few other options on the park, the Bunnies will be looking to shut him out of the game with plenty of defensive attention.

Since the seventh minute of play in Round 1, Bunnies steer Jason Taylor has been facing an uphill battle. The loss of Craig Wing has left a gaping hole in the Bunnies' halves, but Taylor may have just stumbled across a winner with young Issac.

A phenomenal young hooker with tenacious defence and a Robbie Farah-esque running game, Luke will be wired with enthusiasm after a stellar Test debut for the Kiwis in the Centenary Test.

His move to the No.7 jersey could prove to be a master-stroke, allowing George Ndaira - another impressive rake - to shine in the hooking role.

COACHES CORNER
With Luke and Ndaira looking lethal through the central passage, the Raiders will really need to patch up some rather brittle looking defense. The Green Machine missed 25 tackles in a woeful opening half against the Roosters, and South Sydney fullback Nathan Merritt will be lurking behind the ruck should gaps start appearing.

While their forward pack is solid, the Bunnies' defence out wide has been suspect. Nigel Vagana can hit hard, but he has to start hitting consistently. Coupled with the inexperienced Fetuli Talanoa, South Sydney's right-side defence could come under scrutiny as the in-form Joel Monaghan probes for weaknesses.

The Raiders are notoriously poor at diffusing attacking kicks, but the Rabbitohs will need to improve their short kicking game if it is to become an effective option here. As a converted hooker, Luke lacks experience putting the ball to boot, while five-eighth Dean Widders isn't noted for his kicking. Lock John Sutton should inject himself here.

CASUALTY WARD
Raiders: William Zillman - knee (season), Phil Graham - knee (season), Ryan Hinchcliffe - thumb (Rd 11), Tom Learoyd-Lahrs - knee (Rd 12), Marshall Chalk - thumb (Rd 15)
Rabbitohs: Craig Wing - shoulder (Rd 13)

BAD BOYS
Raiders: Michael Weyman - Round 13
Rabbitohs: -

TEAM LISTS
Raiders: Bronx Goodwin, Colin Best, Adrian Purtell, Joel Monaghan, David Milne, Terry Campese, Todd Carney, Scott Logan, Alan Tongue (capt), Troy Thompson, Glen Turner, Nigel Plum, Joe Picker. Interchange: Josh Miller, Glen Buttriss, Trevor Thurling, Cy Lasscock, Neville Costigan. (one to be omitted)
Rabbitohs: Nathan Merritt, Fetuli Talanoa, Nigel Vagana, Beau Champion, Shannon Hegarty, Dean Widders, Issac Luke, Manase Manuokafoa, George Ndaira, Roy Asotasi (capt), David Kidwell, David Faalogo, John Sutton. Interchange: Beau Falloon, Shannan McPherson, Luke Stuart, Eddy Pettybourne. (one to be omitted)