After recording a gusty win against Titans last week, the Raiders return home to Canberra to take on the ladder-leading Panthers.
Penrith were pushed all the way in their last match by Manly, but were able to overcome a period when they had Jack Cogger in the sin bin where their defence rallied to deny the Sea Eagles any points.
While the Panthers have been runaway leaders for much of the season with only one loss, their recent close matches against Manly and the Dolphins have kept them on their toes and striving for improvement.
The Raiders bounced back from their Round 8 loss with an ambush against the Titans, despite heading to the Gold Coast missing a number of their key personnel, including Hudson Young, Ethan Strange, Noah Martin, Zac Hosking and the continuing absence of Josh Papalii.
Young half Ethan Sanders stood up with arguably his best performance of his fledgling career, while centre Matt Timoko had a huge game, making 25 runs for 326 metres including 124 post-contact metres.
With a few of their stars slated to return for this match, the Raiders will be hoping they can improve on this effort to topple the ladder-leaders.
Match: Raiders v Panthers
Round 10 -
home Team
Raiders
13th Position
away Team
Panthers
1st Position
Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Team News
Raiders: Five-eighth Ethan Strange returns from an ankle injury in a big boost for Ricky Stuart's Raiders. The youngster's comeback will see Kaeo Weekes move back to fullback, with Daine Laurie shifting to the interchange. Hudson Young is also back from suspension in a straight swap with injured back rower Joe Roddy (hand). Jayden Brailey has again been named at lock, with Morgan Smithies on the bench but the pair could trade places as they did last week.
Panthers: The competition leaders continue to enjoy stability, with Ivan Cleary naming the same starting side that defeated Manly last weekend. Liam Henry has been listed on the six-man bench for his first taste of NRL action in a major boost for the Panthers. Henry returned from a knee injury in NSW Cup last month. Jack Cole will wear jumper No.14 in place of suspended Jack Cogger.
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Kaeo WeekesFullback for Panthers is number 1 Dylan Edwards
-
Winger for Raiders is number 2 Savelio TamaleWinger for Panthers is number 2 Thomas Jenkins
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Centre for Raiders is number 3 Sebastian KrisCentre for Panthers is number 3 Paul Alamoti
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Centre for Raiders is number 4 Matthew TimokoCentre for Panthers is number 4 Casey McLean
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Winger for Raiders is number 5 Jed StuartWinger for Panthers is number 5 Brian To'o
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Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Ethan StrangeFive-Eighth for Panthers is number 6 Blaize Talagi
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Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Ethan SandersHalfback for Panthers is number 7 Nathan Cleary
Forwards
-
Prop for Raiders is number 8 Corey HorsburghProp for Panthers is number 8 Moses Leota
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Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Tom StarlingHooker for Panthers is number 9 Freddy Lussick
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Prop for Raiders is number 10 Joseph TapineProp for Panthers is number 10 Lindsay Smith
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2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Hudson Young2nd Row for Panthers is number 11 Isaiah Papali'i
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2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Simi Sasagi2nd Row for Panthers is number 12 Luke Garner
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Lock for Raiders is number 13 Jayden BraileyLock for Panthers is number 13 Isaah Yeo
Interchange
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Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Owen PattieInterchange for Panthers is number 14 Jack Cole
-
Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Daine LaurieInterchange for Panthers is number 15 Scott Sorensen
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Interchange for Raiders is number 16 Ata MariotaInterchange for Panthers is number 16 Liam Henry
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Interchange for Raiders is number 17 Morgan SmithiesInterchange for Panthers is number 17 Izack Tago
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Interchange for Raiders is number 18 Chevy StewartInterchange for Panthers is number 18 Billy Phillips
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Interchange for Raiders is number 19 Jordan UtaInterchange for Panthers is number 19 Billy Scott
Reserves
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Reserve for Raiders is number 20 Ethan AlaiaReserve for Panthers is number 20 Kalani Going
-
Reserve for Raiders is number 21 Jake ClydsdaleReserve for Panthers is number 21 Sione Fonua
-
Reserve for Raiders is number 22 Sione FinauReserve for Panthers is number 22 Luron Patea
Raiders Ins
- Ethan Strange
- Hudson Young
- Jake Clydsdale
- Sione Finau
Panthers Ins
- Jack Cole
- Liam Henry
- Luron Patea
- Sione Fonua
Raiders Outs
- Joe Roddy
Panthers Ins
- Jack Cogger
Match Officials
- Referee: Ashley Klein
- Touch Judge: Jon Stone
- Touch Judge: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
- Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Raiders have won their last two games against the Panthers by four points.
- The Panthers have won four of their last five games at GIO Stadium.
- Raiders fullback Kaeo Weekes has scored four tries in his last four games.
- The Panthers’ 2026 points differential is 235 points higher than the Raiders.
- The Raiders have won only one of their last five games at GIO Stadium.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
