On the back of a disappointing performance in Townsville that ended their finals chances, the Raiders must now regroup to face a Panthers side on the rebound.
The Green Machine entered Round 24 just one game outside the eight barely got out of first gear as they conceded seven tries to a slick Cowboys outfit that simply ran them ragged.
The Raiders have now lost three on the bounce and face a tough run home against the Panthers, Roosters and Dragons, with this Saturday's game the only one of those on home soil.
For the premiers, the loss of superstar Nathan Cleary to a shoulder injury was a bitter blow on top of losing the match to Melbourne, but they have shown countless times this season that they can find a way without their main man.
SportsBet Betting Preview - Raiders v Panthers
Their hopes of another minor premiership appear to be dashed but they'll be out to keep the Roosters and Sharks at bay and lock up a home final in week one of the play-offs by finishing second.
With Cleary not expected back on deck before the play-offs it will fall to five-eighth Jarome Luai to again steer the ship and plot the course towards a fourth consecutive premiership.
Match: Raiders v Panthers
Round 25 -
home Team
Raiders
12th Position
away Team
Panthers
4th Position
Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra
Team News
Raiders: Former Queensland Origin forward Corey Horsburgh will make his first NRL appearance since Round 5 and has been named to start in the frontrow in a late change, which sees Josh Papali'i move to the bench. Danny Levi will also start at hooker in a late switch with Tom Starling. Jordan Rapana's return from concussion protocols at fullback sees Kaeo Weekes shifted to five-eighth. Albert Hopoate comes in on the wing, Seb Kris goes into the centres and Ethan Strange drops out due to a calf injury.
Panthers: Jarome Luai shifts to halfback and Brad Schneider comes in at five-eighth in the absence of Nathan Cleary (shoulder). Luke Garner will make his return from a hamstring injury in the secondrow in a late change, with Mavrick Geyer moving to the bench. Luke Sommerton is the new hooker in place the suspended Mitch Kenny. Sunia Turuva is 18th man.
Match: Raiders v Panthers
Round 25 -
home Team
Raiders
away Team
Panthers
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Jordan RapanaFullback for Panthers is number 1 Dylan Edwards
-
Winger for Raiders is number 2 Albert HopoateWinger for Panthers is number 2 Daine Laurie
-
Centre for Raiders is number 3 Matthew TimokoCentre for Panthers is number 3 Izack Tago
-
Centre for Raiders is number 4 Sebastian KrisCentre for Panthers is number 4 Casey McLean
-
Winger for Raiders is number 5 Xavier SavageWinger for Panthers is number 5 Brian To'o
-
Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Kaeo WeekesFive-Eighth for Panthers is number 6 Brad Schneider
-
Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Jamal FogartyHalfback for Panthers is number 7 Jarome Luai
Forwards
-
Prop for Raiders is number 10 Joseph TapineProp for Panthers is number 8 Moses Leota
-
Hooker for Raiders is number 14 Danny LeviHooker for Panthers is number 9 Luke Sommerton
-
Prop for Raiders is number 22 Corey HorsburghProp for Panthers is number 10 James Fisher-Harris
-
2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Hudson Young2nd Row for Panthers is number 12 Liam Martin
-
2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Elliott Whitehead2nd Row for Panthers is number 20 Luke Garner
-
Lock for Raiders is number 13 Morgan SmithiesLock for Panthers is number 13 Isaah Yeo
Interchange
-
Interchange for Raiders is number 8 Josh PapaliiInterchange for Panthers is number 11 Mavrik Geyer
-
Interchange for Raiders is number 9 Tom StarlingInterchange for Panthers is number 14 Trent Toelau
-
Interchange for Raiders is number 16 Ata MariotaInterchange for Panthers is number 15 Lindsay Smith
-
Interchange for Raiders is number 17 Simi SasagiInterchange for Panthers is number 16 Liam Henry
Reserves
-
Replacement for Raiders is number 21 Jed StuartReplacement for Panthers is number 22 Sunia Turuva
Match Officials
- Referee: Grant Atkins
- Touch Judge: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
- Senior Review Official: Adam Gee
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Raiders have not defeated the Panthers at GIO Stadium since 2016.
- The Panthers have won their last five games against the Raiders.
- The Raiders have conceded 88 points in their past two games.
- Panthers centre Izack Tago has scored four tries in his past three games.
- Raiders winger Xavier Savage has scored four tries in his past five games at GIO Stadium.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
