With the Tigers defeated two of the premiership heavyweights, they now face opposition which have lost their opening games and seem to be struggling.

The Canberra Raiders are the Tigers opponents in the second game of a special double header on sunday afternoon. Following the formline of these sides, you would say the Tigers should already have this one in the bag. However, I see this as the real game the Tigers need to prove themselves if they are to make the top 8 this season. We have seen in recent years the side would beat top gun teams, yet succumb to the lower sides.

There are many advantages for the Tigers this game as the Raiders are playing away, they are missing 5 regular first graders, and also they have not got the best record against the Tigers (only winning 1 from 4 games against them).

A few changes to the squad, with Luke O'Donnell replacing injured Darren Senter, and Lincoln Withers has made his return on the bench.

Squads:

Tigers: Joel Caine, Hassan Saleh, Kevin McGuinness, Terry Hill, Ahmad Bajouri, Matt Seers, Ben Jeffries, Corey Pearson, Robert Mears, John Skandalis, Mark O'Neill, Troy Wozniak, Ben Galea. Reserves: Willie Manu, Luke O'Donnell, Lincoln Withers, Steve Trindall

Raiders: Clinton Schifcofske, Odell Manuel, James Evans, Joel Monaghan, Jamaal Lolesi, Mark McLinden, Brett Finch, Ryan O'Hara, Simon Woolford, Michael Hodgson, Ruben Wiki, Tyran Smith, Jason Croker. Reserves: Michael Monaghan, Alan Tongue, Terry Martin, Greg Wolfgramm

All the Tigers need to do is keep at the in your face style of defence which will unsettle the Raiders pack. They must watch out for dangermen in McLinden and Finch in the halves, as well as Schifcofske at the back who is an excellent runner of the ball.

Watch for O'Neill, Mears, and Galea in the forwards and McGuinness, Hill, and Saleh in the backline to have good games.

My Tip: Tigers to make it 3 from 3. Tigers by 8

 

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