NRL Round 9 Preview and Prediction - Canterbury Bulldogs v Canberra Raiders @ ANZ Stadium

Canterbury Bulldogs v Canberra Raiders @ ANZ Stadium
 
Preview - The Bulldogs and Raiders will both be desperate to get back into the winner’s circle when they clash at ANZ Stadium in Sydney on Saturday night. Both sides are sitting on 4 wins and 4 losses, with the Bulldogs 9th and the Raiders 7th, meaning this is a huge game for both Clubs before the bye next week. The Bulldogs were disappointing last week in going down late, 18-12 to the Wests Tigers in a game where their attack failed to click into gear. The Bulldogs were shooting for a 4th straight win, however made some poor options and lost the penalty count against a plucky Tigers’ side. The Raiders were surprise losers 20-18 to Manly in Golden Point in Canberra. The Raiders were also looking at their 4th straight win, however failed to control a 4-point lead with just 5 minutes to go, as they let a game slip that they controlled for long periods. 
 
History - There has not been much between these two Clubs of late with the last 10 meetings being split at 5 each. However, last season the Raiders were dominant in both clashes, causing a big upset at Belmore winning 22-8 before later on in the season winning 32-20 at GIO Stadium in Canberra to complete a sweep of the Bulldogs. Amazingly the Raiders have not played the Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium since 2011 where the Bulldogs ran out massive winners. 
 
Canterbury Bulldogs’ Scouting Report - The Bulldogs are unchanged, however Will Hopoate has been named on an extended bench and could be fit to resume at fullback after 6 weeks out with injury. You wonder how much longer Coach Des Hasler will persist with his rotating halves, with Frawley coming off the bench and Mbye shifting to hooker when Frawley comes on. For me it has never been a formula that has worked long term for an NRL side, and I think Hasler needs to bite the bullet and decide who the best Number 7 and Number 9 are, and let them play the majority of the match and take ownership over the team. 
 
Canberra Raiders Scouting Report - The Raiders welcome back Clay Priest from a shoulder injury which pushes Dunamis Lui out of the team. Close games have not been the Raiders’ strength this year, with the side losing two Golden Point games and one game by 1 point as vital competition points have slipped away from them at the death.
 
Verdict - Raiders by 1-6 in a close game
 
I think this game will be a cracker as I expect the Bulldogs to match the Raiders up front in the battle of two big forward packs. The Raiders look to me to have far more fire power in the side and the ability to put together a much bigger score than the Bulldogs. However on their home deck and in a night game, I think the Bulldogs might be able to drag the Raiders into a grinding, attritional type game that will be close throughout. The Bulldogs have only been beaten by more than 6 points once this season, so they are always competitive and rarely blown out. Having said that, I just don't see the points in this Bulldogs’ side and, while I have no doubt they will tackle and play tough for 80 minutes, if the Raiders are on their game they should have a touch more class and get over the line in a close one.