NRL Round 3 Preview - Raiders v Warriors @ GIO Stadium

Canberra Raiders v New Zealand Warriors @ GIO Stadium
 
Preview - The Warriors will be searching for a hat-trick of victories to start season 2018 when they travel to Canberra to face the winless Raiders on Saturday afternoon. The Raiders have had their hearts broken two weeks in a row, losing both their opening round encounters 30-28 after leading both games against the Titans and Knights late in the contest. Their inability to close out games is clearly hurting Coach Ricky Sturt, and their season could fast slip away once more if this trend continues. The Warriors built off their Round 1 victory against the Rabbitohs with a solid 20-8 victory over the Titans who were missing Ash Taylor at Mount Smart Stadium. The Warriors managed just one victory on Australian soil last season, and will be hoping to make it 2 from 2 on the road in 2018. 
 
History - The Raiders have a fantastic home record over the Warriors, having won 11 of their 14 meetings at the venue. Despite that the Warriors have won 5 of the last 7 clashes between the two sides despite Canberra winning convincingly in Auckland last season. 
 
Canberra Raiders’ Scouting Report - The popular BJ Leilua is named at centre, despite suffering what looked to be a serious ankle injury against the Knights. While scan results haven’t been revealed, it is likely Leilua will drop out of the team, although the injury may not be as bad as first thought. Aidan Sezer has been named to start, with Blake Austin dropping to the bench. Cheapie prospect Liam Knight is named on the bench to replace the injured Charlie Gubb.
 
New Zealand Warriors’ Scouting Report - Isaiah Papali’i’s knee injury means Leivaha Pulu starts at second row, with Agnatius Paasi to come in on the bench. Jazz Tevaga has replaced Sam Cook as the backup nine. Still no Simon Mannering.
 
Verdict - Raiders by 1-12 in a high scoring game
 
I'm giving the Raiders one last chance, not so much because I love their chances here, but because the Warriors have such an awful record in Canberra and on the road in general. Whilst the fact the Warriors are 2-0, and the Raiders are 0-2, comes into it here, this really will be a desperation game for the Raiders this early in the season, as they cant afford to go 0-3, so I'm expecting them to throw everything into this game. The Warriors will, however, fancy their chances of creating plenty of opportunities with Tuivasa Sheck, Johnson and Issac Luke starting the season in sparkling form, and coming up against a pretty brittle looking Raiders’ defence