If the trials are any indication, we can expect more of the same from Ricky Stuart’s Raiders in NRL season 2025.
Canberra are one of the most unorthodox attacking teams in the competition in that they don’t play for spots or script phases in a set. Instead, they generate second-phase play or ruck speed to create cues in the line for Jamal Fogarty & co to target. Failing that, Fogarty’s elite kicking game is their most reliable avenue to points and I like him to look for Hudson Young with a grubber kick at some point in this one.
The Warriors gave us a few different looks in attack during the trials with Te Maire Martin on the field as a ballplaying fullback. With Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad preferred there in this one, we can expect Luke Metcalf to play on the ball while Chanel Harris-Tavita holds his left edge and threatens down the short side.
Most of the Warriors set pieces ran through Metcalf and the right edge last week and that’s where I’m looking here. Marata Niukore’s gravity as a decoy and Ali Leiautaua’s soft hands helped to strip Melbourne four times in that trial and I’m betting for more of the same.
Tips
New Zealand Warriors win
Hudson Young try
Taine Tuaupiki try
The defending champs begin their ‘25 campaign as betting favourites but I like the value in Cronulla here.
Injury clouds hover over a few Penrith players while the Sharks will roll out a full strength squad and can make the most of their size advantage through the middle of the field.
While Cronulla typically play with one of the more organised and expansive attacking systems in the NRL, the narrower fields in Las Vegas don’t lend itself to their trademark slingshot shifts. Instead, I’m looking for Addin Fonua-Blake to put some panic into the defensive line and Blayke Brailey to play on the back of it.
We know the Panthers like to get up quickly off their line and stay high on the edges to shut down time and space for the attacking team. If they move too early off a quick play-the-ball though, the spaces closer to the ruck can be exposed by a Shark dropping back underneath. I’m looking at Jesse Ramien and Briton Nikora here for that reason.
For Penrith, Jack Cole has almost exclusively ran the ball himself while in first-grade but there could be some pass opportunities outside him in this one. Hynes is a regular spot for attacking teams and if Penrith can engage him with a dynamic backrower (g’day, Isaiah Papali’i), spaces can open up in the defensive line around him.
Tips
Cronulla Sharks win 1-12
Casey McLean try
Briton Nikora try
Jesse Ramien try