Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
AAP
AAP
Sport
Alex Mitchell

Raiders seek to wrap up NRL finals spot

Canberra coach Ricky Stuart is delighted with the way his team trained for the Wests Tigers match. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

After winning only two of their opening eight games of the season, just one victory separates Canberra from booking their place in the NRL finals.

The Raiders battle Wests Tigers on Sunday afternoon and if Brisbane beat St George Illawarra on Saturday night, Ricky Stuart's men would simply need to beat the Tigers and not concede a 44-point swing on for-and-against with the Broncos.

Given Brisbane's form, that seems unlikely.

But whatever the Broncos result, the Raiders will be confident they can beat a struggling Tigers side and approach the finals with momentum, having won six of their last seven games.

"That's definitely all we're focusing on - us winning," Canberra coach Ricky Stuart.

"We're not worrying about what's after this weekend, we're worrying about exactly what's in front of us

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't (watching Brisbane), I watch most games almost every weekend ... but the way the boys are prepared, they don't have one eye on next week, they've got two eyes on this game."

Winger Nick Cotric returns from a groin injury in place of Albert Hopoate, with Stuart declaring he wouldn't make any late changes when he names his side.

The game will wrap up a lamentable campaign for the Tigers, having produced a 4-19 record that included coach Michael Maguire being fired.

Ironically, Stuart will pass the man who will take the reins at the Tigers next season - Tim Sheens - as the all-time leading Raiders coach in games on Sunday, leading the side for the 221st time.

Stuart has made no secret of his admiration for Sheens, acknowledging the record meant the world to him.

"I'm very proud to pass such an icon in the game," Stuart said.

"Tim's been a remarkable mentor for me, I've lent on Tim at times ... I remember before the 2019 grand final we had a zoom.

"I still see Tim as a Raider, I still see Mal Meninga as a Raider.

"The best thing I've got out of Tim Sheens and all those boys I've played with is the mateship ... we all want to win, but the mateship has been a lot of fun and generated a lot of memories."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.