Check out the match preview and prediction for the 2025 National Rugby League Magic Round clash between the Storm and Raiders.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Melbourne Storm Vs Canberra Raiders
Venue: Suncorp Stadium
Date: Sunday May 4, 6:00pm (ADST)
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Storm: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. Sualauvi Faalogo 3. Grant Anderson 4. Nick Meaney 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Bronson Garlick 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Alec MacDonald 16. Tui Kamikamica 17. Joe Chan 18. Ativalu Lisati 19. Lazarus Vaalepu 20. Kane Bradley 21. Keagan Russell-Smith 22. Nelson Asofa-Solomona
Raiders: 1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Savelio Tamale 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Corey Horsburgh 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Matt Nicholson 13. Morgan Smithies 14. Owen Pattie 15. Zac Hosking 16. Josh Papali’i 17. Ata Mariota 18. Simi Sasagi 19. Manaia Waitere 20. Pasami Saulo 21. Trey Mooney 22. Danny Levi
Referee: Gerard Sutton
Bunker: Grant Atkins
MATCHDAY PREVIEW
Magic Round concludes with the game of the weekend with the second placed Melbourne Storm taking on the third placed Canberra Raiders.
This also means the meeting of long time friends and long time coaching rivals Craig Bellamy and Ricky Stuart. These are two coaches with heated competitive spirt that is always on full display for the cameras. Despite the Raiders impressive season start what can’t be ignored is the slow starts they made against the Titans and Dolphins, which is why my prediction below is what it is because a team as clinical and relentless as the Storm won’t be as easy to claw back if they start off slow again. The big news out of the week is of course Raiders halfback Jamal Fogarty confirming he will depart the club to take up a reported three-year deal with the Manly Sea Eagles. How much of a preparation distraction this will prove is yet to be known.
In team news, the Storm have named winger Sua Fa’alogo on the right wing after clearing concussion protocols following last weeks match against the Rabbitohs, meaning Kane Bradley is named in the reserves. Front rower Tui Kamikamica looks to make his return from an ankle injury off the bench which is huge news for Melbourne because the Canberra forwards have been flying. For the second week in a row the Raiders have the luxury of naming the same seventeen as last rounds 40-28 winning team against the Dolphins. Raiders captain Joe Tapine does notably play his 200th NRL match.
If you’re a Raiders fan you’ll need to stop reading this paragraph as I talk about the last two head-to-head meetings between the clubs. The last two game aggregate scores result in the Storm dominating 64-8 and with their attacking ability still just as strong, the Raiders will have to be on their game from the first minute this time around. As poor as the head-to-head record has looked for the Raiders against the Storm its worth noting they haven’t played in Canberra since 2021, so a neutral Magic Round venue might help their cause.
My key match up for this game will be the battle of the second rowers Hudson Young and Eli Katoa. Young looks in career best form to start 2025 and making his best claim to get into the NSW State of Origin team which is stacked with back row talent. He is amongst the leaders in try scorers in the NRL with seven through the first eight matches, and on the defensive end has made 250 tackles at 93% efficiency which for an edge forward is very good. Katoa is another try scoring back row that has amazing chemistry with halfback Jahrome Hughes. Katoa is playing at a high level yet only has three tries in seven games and 177 tackles at 89% efficiency.
I personally can’t wait for these two to line up against each other and I hope this game lives up to the hype as Magic Round 2025 comes to a close.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Storm by 16 points.
Check out our Magic Round predictions here.
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