Matchday Details
Sunday, 10 May 2026 – 4:05pm AEST – GIO Stadium, Canberra
📺 Nine Network / Nine Now / Kayo / Foxtel
Referee: Ashley Klein | Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins
Canberra Raiders: 1. Kaeo Weekes , 2. Savelio Tamale, 3. Seb Kris , 4. Matt Timoko, 5. Jed Stuart, 6. Ethan Strange , 7. Ethan Sanders, 8. Corey Horsburgh, 9. Tom Starling, 10. Joe Tapine (c), 11. Hudson Young, 12. Simi Sasagi , 13. Jayden Brailey, 14. Owen Pattie, 15. Daine Laurie, 16. Ata Mariota, 17. Morgan Smithies, 18. Chevy Stuart, 19. Jordan Uta, 20. Ethan Aliaiai, 21. Jake Clydesdale, 22. Sione Fainu
Penrith Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards , 2. Thomas Jenkins , 3. Paul Alamoti, 4. Casey McLean , 5. Brian To’o , 6. Blaize Talagi , 7. Nathan Cleary (c) , 8. Moses Leota, 9. Freddy Lussick , 10. Lindsay Smith, 11. Isaiah Papali’i , 12. Luke Garner, 13. Isaah Yeo, 14. Jack Cole, 15. Scott Sorensen, 16. Liam Henry, 17. Izack Tago, 18. Billy Phillips, 19. Billy Scott, 20. Kalani Going, 21. Sione Fonua, 22. Luron Patea
Match Preview
Round 10 of the NRL concludes in the nation’s capital with Ricky Stuart’s Raiders taking on Ivan Cleary’s Panthers.
The Panthers come into this match top of the ladder after handing Kieran Foran his first loss as an NRL coach, beating Manly 18-16. The Raiders sit in 13th spot after beating the Titans 28-12 on the Gold Coast. Thirteenth doesn’t look great, but they will be encouraged knowing they sit only two points outside the top eight with a bye in hand (which comes into play next round).
In team news, Canberra have had lots of injuries and suspensions this season, but this fixture against Penrith will see some key returns. Hudson Young returns from suspension and lines up alongside Simi Sasagi in the back row. Ethan Strange missed last week with an ankle injury and has been named in the number 6 jersey. If Canberra are any chance against the competition favourites Strange’s two-way ability on attack and defence will be a key factor.
For the Panthers, they have the luxury and fortune of naming the same starting team that defeated the Sea Eagles. When you combine quality form and line up stability it’s a hard combination for rivals to overcome. The only red mark against Penrith is the suspension of Jack Cogger, who is replaced by Jack Cole on the interchange bench.
The Penrith Panthers are going into this game as huge favourites and for good reason. The Raiders’ right edge defensive struggles have been evident over the last month of football. If you look at who runs the attack on that weak edge of the field for Penrith it now becomes a potentially long afternoon for Canberra. The Panthers’ left winger Thomas Jenkins has had an amazing season, scoring 16 tries over the first nine games this season, and that’s even after being kept quiet over the last two matches. The Raiders have let in nine tries to left wingers this season, which ranks tied last in the competition for tries allowed here. Also on this edge the Panthers have Casey McLean, who only has three tries this season but will fancy his chances this weekend. The man running the show on the left at five-eighth is Blaize Talagi. He has really found his confidence over the past month with his running game and decisions in attack a clear improvement.
The key to the Raiders winning this game of football is somehow breaking down Penrith’s rock solid defence. They only average 13 points per game against them, which is super impressive considering the new rule changes promote less rest and higher-scoring games. The Raiders do have some of the most damaging ball runners in the competition. These include Kaeo Weekes and Matt Timoko being the big threats from the back, and Young and Sasagi the tackle-busting threats from the forwards. It’ll be up to the likes of Strange and Ethan Sanders to set them up with the best lines, alongside the Raiders forwards needing to fatigue the middles to open up space with momentum.
The Panthers’ record at GIO Stadium is also impressive, having won four out of their last five in the nation’s capital. What is normally a feared place to travel as the weather gets colder becomes a happy hunting ground for the Panthers. Until the Raiders patch up their defensive issues, and attack with the flowing freedom that saw them shock everyone last season, I can’t see any other result than a Panthers victory. Can the Raiders make the biggest statement a team can make and beat Penrith? Find out Sunday afternoon at GIO Stadium Canberra.
Prediction
RLZ Tip: Panthers by 16.
Bold call: Thomas Jenkins to get back into his try-scoring double form.
Related
- NRL Round 9 Review
- NRL Round 10 Predictions
- NRL Round 10 Team Lists
- NRL Round 10 Hub
- NRL Injury List
- NRL Match Review Tracker
