Matchday Details
Thursday, 23 April 2026 – 7:50pm AEST – Leichhardt Oval, Sydney
📺 Nine / Kayo / Foxtel
Referee: Ashley Klein | Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Wests Tigers: 1. Jahream Bula, 2. Sunia Turuva, 3. Taylan May, 4. Starford To’a, 5. Luke Laulilii, 6. Jarome Luai (c), 7. Adam Doueihi 8. Terrell May , 9. Api Koroisau , 10. Fonua Pole, 11. Samuela Fainu, 12. Kai Pearce-Paul, 13. Alex Twal, 14. Jock Madden, 15. Sione Finau, 16. Royce Hunt, 17. Alex Seyfarth, 18. Patrick Herbert, 19. Tristan Hope, 20. Latu Fainu, 21. Jeral Skelton, 22. Tony Sukkar
Canberra Raiders: 1. Kaeo Weekes, 2. Sebastian Kris, 3. Simi Sasagi, 4. Matthew Timoko, 5. Jed Stuart, 6. Ethan Strange, 7. Ethan Sanders, 8. Ata Mariota, 9. Tom Starling, 10. Joe Tapine (c), 11. Zac Hosking, 12. Noah Martin, 13. Corey Horsburgh, 14. Jayden Brailey, 15. Daine Laurie, 16. Joe Roddy, 17. Morgan Smithies, 18. Chevy Stewart, 19. Savelio Tamale, 20. Owen Pattie, 21. Jordan Uta, 22. Jake Clydesdale
Match Preview
What a way to start round 8 of the NRL season. A sold out Leichardt Oval, The Wests Tigers third on the ladder, and the Canberra Raiders on a two-game win streak – after a well-documented struggle to begin this season – ready to spoil the party.
As mentioned above, the Tigers sit third, which is brand new territory for Benji Marshall’s men, especially as the second month of the campaign comes to a close. The Raiders, despite two wins on the trot, sit 13th and won’t be satisfied with any finish outside of the top eight. The Tigers did however suffer a 21-20 loss to the Broncos last weekend, so a positive reply is important, especially as losing can be equally as contagious as winning. You just have to ask the Melbourne Storm, who usually are addicted to winning, have fallen ill to the contagious losing flu with their fifth defeat in a row – losing to Canberra last Friday.
The Tigers have made a backline shuffle this week, with centre Starford To’a – who was a mainstay in Benji’s line up in previous seasons – set to make his first appearance for the Tigers in 2026. The notable omission from the backline is young sensation Heamasi Makasini. Patrick Herbert, whose comeback story has been well-documented, moves to the interchange bench, with Latu Fainu and Jeral Skelton named in the reserves.
As for the Raiders, there are a couple of big names missing due to suspension and injury. Hudson Young took an early guilty plea and will miss the next two matches for a high shot in last week’s important win against Melbourne. In his place we see Zac Hosking get the starting nod alongside Noah Martin. Veteran prop Josh Papalii suffered a calf injury and is expected to miss up to two months of footy. We’ve seen glimpses of Joe Roddy, but with Papalii’s diagnosis looking semi-long term, he might get more than a few weeks to earn his first grade spot from the bench. Ata Mariota gets the nod as the starting front rower alongside Joe Tapine. Backline utility Daine Laurie (who signed for Canberra from Penrith) is named on the interchange bench and is all but set to make his debut for the club.
As for where this game will be won and lost it comes down to a few factors. The big question mark coming into the season for both sides was how their halfbacks were going to do. Adam Douhei has been nothing short of fantastic for the Tigers so far and without a doubt the key reason they sit third. Ethan Sanders has had hot-and-cold weeks, but this is to be expected from a rookie half with mega expectations from the get go. Sanders’ job has been made harder this week as he has to lead around a less experienced forward pack after losing Young and Papalii. If Douhei continues to pull the strings the way he has it’s going to be a tough evening for the Raiders.
A huge positive looking at match-ups for the Raiders is where the Tigers have been weak so far and where the Raiders’ strengths lie. The Tigers have leaked 11 tries to right centres and right wings, an area where the likes of Ethan Strange and Simi Sasagi are making life very difficult for teams. A similar weakness to what the Storm have had so far this season and we all saw how destructive Simi was against them. If Taylan May lines up at left centre for the Tigers he will have the job of minimising Sasagi’s impact. Equally, I believe May plays his best footy at left centre, so the Raiders can’t let him have his way there either.
Then the third and final factor is the fullbacks. Both can change a game in a split second. If the forward battle is locked, halves battle is locked, and Sasagi and May are in an arm wrestle, it might just come down to who can pull a rabbit out of a hat between Jahream Bula and Kaeo Weekes. Both are in great form and I cannot wait to watch these two on Thursday night. Bring it on!
Prediction
RLZ Tip: Raiders by 4
Bold call: Joe Tapine to step up with Papalii and Young out. Man of the match display with a rare try.
Related
- NRL Round 8 Predictions
- NRL Round 8 Team Lists
- NRL Round 8 Hub
- NRL Injury List
- NRL Match Review Tracker
