The Brumbies are currently second on the ladder, but a home semifinal is not secure yet. Photo: Jennifer Andrew
The Brumbies are in the box seat for a home Super Rugby semifinal, but it will come down to the remaining two regular-season games.
The 33-14 victory over the Western Force was a grinding affair, but it will hold the Brumbies in good stead ahead of home games against Queensland and the Crusaders.
The Brumbies have moved to second on the ladder but have played one game more than the third-placed Crusaders and the fourth-placed Reds.
The win over the Force has come at a cost, though, with Noah Lolesio stretchered off but later cleared of a serious spinal injury.
Although cleared of major spinal injury, the length of time that Noah Lolesio will have to spend recovering is not yet known. Photo: Jayzie Photography.
At this stage, it’s uncertain whether he will play again this season.
This means that Declan Meredith will slot into the fly-half starting role for the two biggest games of the season thus far, starting with the Reds on Saturday night (17 May).
Meredith, who has plied his trade with Wests in the John I Dent Cup for a number of seasons, offers a different approach to Lolesio. He potentially has a better running game.
The Raiders, meanwhile, are battling issues of their own ahead of Sunday afternoon’s game against the Gold Coast Titans at Canberra Stadium.
First, the first will be overcoming the psychological impact of the second half fade out against the Bulldogs.
In front of 24,000 at Canberra Stadium, the Raiders led 20-0 at halftime only to capitulate in the second 40 minutes as the Bulldogs ran in 32 unanswered points to run away with a 32-20 victory.
Zac Hosking, a major contributor to the Raiders performance this year. Photo: Jaye Grieshaber.
The brittleness of the Raiders’ edge defence was fully exposed as Stephen Crichton and Viliame Kikau ran roughshod.
They have come back from big losses like this – and they’ve done it in 2025.
The Raiders bounced back from the 40-12 loss to Manly in March to win five of the following six games, leading into the Bulldogs game.
The loss of English forward Matty Nicholson for a considerable period of time with a severe ankle injury is a huge blow, but it paves the way for arguably the Raiders’ best-performing player this season, Zac Hosking, to secure a starting position.
The Raiders will also be strengthened by the return of Corey Horsburgh for Sunday’s game against the Titans.
After the Titans, the Raiders take on the Warriors, Roosters and Rabbitohs.
The ACT Brumbies take on the Queensland Reds at GIO Stadium on Saturday, 17 May. Opening with a double header, the Wallaroos will take on the USA at 4:55 pm. Tickets from Ticketek.
The Raiders tackle the Titans at GIO Stadium on Sunday, 18 May. Tickets from Ticketek.
