The game at Mudgee against the Panthers will be a major test for the Raiders leading into the 2025 finals. Photo: Jaye Grieshaber.
Some Sydney-based pundits are already predicting the Raiders’ downfall towards the backend of the season and into the finals.
The suggestion is that the Green Machine lacks another gear, whereas Melbourne and the Panthers are capable of elevating their performance to another level.
Mind you, I noticed at least one of the pundits at the start of the season announced the Raiders as favourites to secure the wooden spoon on the back of the departure of Jordan Rapana and Elliott Whitehead.
With the Raiders sitting on the top of the ladder with three rounds to go, nothing could be further from the truth.
Far from lacking another level, I believe they have shown this season that they can definitely shift into high gear mid-game.
While they may have struggled against sides outside the eight, including Newcastle and the Wests Tigers, the Raiders have shown a remarkable ability to lift themselves off the canvas. The win over the Storm in Magic Round is a case in point.
Much of the self-belief may have had its origins in Round 25 last season when the Raiders beat the Panthers, albeit without Nathan Cleary, 22-18.
The Panthers, of course, went on to win their fourth premiership in a row, remaining unbeaten after the loss to the Raiders.
For the Raiders, it was a vital win after a 42-4 loss to the Cowboys.
Following the win over the Panthers, the Raiders went on to finish the season with victories over the Roosters and the Dragons, with that self-belief carrying the side into this season.
The Raiders’ side in 2025 looks far stronger than for the round 25 game last season. While the Panthers were without Cleary, there was no Ethan Strange in the Raiders lineup, and Kaeo Weekes was playing at five-eighth.
Kaeo Weekes celebrates with Xavier Savage. Photo: Jaye Grieshaber.
Coincidentally, we are now at Round 25 in the 2025 season.
On Friday night, the Raiders’ premiership credentials face their toughest test so far this season against a team looking to bounce back following the golden point loss to the Storm.
The Raiders, on the other hand, come into the game off the back of a bye.
What has been most pleasing about the Raiders of 2025 is the never-say-die attitude when things aren’t going their way. They have shown an ability in all but four games this season. Those games were against the Sea Eagles at Brookvale, the Cowboys in Townsville, the Bulldogs at Canberra Stadium and the Dragons in Wollongong.
In those games, there are reasons behind the losses and they can all be addressed.
You can bet that Nathan Cleary will be bombing the heck out of Kaeo Weekes, having seen how it worked for Manly earlier this season. Cleary can create space on the edge for Tago, Martin and colleagues. This will be a mammoth test for Ethan Strange.
Fogarty will need to match Cleary’s kicking game for the Raiders to be in the contest. Fogarty bounced back against Manly after a poor game in terrible conditions against St George-Illawarra.
Fogarty’s kicking game will be critical to the Raiders when they play the Panthers in Mudgee. Photo: Jaye Grieshaber.
The Panthers’ outside backs would have seen how the Dragons and Manly exploited lapses in defence out wide when the Raiders’ defenders rushed out of the line.
Expect more of the same from Edwards and To’o on Friday night, with both players having the ability to do plenty of damage in the middle of the field as well. Weekes, Timoko and Kris have been outstanding in the big games, while Jed Stuart has shown why he has come into the side.
But it is up front where it all starts, and with Papali’i, Tapine and Horsburgh providing the physicality, teamed with the guile of Starling, this is where I believe the game will be won.
The Storm showed last week how the Panthers can be exposed around the ruck.
Much depends on possession and field position.
If the Raiders can secure an even share of possession, they should win and effectively lay a platform for the run home to the finals.
