The Green Machine is humming after the Miracle in Mudgee while Wests Tigers are still licking their wounds after the Letdown at Leichhardt.
Kaeo Weekes' golden point stunner has the Raiders in pole position for the second minor premiership in club history while the Tigers' finals hopes appear to be finished after they gave up a 12-point lead to lose to the Cowboys.
The Raiders will be out to put on a show for the GIO Stadium faithful who will be out in force this weekend and again in a fortnight when Ricky Stuart's men host a home final for the first time since 2020.
Having already won five more games than they did in the entire 2025 season the Tigers must ensure they don't undo all their good work by fading out in the final two rounds.
With Adam Doueihi sidelined, Jarome Luai and Api Koroisau will steer the ship as the Tigers look to avenge a narrow 16-12 loss to the Raiders in Round 16.
Match: Raiders v Wests Tigers
Round 26 -
home Team
Raiders
1st Position
away Team
Wests Tigers
11th Position
Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra
Team News
Raiders: Powerhouse winger Savelio Tamale returns from a knee injury to take over from Xavier Savage, who is gone for the season with a shoulder injury. Tamale lines up for his first game since Round 14.
Wests Tigers: The loss of Adam Doueihi (facial fracture) sees Latu Fainu promoted to start at halfback and Heath Mason join the bench. Starford To'a returns from a shoulder injury in the centres so Brent Naden makes way.
Match: Raiders v Wests Tigers
Round 26 -
home Team
Raiders
away Team
Wests Tigers
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Kaeo WeekesFullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Jahream Bula
-
Winger for Raiders is number 2 Savelio TamaleWinger for Wests Tigers is number 2 Sunia Turuva
-
Centre for Raiders is number 3 Matthew TimokoCentre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Taylan May
-
Centre for Raiders is number 15 Simi SasagiCentre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Starford To'a
-
Winger for Raiders is number 5 Jed StuartWinger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Jeral Skelton
-
Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Ethan StrangeFive-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Jarome Luai
-
Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Jamal FogartyHalfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Latu Fainu
Forwards
-
Prop for Raiders is number 8 Josh PapaliiProp for Wests Tigers is number 8 Terrell May
-
Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Tom StarlingHooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Apisai Koroisau
-
Prop for Raiders is number 10 Joseph TapineProp for Wests Tigers is number 10 Fonua Pole
-
2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Hudson Young2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Samuela Fainu
-
2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Zac Hosking2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Sione Fainu
-
Lock for Raiders is number 13 Corey HorsburghLock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Alex Twal
Interchange
-
Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Owen PattieInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Heath Mason
-
Interchange for Raiders is number 16 Morgan SmithiesInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Royce Hunt
-
Interchange for Raiders is number 17 Ata MariotaInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Charlie Murray
-
Interchange for Raiders is number 18 Noah MartinInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Tony Sukkar
Reserves
-
Replacement for Raiders is number 20 Danny LeviReplacement for Wests Tigers is number 21 Tristan Hope
Match Officials
- Touch Judge: Kasey Badger
- Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Raiders have won nine of their past 10 games against Wests Tigers.
- Wests Tigers have not won at GIO Stadium since 2018.
- The Raiders have won nine from 10 at GIO Stadium this season.
- Wests Tigers centre Taylan May has scored four tries in his last four games.
- Raiders prop Josh Papalii will play his 150th game at GIO Stadium.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the
