Round 25
North Queensland Cowboys 22 d. Canberra Raiders 10

2008 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: Aus_NZ > National > First Grade Competition: NRL Telstra Premiership

Wounded Raiders go down to Cowboys
Mon September 1, 2008
Source: www.raiders.com.au

The CFMEU Canberra Raiders have suffered a 22-10 defeat to the North Queensland Cowboys at Dairy Farmers Stadium tonight.

The Raiders endured a hefty defensive workload in the first half and it was reflected on the scoreboard, with Johnathan Thurston leading the Cowboys around the park and setting up a 16-0 lead at halftime.

It looked as though things might turn ugly for the Raiders when Carl Webb crashed over to extend the Cowboys lead shortly after the break, but the Raiders then repelled wave after wave of attack before finally breaking through for their opening try, with Adrian Purtell scoring after Joel Monaghan took a high cross-field kick.

After making an extraordinary 7 goal line drop outs during the opening 70 minutes, the Raiders finally forced their first repeat set on the Cowboys and backed it up with a try to Brett Kelly, after Alan Tongue sent a high looping pass out wide to the unmarked winger.

The late surge gave the Raiders hope of an unlikely comeback, but errors from the tiring Green Machine saw the Cowboys close out the match in the final 5 minutes.

Going into the match already well short on troops in key positions, the Raiders suffered a further blow with chief play maker Terry Campese unable to take on much of his running and kicking duties tonight due to a tight hamstring.

The Raiders now have an 8-day turnaround until they face the Bulldogs in Canberra in the last game of the regular season. A victory will ensure the Raiders a top 8 position and a likely 6th place finish.

Cowboys 22 d. Raiders 10 (Adrian Purtell, Brett Kelly tries; Joel Monaghan goal) at Dairy Farmers Stadium

Toyota Cup: Raiders 20 d. Cowboys 18

Report Source: www.raiders.com.au


Tongue named in seven
Tue August 26, 2008
Source: www.raiders.com.au

The CFMEU Canberra Raiders have named their courageous Captain Alan Tongue at halfback this weekend, for the sides match against the North Queensland Cowboys at Dairy Farmer's Stadium on Saturday night.

After losing Marc Herbert (knee) for the season on Sunday afternoon the Raiders have been hard pressed to fill a side for this weekend, after also lost in form prop Troy Thompson for the season with an Achilles injury.

Tongue's inclusion at half sees a reshuffle of the back row with Nigel Plum moving to lock, while Thompson's position upfront has been filled by veteran prop Scott Logan.

Ryan Hinchcliffe has been named on an extended bench this weekend and returns from a broken thumb, while Cy Lasscock and Ben Jones have also been added for the trip to Townsville.

The Raiders injury plight is so that all remaining 19 squad members have been named for Saturday night.

Tongue said he's not too concerned with the shift in position, as he's played a similar role for most of the season.

"It's just a number on the back really," Tongue said. "I've played more of a ball playing role this year anyway so it's just an extension of this."

With Herbert out for the season Tongue conceded Raiders five-eighth Terry Campese would do most of the kicking, but said the team would share the secondary kicking duties.

"Campo is definitely going to do the bulk of the kicking but we do have options," Tongue said. "I can kick if we need something and Glen Buttriss has the ability out of dummy half as well."

Tongue said the Raiders would head to Townsville with the intent purpose of getting the two competition points, and would not be taking the game lightly.

"There's no doubt this is going to be a tough game but we will go into it with some confidence and hopefully get a good win," Tongue said. "We need to keep winning to sure up a finals spot so we will be focussed on the Cowboys on Saturday night."

Raiders Coach Neil Henry said the team would have a lighter week than usual, and head into the game fresh and fit on Saturday.

"We will do things a bit differently this week and make sure the guys with a few niggling injuries have enough time to recover before Saturday," Henry said. "We'll head to Townsville on Friday and have a session there in the afternoon to make sure we're ready for the game."

NRL
Canberra Raiders V North Queensland Cowboys
Dairy Farmers Stadium, Saturday August 30, 7.30pm

1. David Milne
2. Adrian Purtell
3. Colin Best
4. Joel Monaghan
5. Brett Kelly
6. Terry Campese
7. Alan Tongue [c]
8.Scott Logan
9. Glen Buttriss
10. Dane Tilse
11. Trevor Thurling
12. Joe Picker
13. Nigel Plum

14. Josh Miller
15. Marshall Chalk
16. Neville Costigan
17. Ryan Hinchcliffe
18. Cy Lasscock
19. Ben Jones
(two to be omitted)

Coach: Neil Henry

Injuries/Suspension
Troy Thompson - Achilles - Season
Marc Herbert - Knee - Season
Justin Carney - Eye Socket - Finals Week 1
Tom Learoyd-Lahrs - Suspended - Season
Michael Weyman - Groin - Season
Bronx Goodwin - Discipline - Indefinite
Glen Turner - Ankle - Season
William Zillman - Knee - Season
Phil Graham - Knee - Season
Lincoln Withers - Knee - Season

TOYOTA CUP
Canberra Raiders v North Queensland Cowboys
Dairy Farmers Stadium, Saturday August 30, 5.15pm


1. Josh Dugan
2. Steve Naughton
3. Jarrod Croker
4. Daniel Vidot
5. Zac Russ
6. Michael Picker
7. Matt Smith
8. Matt Britt
9. Travis Waddell
10. Nick Skinner
11. Jarrad Kennedy
12. Joel Thompson
13. Shaun Fensom [c]

14. Brock Dunn
15. Andrew Edwards
16. Zac Merritt
17. Todd Rheinberger

Coach: Tony Adam

News Source: www.raiders.com.au

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