Canberra Vikings v Central Coast Rays

Canberra Vikings v Central Coast Rays - Match Preview

Venue & time

Manuka Oval, Canberra. Sunday September 16. 2.30pm (AEST).

Head to head

Debut clash

Team changes

The Vikings have made three changes to their starting XV for this clash. No.8 Jone Tawake (knee) and Mazda ARC leading point-scorer Matt Carraro (groin) are sidelined. Pauliasi Taumoepeau starts at the back of the scrum with Rowan Kellam given the No.13 jersey. The other changes sees Hooker Huia Edmonds replace Anthony Hegarty on rotation. Prop Dan Raymond and winger Solomona Fainifo come onto the bench.

Winger Jye Mullane replaces Jordan Macey, who is out with a back injury, in the only change to the Rays side that beat Ballymore last week.

Form

After giving up a handy lead to be beaten on the bell by the Aces a fortnight ago, the Vikings rocketed back into title contention with a 56-29 drubbing of the Fleet last start. There is no doubt they can score points but they will have to tighten their defence if they want to go all the way in this competition.

The Rays bounced back into finals contention with a moral-boosting bonus-point win over the Ballymore Tornadoes last week. After being dominated by the Spirit at the set pieces the week before, the Rays worked hard in the scrum and the lineout for their impressive backline to kick into gear and finally look the goods in attack against the Queenslanders last Friday night.

Who's hot

Vikings wingers Francios Fainifo and Eddie McLaughlin have been in superb try-scoring form picking up five between them last week. Injured loose forward Jone Tawake has been devastating and will be sorely missed while flyhalf Christian Lealiifano continues to shine.

Rays scrumhalf Brett Sheehan was in everything last week, even shaping-up to Tornadoes prop Ernest Skelton. Peter Hewat has also been reliable at fullback. Skipper Cam Treloar has been inspirational in the second row, youngster Jared Waerea-Hargreaves showed he plenty of skill last start while flanker Ross Duncan has been industrious for the Central Coast.

Teams

Canberra Vikings

1. John Ulugia,
2. Huia Edmonds,
3. Nic Henderson,
4. Alister Campbell (c),
5. Adam Wallace-Harrison,
6. Jack Vanderglas,
7. Julian Salvi,
8. Pauliasi Taumoepeau,

9 .Nick Haydon,
10. Christian Lealiifano,
11. Francis Fainifo,
12. Anthony Faingaa,
13. Rowan Kellam,
14. Eddie McLaughlin,
15. Tim Wright.

16. Anthony Hegarty,
17. Dan Raymond,
18. Dan Guinness,
19. Peter Kimlin,
20. Patrick Phibbs,
21. Solomona Fainifo,
22. Ben Johnston.

Central Coast Rays

1. Ofa Fainga'anuku,
2. Al Manning,
3. Aaron Tawera,
4. Cameron Treloar (c),
5. Chris Thomson,
6. Beau Robinson,
7. Ross Duncan,
8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves,

9. Brett Sheehan,
10. Sam Norton-Knight,
11. Jye Mullane,
12. Sam Harris,
13. Ben Jacobs,
14. Patrick McCabe,
15. Peter Hewat.

16. Alex Gluth,
17. Nick Lah,
18. Nifo Nifo,
19. Jason Peseta,
20. David Harvey,
21. Viliame Ratu,
22. Clint Eadie.