ACT side does not call for reinforcements
Canberra Raiders coach David Furner has stuck to his guns in not naming Blake Ferguson for his side’s clash against the under fire St-George Illawarra Dragons.
Ferguson was stood down indefinitely by the club after photos revealed both he and now sacked fullback Josh Dugan had breached the Raiders’ alcohol policy.
Despite the season only being two rounds old, Canberra faces a must-win game against the Dragons at Canberra Stadium this weekend as they look to climb off the bottom of the ladder.
With the season still only in its infancy the Raiders and St-George Illawarra have shown there is only one way to go after both falling to thumping loses in the first fortnight.
The Raiders will need to fix their leaky defence which has given up 32 points against Penrith and a further 36 against the Titans the last round
Ball security will need to be drastically improved if either side is to pull out its first win of 2013, with the Dragons and Raiders combing for a staggering 49 incomplete sets of six.
Hooker Glen Buttriss (ankle) returns from injury for the Raiders and has been promoted straight into the starting side, while for the Dragons, the only change is Jack Stockwell has been added as 18th man.
Raiders: Reece Robinson, Sandor Earl, Jarrod Croker, Jack Wighton, Edrick Lee, Josh McCrone (c), Sam Williams, David Shillington (c), Glen Buttriss, Brett White, Josh Papalii, Joel Edwards, Shaun Fensom. Interchange: Matt McIlwrick, Shaun Berrigan, Dane Tilse, Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, Mark Nicholls, Jake Foster, Joe Picker
Dragons: Gerard Beale, Brett Morris, Chase Stanley, Matt Cooper, Jason Nightingale, Jamie Soward, Nathan Fien, Dan Hunt, Mitch Rein, Michael Weyman, Tyson Frizell, Ben Creagh (c), Trent Merrin. Interchange: Bronson Harrison, Leeson Ah Mau, Matt Prior, Cameron King, Jack Stockwell
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