Canberra Raiders monster pack getting monstered
They're the biggest pack in the NRL, but they're struggling to make an impact and need to bounce back from a monstering.
Josh Papalii was the first member of the Canberra Raiders forward pack to feel the wrath of coach Ricky Stuart this season, getting dropped to the extended bench for the Canterbury Bulldogs clash at Canberra Stadium on Thursday night.
Manly's pack monstered the Canberra Raiders' monster pack.
He was one of just two Green Machine forwards who ran for more than 100 metres in their capitulation to the Manly Sea Eagles on the weekend.
Junior Paulo (111m) was the other.
In contrast, Manly's starting front-rowers, Addin Fonua-Blake and Martin Taupau, combined for 382m between them - more than 60 per cent of what the entire Raiders pack managed.
Paulo's been promoted to starting prop alongside Sia Soliola, while fellow big bopper Shannon Boyd has been dropped to the bench.
The Raiders are 14th in the NRL for run metres this season and fifth for run metres conceded, highlighting the problems they've experienced in recent weeks.
Manly's pack steamrolled down the field every time they had the ball, while the New Zealand Warriors were able to do the same to score two field goals in the last two minutes the week before to pinch the win.
It won't get any easier for the Raiders' men in the middle this week - the Bulldogs boast the Kangaroos front-row pairing of David Klemmer and Aaron Woods.
Klemmer's sixth in the NRL for run metres this season, while Woods is third for offloads.
Raiders captain Jarrod Croker said the entire team was in the firing line after the team's winless start to the season.
They're staring down the Green Machine's worst start in 35 years.
"We've done a lot of talking over the last couple of weeks - it's time to start actioning it," Croker said.
"We keep coming back to the word attitude. It's got to be 1000 times better [Thursday] night and I'm sure it will be.
"We're all underperforming there's no denying that. We're 0-4 so there's pressure on every player, every coach and every staff member.
"That's just the way it is around here at the moment and the only way we can change that is [Thursday] night."
Croker said Papalii had handled his dropping "really well" and it was now up to him and Blake Austin to find their form in the NSW Cup with Mounties.
But the Raiders captain said it was also an opportunity for their replacements to establish themselves in the side.
England international Elliott Whitehead was moved from lock to the second row to take Papalii's place, while Liam Knight has been brought onto the bench for his second game for Canberra.
Croker was impressed with recruit Ata Hingano's Raiders debut, where the five-eighth came off the bench to give Siliva Havili a chop out at hooker.
"Unfortunately for Josh that's just the way it is this week. And it was the same for Blake last week," Croker said.
"Both those guys have handled it really well. They've just got to rip in this week, go back to Mounties and play their best footy and try and get back into the side.
"For the boys that are playing in their positions [Thursday] night it's a big chance for them to put their best foot forward and keep that jersey."
Croker expected the Bulldogs to respond to their capitulation in the final six minutes against South Sydney last week.
They gave up two tries and the two points when leading 16-10.
It's a situation the Raiders were familiar with this season have done similar in the opening three rounds.
"They were unlucky or maybe cost themselves there towards the end of that game last week," Croker said.
"I thought they were really strong again and I thought they were the better side.
"They've been playing some really strong footy the last couple of weeks. They were really good against Penrith there a few weeks back."
NRL ROUND FIVE
Thursday: Canberra Raiders v Canterbury Bulldogs at Canberra Stadium, 7.50pm. Tickets available from Ticketek.
Raiders squad: 1. Jack Wighton, 2. Nick Cotric, 3. Jarrod Croker (C), 4. Joey Leilua, 5. Jordan Rapana, 6. Aidan Sezer, 7. Sam Williams, 8. Sia Soliola, 9. Siliva Havili, 10. Junior Paulo, 11. Joe Tapine, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Luke Bateman. Interchange: 14. Ata Hingano, 15. Shannon Boyd, 16. Dunamis Lui, 17. Liam Knight, 18. Jack Murchie, 19. Michael Oldfield, 20. Blake Austin, 21. Josh Papalii.
Bulldogs squad: 1. Moses Mbye, 2. Brett Morris, 3. Josh Morris, 4. Will Hopoate, 5. Marcelo Montoya, 6. Jeremy Marshall-King, 7. Kieran Foran, 8. Aaron Woods, 9. Michael Lichaa, 10. David Klemmer, 11. Josh Jackson (c), 12. Raymond Faitala-Mariner, 13. Adam Elliott. Interchange: 14. Fa'amanu Brown, 15. Danny Fualalo, 16. Francis Tualalo, 17. Kerrod Holland, 18. Greg Eastwood, 19. Asipeli Fine, 20. John Olive, 21. Rhyse Martin.