Lower Grade Previews vs Raiders

Author: Wayne Cousins
Timestamp: Thu 25 Aug 2022, 09:40 AM

It’s the final round of the season this Saturday for the Sea Eagles in the NSWRL Jersey Flegg and NSW Cup competitions.

With both grades out of finals contention, the Sea Eagles tackle the Canberra Raiders at GIO Stadium as part of a triple header in the lead up to the NRL match.

Jersey Flegg Cup

The Sea Eagles will be looking to carry on their good form against Cronulla last week against the Raiders.

In a superb team performance, the 10th placed Sea Eagles thumped the sixth placed Sharks 50-22 to again show why this talented team would have done some serious damage had they made the finals.

Cameron Brown, Jason Smyth and Kaeo Weekes each grabbed a double as the Sea Eagles scored three tries in six minutes to start the second half. Halfback Tylor Bunting converted seven from nine attempts on a successful day for the side.

Unfortunately, some indifferent form, injuries to key men, and the promotion of Kaeo Weekes and Zac Fulton, made things a little harder for Coach Adam McEwen's men.

The eighth-placed Canberra head into the clash on the back of a 32-30 loss to the Knights.

The Raiders beat the Sea Eagles 28-24 in April. Winger Cameron Brown got on the scoresheet twice to go along with tries to Sanele Aukusitino and James Uesele.

NSW Cup

The Canberra Raiders will know on Friday night if their finals hopes are alive or dead for 2022.

The Raiders sit in sixth place on 27 points, one point behind the fifth placed Parramatta Eels, who play the 10th placed Knights on Friday night. The top five teams contest the finals this season.

If the Eels get beaten, Canberra win then need to beat the bottom placed Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles to clinch a finals berth over the Eels.

Blacktown Workers have already secured the dreaded wooden spoon, having recorded just wo wins against Newcastle and North Sydney in a very disappointing season for the club.