NRL 2025, Rugby League Lass Vegas 2025, match preview, Canberra Raiders, New Zealand Warriors, official team lists, injuries, updates, Allegiant Stadium

Author: NRL.com
Timestamp: Sun 2 Mar 2025, 10:11 AM

The Canberra Raiders arrive at the home of the Las Vegas Raiders determined to make an early statement by continuing an impressive run that has seen them win five of their past six Round 1 games.

The Green Machine’s only loss in their opening game since 2019 was a 19-18 defeat at the hands of the Cowboys in 2023 – a game in which they roared back from 18-6 down at the break to almost steal.

Ricky Stuart’s men clearly have no problem getting motivated for Round 1 and there can be no greater incentive than putting on a show in Vegas to kick start their 2025 campaign.

The Warriors, meanwhile, boast a host of big-game performers in Mitch Barnett, Kurt Capewell, Dylan Walker and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck but it’s the big ‘Fish’ who holds the key to their dreams of a maiden premiership.

James Fisher-Harris shared premiership glory with coach Andrew Webster in 2021 and 2022 when the Warriors boss was an assistant coach at Penrith, and now they reunite to put the Wahs train back on the tracks after a disappointing 2024 campaign.

The Warriors head into 2025 with a new halves pairing after the retirement of club legend Shaun Johnson, and while they look to get their combinations right that’s an area Stuart will target for the Raiders to get an edge.

After a biceps injury restricted him to 14 games in 2024, Jamal Fogarty will look to hit the ground running in Vegas and steer the Raiders to victory on their ‘home ground’ in front of a heaving crowd lapping up the atmosphere of rugby league’s second visit to the entertainment capital of the world.

Round 1 - Sunday 2nd March

Full Time

Raiders

Warriors

Venue: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas

Highlights Latest

Team News

Raiders: A late reshuffle an hour out from kick-off sees Josh Papalii start, and Morgan Smithies revert to the bench. On the back of his elevation to the Top 30 a week ago, young gun Owen Pattie will make his NRL debut off the bench, while former Dragon Savelio Tamale lines up for his second career game on the wing. Jamal Fogarty and Ethan Strange call the shots in the halves, with Kaeo Weekes and Tom Starling completing a formidable spine. Captain Joseph Tapine leads a powerful pack that includes Hudson Young and Corey Horsburgh.

Warriors: Three changes an hour from kick-off, all of which are in the pack. Co-captain Mitchell Barnett now starts at lock, with Jackson Ford coming off the interchange to start in the front row and Erin Clark going back to the bench. In the halves, Luke Metcalf and Chanel Harris-Tavita steer the ship, while out wider Ali Leiataua lines up for his eighth career game at centre and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck reverts back to the wing, the position he made his own in 2013 when he was voted Dally M winger of the year. Taine Tuaupiki replaces the injured Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (wrist) on the other wing. Nineteen-year-old Leka Halasima and 20-year-old Demitric Vaimauga play their fifth and eighth NRL games respectively and will look to bring impact off the bench. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava is 18th man.

Round 1 - Sunday 2nd March

Full Time

Raiders

Warriors

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Kaeo Weekes

Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
Winger for Raiders is number 2 Savelio Tamale

Winger for Warriors is number 2 Taine Tuaupiki
Centre for Raiders is number 3 Matthew Timoko

Centre for Warriors is number 3 Ali Leiataua
Centre for Raiders is number 4 Sebastian Kris

Centre for Warriors is number 4 Adam Pompey
Winger for Raiders is number 5 Xavier Savage

Winger for Warriors is number 5 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Ethan Strange

Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Chanel Harris-Tavita
Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Jamal Fogarty

Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Luke Metcalf

Forwards

Prop for Raiders is number 8 Corey Horsburgh

Prop for Warriors is number 8 James Fisher-Harris
Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Tom Starling

Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan
Prop for Raiders is number 10 Joseph Tapine

Prop for Warriors is number 15 Jackson Ford
2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Hudson Young

2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Kurt Capewell
2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Zac Hosking

2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Marata Niukore
Lock for Raiders is number 16 Josh Papalii

Lock for Warriors is number 10 Mitchell Barnett

Interchange

Interchange for Raiders is number 13 Morgan Smithies

Interchange for Warriors is number 13 Erin Clark
Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Owen Pattie

Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Dylan Walker
Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Simi Sasagi

Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Demitric Vaimauga
Interchange for Raiders is number 17 Ata Mariota

Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Leka Halasima

Reserves

Replacement for Raiders is number 22 Jed Stuart

Replacement for Warriors is number 21 Eddie Ieremia-Toeava

Match Officials

Referee: Grant Atkins
Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
Touch Judge: Dave Munro
Senior Review Official: Gerard Sutton

Last updated: 08:20 pm Monday 10th March 2025

Stat Attack

The Raiders have won five of their past six Round 1 games.
The Warriors have won three of their past four games against the Raiders.
The Raiders won only two of their last six games on the road in 2024.
The Warriors won only four of 13 games played outside New Zealand in 2024.
Raiders forward Hudson Young has scored six tries in his past eight games against the Warriors

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.