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NRL Finals: Raiders v Sharks Preview
We're into the pointy end of the NRL season, but only one of the Raiders or Sharks can advance.
Jason Oliver
September 17, 2025
With only five games left this season, I’m digging into the details.
The Canberra Raiders didn’t expect to be here, but the Brisbane Broncos produced one of the greatest comebacks in NRL history1 to force them into an elimination game against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.
Few expected the Sharks to be here, but they looked like a finals-ready team in beating the Sydney Roosters on Week 1.
Finals footy is the best footy, even when it’s somewhat predictable. These two teams profile well to produce another classic with the calculated chaos of the Raiders through the middle up against the cue-capitalising Sharks edges.
Raiders v Sharks Key Points
Canberra have consistently done their best work through the middle this season, and a lot of it comes down to the constant pressure they put on the opposition.
Raiders are second in the competition for one-pass hitups, jump out of dummy half more than any other team, and throw the fewest general play passes in the NRL.
Sharks have scored 47% of their tries down the left edge (middle - 22%, right - 31%). Meanwhile, 52% of the tries the Raiders have leaked this year have come through their right edge (middle - 11%, left 37%).
The Green Machine Rolling Through The Middle
The Canberra Raiders have been a difficult team to put my finger on this season, but I’ve settled on the same thoughts from the last time these two teams met way back in Round 5.
“Constant movement and pushing up through the middle in support is the chassis to the chaos engine of the Green Machine.”
With the game on the line on last tackle, the Raiders found an offload, a kick, a friendly bounce and players in support to score what ended up as the match-winner.
It’s a play that perfectly captures how the Raiders always put themselves in position around the ball, under fatigue, to make the most of so many half-chances.
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