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Canberra Raiders vs Wests Tigers NRL Round 21 Tips & Prediction - Raiders to pile more misery on embattled Tigers

Andrew Hendrie

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Last updated: Thu 23 Jul 2026 08:10

Andrew Hendrie 23 Jul 2026

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Canberra Raiders vs Wests Tigers predictions for Saturday's NRL R21 game
Raiders in good form on three-game winning run; Tigers terrible with five straight defeats
Raiders backed to cover & keep Tigers Under 18.5; Sasagi & Strange to score
The game is scheduled for kick off at 3.00pm AEST on Saturday July 25

Canberra Raiders vs Wests Tigers NRL Round 21 Tips & Prediction

The Raiders are tipped to punish a hapless Tigers side in the nation's capital, keeping their opposition Under 18.5 points, with Simi Sasagi and Ethan Strange crossing for tries.

Canberra Raiders vs Wests Tigers NRL Round 21 Tips & Prediction
Raiders vs Tigers Stats & Trends
Raiders vs Tigers Head To Head
Canberra Raiders Form Analysis
Wests Tigers Form Analysis
Raiders vs Tigers Team News

It's turned into a miserable season for the Tigers and if not for the Dragons and their shocking start, they'd very much be in the wooden spoon picture.

There's no doubt in my mind that the Jarome Luai saga has heavily contributed to the Tigers' severe drop in form, while they've also dealt with a fair share of injuries.

The bottom line is that the Tigers are done for the year and I don't see how they can produce a competitive performance with so much drama going on.

Meanwhile, the Raiders are playing their best footy of the season, coming into this clash on the back of three straight wins - the first time they've won that many games on the trot all year.

I still don't see Canberra making the finals, but they are a dangerous team when everything clicks, with some of the most talented players in the competition - although the loss of Hudson Young for the rest of the season is a massive blow.

But the Green Machine shouldn't need him for this one. The Tigers are awful in attack - they've failed to score more than six points in four of their last seven and were even kept scoreless twice in that period. Take Canberra to cover and restrict Benji Marshall's side to Under 18.5 total points. Simi Sasagi and Ethan Strange are poised to take advantage of a weak Tigers defence.

Raiders vs Tigers Stats & Trends

Raiders are on a three-game winning streak
Tigers are on a five-game losing streak
Tigers have also lost nine of their last 11 games
Tigers have failed to cover a +12.5 line in eight of their last nine defeats
Tigers have been kept Under 18.5 team points in eight of their last 11 games
Simi Sasagi & Ethan Strange both scored vs Tigers last season & are two of the Raiders' most damaging attacking players

Raiders vs Tigers Head To Head

Canberra have won 10 of their last 12 meetings with the Tigers, who haven't won at GIO Stadium since 2018. The Tigers did emerge 33-14 winners in front of a packed Leichhardt Oval crowd earlier this season when they were in much better form.

Date	Game	Venue
23 Apr 2026	Wests Tigers 33–14 Canberra	Leichhardt Oval
30 Aug 2025	Canberra 24–10 Wests Tigers	GIO Stadium
20 Jun 2025	Wests Tigers 12–16 Canberra	Campbelltown Sports Stadium
23 Jun 2024	Wests Tigers 48–24 Canberra	Campbelltown Sports Stadium
16 Mar 2024	Canberra 32–12 Wests Tigers	GIO Stadium

Canberra Raiders Form Analysis

It was poor start to the season for Canberra as they lost four of their opening five games and they've been playing catchup ever since.

Their minor premiership last season was very fortunate and they had a lot of things fall their way throughout the season - and now that luck has evened out.

However, Ricky Stuart has got his side humming for one last push towards the finals, with the Raiders winning their last three games against Dragons, Bulldogs and Rabbitohs.

Not the strongest opposition and Canberra still have a bad habit of letting teams back into games, which they did again last week after going ahead 28-6 over Souths at half-time.

Kaeo Weekes crossed for a double, while second-rower Noah Martin scored his first try since a double in the opening round.

Wests Tigers Form Analysis

It's turned into another nightmare season for the Tigers, whose hopes of making the finals for the first time since 2011 have now gone up in smoke.

Similar to last year, it was a promising start to the year, but the Tigers just can't seem to escape drama and controversy.

Benji Marshall's side are currently riding a five-game losing streak, managing just 22 points in their last four.

It went from bad to worse last week, with the Tigers suffering a crushing 32-0 defeat to a Bulldogs side that had leaked 40 points to Canberra in the previous round.

If the Tigers are leaking 30+ points to one of the worst and most disjointed attacks in the competition, imagine what a spine featuring Weekes and Strange can do here.

Raiders vs Tigers Team News

A couple of big outs for Canberra, with Hudson Young gone for the season with an achilles injury and Owen Pattie serving a one-game suspension.

Tom Starling moves to hooker, with Jayden Brailey joining the bench. Zac Hosking goes to the second-row and Morgan Smithies starts at lock, with Matty Nicholson and Seb Kris joining the six-man bench.

Adam Doueihi has escaped suspension for the Tigers, but has been named on the bench, with young gun Javon Andrews at halfback.

No such luck for Latu Fainu, who was given a harsh three-game suspension for dangerous contact.

Lots of reshuffle in the backline, with Junior Tupou and Faaletino Tavana the new wingers, Patrick Herbert returning at centre and Heamasi Makasini dropped.

Ethan Roberts will start in the second-row, while Bunty Afoa returns from suspension on the pine.

Raiders	Position	Tigers
Kaeo Weekes	1	Jahream Bula
Jed Stuart	2	Junior Tupou
Simi Sasagi	3	Sunia Turuva
Matthew Timoko	4	Patrick Herbert
Xavier Savage	5	Faaletino Tavana
Ethan Strange	6	Jarome Luai
Ethan Sanders	7	Javon Andrews
Corey Horsburgh	8	Terrell May
Tom Starling	9	Apisai Koroisau
Joseph Tapine	10	Fonua Pole
Zac Hosking	11	Samuela Fainu
Noah Martin	12	Ethan Roberts
Morgan Smithies	13	Alex Twal
Jayden Brailey	14	Jared Haywood
Ata Mariota	15	Sione Fainu
Josh Papalii	16	Alex Seyfarth
Daine Laurie	17	Bunty Afoa
Matty Nicholson	18	Starford To'a
Sebastian Kris	19	Jock Madden
Coby Black	20	Heamasi Makasini
Vena Patuki-Case	21	Latu Fainu
Sione Finau	22	Adam Doueihi

Verdict

Canberra Raiders v Wests Tigers

Canberra are tipped for a dominant win over the Tigers, with Sasagi & Strange scoring tries.

Raiders -12.5

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