Canberra Raiders ready to make up for Titans loss as Souths loom - 27th March 2014
(The Sydney Morning Herald)

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Jarrod Croker and Joel Edwards dressed as Vikings for a TV promotion. Photo: Supplied

Two of their stars dressed up as vikings for a TV promotion, but the Canberra Raiders are preparing for Souths to adopt a siege mentality in Sydney on Sunday.

Subject to heavy criticism after back-to-back losses, the Rabbitohs will be intent on redemption after Friday’s shock defeat to Wests Tigers.

Canberra was burnt 24-12 at home last week by a desperate Gold Coast side coming off an embarrassing 42-12 loss to the Tigers the week before.

The Raiders are expecting a similar ambush against Souths, a team they have a shocking record against in recent years.

Vice-captain Brett White urged the team to heed the lessons learnt against the Titans of playing a team whose pride has been wounded.

“We spoke all week, they were under a lot of pressure coming down here and we were playing them at a tough time, that’s exactly what we got,’’ White said.

“It’s a good game for us to learn from, and hopefully we do, going into a similar game this week.’’
Canberra has lost five straight against Souths, including heavy 32-2, 36-18 and 38-16 losses in the past three games, all in Sydney.

“That [Gold Coast] was a game we should have won, and now we have to go and win a game we’re probably not supposed to win,’’ Canberra prop Dane Tilse said.

“We know Souths are going to be up for the game as well because they’ve come off a bad performance.

“It’s a must-win for us.’’

He’s one of the NRL’s most feared hitmen, but Raiders back-rower Joel Edwards joined centre Jarrod Croker in the make-up chair on Wednesday to help promote this week’s release of the first season of TV show Vikings on DVD and Blu-Ray.

“I needed a fair bit of make-up,’’ Edwards said.

They role-played battle scenes, but they know a real fight awaits on Sunday against a monstrous Souths pack boosted after George Burgess beat a one-game suspension at the judiciary.

While they’ll be without star hooker Issac Luke with a serious shoulder injury, the Rabbitohs welcome back five-eighth Dylan Walker and Chris McQueen.

The Raiders will be boosted by the return of lock Shaun Fensom, whose absence was sorely felt against Gold Coast.

“A player like that, you don’t know how valuable they are until they’re not there,’’ skipper Terry Campese said after the Titans loss.

SUNDAY
NRL round four: South Sydney v Canberra at ANZ Stadium, 2pm

Jarrod Croker dressed as a viking for a TV promotion. Photo: Supplied

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