WIN Stadium will play host to Sunday's Round 16 NRL game between St. George Illawarra Dragons and Canberra Raiders. The game kicks off at 4:05 pm with Canberra Raiders heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the St. George Illawarra Dragons vs. Canberra Raiders game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Sunday July 3, 2022 at 4:05 pm

Where: WIN Stadium

Bet: Bet On This Match HERE

St. George Illawarra Dragons vs Canberra Raiders Odds

St. George Illawarra Dragons vs Canberra Raiders Preview

St George Illawarra jagged a surprise Top 8 spot for the first time since Round 2 with a 32-12 defeat of Souths in Round 15, with Zac Lomax the star of a six-tries-to-none first-half blitz. It was the unfancied Dragons’ third win in four games and an impressive bounce-back from a 31-12 loss to an Origin-depleted Cowboys side.

Canberra is in 11th spot but just two points adrift of the Saints after an invaluable escape against Newcastle before the rep break. The Raiders blew a 14-point lead and looked headed for a disastrous home defeat before dynamic back-rower Hudson Young’s 79th-minute kick-and-chase try snatched a 20-18 result.

Jack Wighton returns after missing that game and the second Origin with COVID, while Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad is back from injury on the bench. Josh Papalii was used sparingly by the Maroons and should be fired up for a big performance up front – as will Kiwi reps Joe Tapine, arguably the NRL’s form forward, and Jordan Rapana.

Ben Hunt picked up a leg injury in Origin but has been named in an unchanged St George Illawarra 17.

The Raiders have won four of their last five against the Dragons. But the Saints grabbed a 22-20 victory in Wollongong in Round 15 last year, before the Raiders hit back with a 20-12 success at home six rounds later.

A fascinating and pivotal encounter between two teams at a similar level in a similar position. The Dragons are 5-2 in Wollongong since the start of 2021 and have to be considered good underdog value at WIN Stadium against a Raiders side that has won just three of its last 12 away from Canberra.

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