Baptiste no certain starter for Raiders

Canberra will delay naming their halfback for the NRL top-eight battle against Cronulla on Saturday, with three players still in contention.

A late change at halfback could be on the cards for Canberra in Saturday's crucial NRL battle against Cronulla at GIO Stadium.

Hooker Kurt Baptiste was named to replace the injured Sam Williams, who is out for up to six weeks with a pectoral tear, ahead of specialist halves Mitch Cornish and Josh McCrone.

But skipper Jarrod Croker on Thursday revealed both Cornish and McCrone had this week been training at No.7, leaving the door open for a potential switch.

Asked whether Baptiste will start against the Sharks, Croker replied: "As far as I know.

"We've had Mitch Cornish and Josh McCrone training as well, so we'll have another today and we've got another run tomorrow and we'll go from there."

Baptiste played junior football in the halves, but was converted to hooker when he joined Brisbane's under-20 National Youth League side.

Cornish started the year at halfback for the Raiders but has a poor record of five losses in six matches.

Williams, on the other hand, has won six times in his 10 appearances alongside five-eighth Blake Austin.

This weekend's clash looms as season-defining for both the Sharks and Raiders, who sit ninth and 10th respectively.

A victory could pitch either side into the top eight, while a defeat would see them lose ground on a congested ladder.

"The longer the season goes on, the more you've got those must-win games," said Croker.

"I think it's very important for us to back up a win at home last weekend (over Newcastle) with another this weekend."

Like the Raiders, the Sharks' forwards - namely Paul Gallen, Andrew Fifita and Luke Lewis - were a key part of their side, Croker said.

"So it's going to be a big clash up the middle," added the 24-year-old.

"I'm confident if our boys play like they did last weekend, the big boys, it'll go a long way for us."

Cronulla have won four of their last five games, claiming a number of big scalps including North Queensland, Sydney Roosters and St George Illawarra.

Raiders prop Shannon Boyd said the Sharks were somewhat underrated and posed a real challenge.

"We've got to be switched on this week, otherwise they can pull your pants down pretty quick," Boyd said.


Share

3 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world