Photo: RNZ/Photosport
NRL: NZ Warriors v Canberra Raiders
Kickoff 8pm, Friday, 13 March
Go Media Stadium, Auckland
Live blog updates on RNZ website
Canberra Raiders will arrive at Mt Smart this week with an even bigger chip on their shoulders than usual.
The 'Green Machine' finished top of the NRL table last year, but were bundled out of the championship race with back-to-back defeats in the playoffs.
They start the new season with a renewed determination to go one better in 2026 and NZ Warriors present a stiff early challenge to those aspirations.
With this fixture, the Warriors will have played the Raiders more times than any other NRL team over their history.
Here's what you need to know about how they shape up:
History
Over 54 previous meetings, Canberra hold a 29-25 head-to-head advantage against the Warriors.
The count is tied 5-5 over the past 10 encounters, dating back to 2021, but the Raiders have won the last three, including both m
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