BY CURTIS WOODWARD

@woodward_curtis

Forget State of Origin and perhaps John Bateman is pretty happy about that because he’s about to clash with his former team and Ricky Stuart.

It has been a long time since locals in the Macarthur region have been excited for a Friday night match.

Wests Tigers are expecting a big crowd.

Wests Tigers and the Canberra Raiders are both on fire.

A team needs to win and a team needs to lose.

It’s fair to say you may not realise how many good games these two clubs have contested at Orana Park.

Find them below.

Round 16, 2014
Wests Tigers 19 def. Raiders 18

A Wests Tigers team featuring James Tedesco, Robbie Farah, Pat Richards and Adam Blair hosted Canberra on a Saturday afternoon with Wests Tigers leading at half-time 18-12.

It was an arm-wrestle in the second stanza with the Raiders jagging one back to make it 18-all. In fact, the last try of the game came back in the 47th minute to Jarrod Croker – the 300 man that won’t be there at Campbelltown on Friday evening in 2023.

Wests Tigers were forced to play the game with 14 players for a long stretch due to injuries and concussion.

Veteran Braith Anasta kicked the field goal in the 70th minute with the home team holding on for a tight victory.

Round 15, 2013
Wests Tigers 17 def. Raiders 12

Benji Marshall was skipper this day for Wests Tigers who ended up with two goals and a field goal after the Raiders went to sheds at half-time with a slender 6-4 lead.

It was Marshall’s clutch sideline conversion in the 73rd minute which gave Wests Tigers the lead.

In a fiery Saturday night, tyros Mitch Barnett (Canberra) and Nathan Brown (Wests Tigers) were sent off while Tahakilu Pangai (Canberra) and Brendan Santi (Wests Tigers) were sent for ten.

Round 23, 2006
Raiders 19 def. Wests Tigers 18

Despite coming back out retirement later, this was meant to be local legend John Skandalis’ farewell game at Campbelltown – just metres up the road from where he grew up.

The game went to golden point between the Raiders and defending premiers, Wests Tigers.

Unfortunately for locals, with seconds to go in golden point, Todd Carney stepped up and snapped a field goal to break Wests Tigers fans hearts.

Round 3, 2011
Wests Tigers 34 def. Raiders 24

The home team stretched out to a 16-4 lead at oranges but the Raiders weren’t going to make it easy for them. Canberra youngster Blake Ferguson ended up with a hat-track.

Wests Tigers featured the likes of Lote Tuqiri, Andrew Fifita, Todd Payten, Aaron Woods, Chris Lawrence, Farah and Marshall.

Round 1, 2009
Wests Tigers 34 def. Raiders 26

The Campbelltown crowd might have been worried considering the half-time score to the visitors with the Raiders leading 26-18 in a high-scoring affair.

In a classic Monday night encounter, cult hero Taniela Tuiaki grabbed a double in English legend Gareth Ellis’ club debut.

Round 7, 2001
Wests Tigers 26 def. Raiders 24

Famous for the Darren Senter “quick tap” on the try-line which could only have been given by the mighty referee Bill Harrigan.

Makasini Richter, known at the time by another name, was on debut and scored a double and media quickly made links between him and Wendell Sailor.

@woodward_curtis