After securing their first home final in seven years, Canberra have fired a short message to the Wests Tigers camp ahead of tonight's sell-out semifinal: quit your whingeing.
The Tigers are upset at a lack of reward for finishing in third place on the ladder while the seventh-placed Raiders are
able to play in front of a sell-out home crowd in week two of the finals.
But the rookie Raiders are adamant they have earned the home final - and the news only got worse for Tigers fans with a sell-out crowd of 27,500 announced after the final tickets were snapped up on Tuesday.
"I think they've earned the opportunity to play at home and to know it's a sell-out and it's going to be a big crowd. It's not going to be hard to motivate the players for this game," coach David Furner said. "The players are enjoying the success they've had, I think they've earned the right to play at home."
Former Australia representative Joel Monaghan said he understood the Tigers' frustrations at having to travel south for the elimination final.
"I wouldn't want to be coming down here to play," Monaghan said. "It's a tough road trip to come down here, especially on a Friday night in Canberra at this time of the year [when] we're playing well.
"Obviously [the McIntyre system] has got its flaws, but we've got a home semi so I love it. It's been like that for a while and everyone knows the rules so there's no point complaining about it if it doesn't suit you.
"But it's a semifinal so they're going to come and bring their best team and give it everything they've got."
Giant prop Dane Tilse said the prospect of a full house was a huge bonus for the team's young squad. Tilse, who has never played in front of a sell-out crowd, said the news would be a huge help to give Canberra the upper hand against the talented Tigers outfit.
"It can [be an advantage] knowing that there's going to be a lot more of [fans] behind us," the 2m tall Tilse said. "It's going to be a big factor.
"Maybe there is a bit in [the Tigers' complaints] because we've come seventh but we're more than happy to take it and I think it's good for Canberra as a whole to have the game here.
"But you get a lot of atmosphere when you play away as well, when they're against you it's just noise and it's exciting for both teams."
Furner named an unchanged starting lineup from the team that upset Penrith on Saturday, but added skipper Alan Tongue to an extended bench.
The second-year coach is confident Tongue has overcome the calf injury which plagued him in the back end of the season.
"I see Alan Tongue as a very important part of the squad and ... it's going to be one of our biggest games of the season," Furner said. "Tonguey's worked hard to try and get himself back ... and I can use Tonguey in a number of positions."
WHAT: NRL Elimination Semi-final
WHO: Canberra Raiders v Wests Tigers
WHERE: Canberra Stadium
WHEN: 9.45pm today (NZT)
TV: Live on Sky Sport 2
- AAP
Raider Dane Tilse says a full house is a bonus. Photo / Getty Images
After securing their first home final in seven years, Canberra have fired a short message to the Wests Tigers camp ahead of tonight's sell-out semifinal: quit your whingeing.
The Tigers are upset at a lack of reward for finishing in third place on the ladder while the seventh-placed Raiders are
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