One eye on the NRL finals, the other on the Ashes. A group of cricket-loving Canberra Raiders might face a few sleepless nights on the eve of the finals, but not because of their premiership dreams.
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Canberra's English quartet laid down a challenge to four of their teammates and they're feeling confident after Ben Stokes' batting heroics leveled the Ashes series earlier this week.
Elliott Whitehead even called his captain Jarrod Croker at 2am to remind him about their wager, with players forking over $20 per Test result and before the overall losers face being dressed up by the winners.
"We've already got the World Cup on you already," Whitehead beamed after England's stunning victory last month.
"I was a bit worried about the last Test after our first innings and a few of the [Raiders] boys gave it to me, so it was nice for Stokesy to step up. The series is alive now.
"I called Crokes pretty early, I don't think he was too happy."
Raiders imports Whitehead, John Bateman, Josh Hodgson and Ryan Sutton are taking on Jarrod Croker, Sam Williams, Luke Bateman and Jack Wighton and the good-natured banter is one of the reasons Canberra has gelled this year.
The Raiders players spend more time together away from games and training than they do on the field and the bond they have formed has helped propel them to their most consistent winning season since 2003.
The next challenge is a clash against the Cronulla Sharks on Sunday afternoon before a last-round clash against the New Zealand Warriors and then a finals campaign.
The fifth Ashes Test will coincide with the first week of the finals, with Australia aiming to win or retain the urn in England for the first time since 2001.
The Raiders want to end their own drought as they target their first premiership since 1994 and Whitehead is confident the side can get its campaign back on track this weekend.
NRL ROUND 24
Sunday: Cronulla Sharks v Canberra Raiders at Shark Park, 2pm.
Raiders squad: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Bailey Simonsson, 3. Jarrod Croker (C), 4. Nick Cotric, 5. Jordan Rapana, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. Aidan Sezer, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Josh Hodgson (C), 10. Sia Soliola, 11. John Bateman, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Ryan Sutton. Interchange: 14. Siliva Havili, 15. Dunamis Lui, 16. Corey Horsburgh, 17. Hudson Young, 18. Sam Williams, 19. Emre Guler, 20. Michael Oldfield, 21. Tom Starling.
Sharks squad: 1. Josh Dugan, 2. Sione Katoa, 3. Bronson Xerri, 4. Josh Morris, 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo, 6. Shaun Johnson, 7. Chad Townsend, 8. Aaron Woods, 9. Jayden Brailey, 10. Matt Prior, 11. Briton Nikora, 12. Wade Graham, 13. Paul Gallen. Interchange: 14. Kurt Capewell, 15. Braden Hamlin-Uele, 16. Andrew Fifita, 17. Jayson Bukuya, 18. Billy Magoulias, 19. Blayke Brailey, 20. Kyle Flanagan, 21. Matt Moylan.