Official Match Thread - New Zealand Warriors vs Sydney Roosters

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NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS vs SYDNEY ROOSTERS

Competition: NRL
Round: 10
Date: Saturday, 12th of May
Sydney Kick Off Time: 3:00pm
Location: Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland

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TEAM LISTS:

Warriors: 1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (c), 2 David Fusitu'a, 3 Peta Hiku, 4 Solomone Kata, 5 Ken Maumalo, 6 Blake Green, 7 Mason Lino, 8 Bunty Afoa, 9 Issac Luke, 10 Agnatius Paasi, 11 Simon Mannering, 12 Tohu Harris, 13 Adam Blair

Interchange: 14 Karl Lawton, 15 Sam Lisone, 16 Isaiah Papali'i, 17 James Gavet

Reserves: 18 Sam Cook, 19 Jazz Tevaga, 20 Albert Vete, 21 Anthony Gelling

Mason Lino comes in at halfback for Shaun Johnson (ankle). Issac Luke has been named despite dislocating a shoulder last week. Simon Mannering starts in the second row with Isaiah Papali'i moving back to the bench.

Roosters: 1 James Tedesco, 2 Joseph Manu, 3 Latrell Mitchell, 4 Mitchell Aubusson, 5 Blake Ferguson, 6 Luke Keary, 7 Cooper Cronk, 8 Siosiua Taukeiaho, 9 Jake Friend (c), 10 Dylan Napa, 11 Boyd Cordner (c), 12 Ryan Matterson, 13 Isaac Liu

Interchange: 14 Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, 15 Zane Tetevano, 16 Kurt Baptiste, 17 Victor Radley

Reserves: 18 Nat Butcher, 19 Sitili Tupouniua, 20 Frank-Paul Nuuausala, 21 Mitchell Cornish

The Roosters have named an unchanged 17 but Victor Radley is out after being unsuccessful in having his grade two careless high tackle charge downgraded at the judiciary on Tuesday night. Nat Butcher and Frank Paul Nuuausala are his likely replacements in the reserves.

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OFFICIAL MATCH PREVIEW:

The Warriors continue to surprise us, bouncing back from the debacle against the Storm with a dominant victory over the Tigers.

Unfortunately it came at a cost, with halfback Shaun Johnson suffering an ankle injury which is expected to keep him out for 3-4 games.

That opens the door again for young Mason Lino, who has done a good job for the Warriors as Johnson's understudy in other games this season.

If we're going on form and confidence, the Warriors definitely go into this game with an edge. They are on home turf and captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will be relishing the prospect of facing his former teammates and showing how he has grown into a leader.

The Roosters chalked up their fifth win of the year to remain in the top eight, but they only just got home against the struggling Sea Eagles. It might've been a different story if Daly Cherry-Evans hadn't missed a sitter of a conversion in the first half.

Maybe coach Trent Robinson believes his team's progress is on schedule and has no serious concerns about their scratchy form. Still, the Chooks are yet to prove they are premiership material and have a ways to go before being mentioned in the same breath as the Dragons and Storm.

Match: Warriors vs Roosters

Key match-up: He won a premiership with the Roosters and would love to be the man to lead the Warriors to the club's first premiership. But before he thinks about titles, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has a game to win against his former team on Saturday at Mt Smart Stadium. James Tedesco is the Roosters' fullback these days and is part of a grand plan to bring another premiership to the club. RTS has been in excellent form this season and his battle with Tedesco should be a ripper.

For the Warriors to win: The Warriors forwards don't get too many accolades but they have played a huge role in the 7-2 start to the season. If they continue to do what they've been doing, it will create space for RTS and Blake Green to get the back-line firing.

For the Roosters to win: Tedesco has shown flashes of brilliance and needs to start doing it on a regular basis like he did when he played with the Tigers. This will be his 100th NRL game and 'Teddy' will want to make sure he remembers his century milestone for all the right reasons.

Warriors stat attack: Winger David Fusitu'a is the NRL's equal leading try-scorer (11) with Melbourne's Josh Addo-Carr. The Warriors lead the competition in off-loads (137) and 40/20 kicks (4).

Roosters stat attack: Cooper Cronk leads all players in kicks (104) and kick metres (3068), Blake Ferguson is top player in runs (170) and run metres (1730), while Tedesco is the NRL's leader in kick return metres (482)

And another thing: The Warriors have reached two grand finals in the club's 23-year existence – 2002 and 2011. They were minor premiers in '02 with a 17-7 record but were overrun 30-8 by the Roosters in the grand final. In '11 the Ivan Cleary-coached Warriors defied the odds to reach the premiership decider from sixth spot before losing 24-10 to Manly.


Head-to-head: Played 39; Warriors 22 wins, Roosters 16 wins, 1 draw
Matches at venue: Played 18; Warriors 12 wins, Roosters 6 wins
2017 result: Warriors won 14-13 at Mt Smart Stadium in round 9
Points per game: Warriors 22; Roosters 17.8
Points conceded per game: Warriors 17.6; Roosters 15.6
Televised: Live on Fox League

Steve Turner's prediction: After a hiccup against the Storm on Anzac Day, the Warriors got back into their groove and showed everyone that they are a very good football team with an impressive win over the Tigers. The Roosters, well I'm not sure what to make of their performances in recent weeks. They have mixed wins with losses for the past seven weeks and have really struggled to find consistency in their football. You don't write off a good team, but the Warriors have so much up-side and on home soil they will be too good. Tip: Warriors by 6

[The Skeez]

Watched the Warriors highlights from last week and all of their passes were out in front, so they were running onto the ball at speed. Looked impressive.

Something I’d like to see from us

[Jacks Fur Coat]

Referees: Matt "Chicken Legs" Cecchin and Jon "Sharon" Stone.

[eddie]

It's gonna be much easier to predict the penalty count than the score.

[Tommy Smith]

Shaun Johnson is out.

So it's practically in the bag like last time right?

Issac Luke is more important to them and could wreck us up the middle so if he's out I think we win.

[Tommy Smith]

Referees: Matt "Chicken Legs" Cecchin and Jon "Sharon" Stone.

We haven't won a penalty count in NZ since 2006. We've been savaged a few times across the ditch...

2017: 2-7
2016: 3-10
2015: 5-5
2014: 4-11
2013: 6-8
2012: 7-9
2011: 7-9
2009: 3-10
2008: 3-12
2008: 3-7

Last year was a stitch up to rank alongside the infamous Cummins effort at home to Manly in 2014 when we lost the count about 9-1.

[Jacks Fur Coat]

We haven't won a penalty count in NZ since 2006. We've been savaged a few times across the ditch...

2017: 2-7
2016: 3-10
2015: 5-5
2014: 4-11
2013: 6-8
2012: 7-9
2011: 7-9
2009: 3-10
2008: 3-12
2008: 3-7

Last year was a stitch up to rank alongside the infamous Cummins effort at home to Manly in 2014 when we lost the count about 9-1.

Apparently we have a red hot record with Chicken Legs at Allianz ....said Buzz in the paper this week. I didnt know this.

[Cockadoodledoo]

We haven't won a penalty count in NZ since 2006. We've been savaged a few times across the ditch...

2017: 2-7
2016: 3-10
2015: 5-5
2014: 4-11
2013: 6-8
2012: 7-9
2011: 7-9
2009: 3-10
2008: 3-12
2008: 3-7

Last year was a stitch up to rank alongside the infamous Cummins effort at home to Manly in 2014 when we lost the count about 9-1.

Cecchin actually usually gives us a fair go. It is refs like Klein (there is a hot juicy rumour about him), Cummins, Perenara, Maxwell, Badger and Sutton who have absolutely smashed us in recent years. These guys are as crooked as a dogs hind leg. Badger brings his son to Allianz wearing Souths gear when he comes to ref us. Cheats, every single one of them. But some will say that we just deserve to lose the penalty count 88-43 over a 10 year period.

[Jacks Fur Coat]

Cecchin actually usually gives us a fair go. It is refs like Klein (there is a hot juicy rumour about him), Cummins, Perenara, Maxwell, Badger and Sutton who have absolutely smashed us in recent years. These guys are as crooked as a dogs hind leg. Badger brings his son to Allianz wearing Souths gear when he comes to ref us. Cheats, every single one of them. But some will say that we just deserve to lose the penalty count 88-43 over a 10 year period.

Mate we are just that much more undisciplined than other teams, regardless of who coaches or plays for us.

Im surprised you can't see this and admit it like the rest of us...

[Tommy Smith]

I'm fired up about the refs now.

In my "there's gotta be an investigation into this!" moment where I investigated the refs bias against us, this was one of the most shocking and egregious stats I found...

Since 2007 our penalty count record in out of Sydney matches is as follows...

W 6
D 4
L 45

Take out the timid Titans environment and at NZ NQ Brisbane Melbourne Canberra and Newcastle it's...

W 4
D 3
L 42

If that isn't blatant cheating and home town anti Roosters reffing I don't know what is.

[The Thracian]

Shaun Johnson is out.

So it's practically in the bag like last time right?

Issac Luke is more important to them and could wreck us up the middle so if he's out I think we win.

Bingo, If Luke is out we will win

[stringaz]

I'm fired up about the refs now.

In my "there's gotta be an investigation into this!" moment where I investigated the refs bias against us, this was one of the most shocking and egregious stats I found...

Since 2007 our penalty count record in out of Sydney matches is as follows...

W 6
D 4
L 45

Take out the timid Titans environment and at NZ NQ Brisbane Melbourne Canberra and Newcastle it's...

W 4
D 3
L 42

If that isn't blatant cheating and home town anti Roosters reffing I don't know what is.

Thats outrageous

[mattyh]

were no chance i feel ... friend at hooker and a dud signing at halfback