Official Match Day Thread: Roosters v Warriors

[Thirteen]

(Drumroll….)

With the expectations of a successful season ahead, it felt like a very long off-season… but tonight we’re back!

In too many previous years we’ve dropped early games, and those losses have put us under pressure later in the season. It’s imperative we get off to a strong start.

Tonight we set the tone. Tonight we send a message to the competition that the Roosters are the team to beat in 2026.

We’ve got depth, talent, and we’re due after a few lean years by our standards.

So C’mon Roosters — it’s time to get back to where we belong.

Bring on the Warriors and let’s get these 2 points!

Kick-off 6pm. I can’t wait to get out there.

GO ROOSTERS!

[Avalon Rooster]

I am equal portions nervous and excited. Probably more nervous if I'm honest because I've realised that....as in other areas of my life like business and poker....that the joy of winning recedes over time but the pain is losing is just as bad, if not worse

I'm not in the 'we're favourites for the comp' camp, but I am expecting a season where we're in the top 6 all year and it will make me very sad if we underperform.

All I want from the season is...

- a full season from Sam,
- Teddy to still be Teddy, Toops to still be Toops
- Nafahu, Steep, Foketi, Toia, Ioelu, to take another step forward
- the established forwards to earn their money
- Rodwell and Va'a to step up to first grade
- at least one exciting outside back to emerge

[Waylander]

So stoked that the footy is back. Despite our recent record against NZ (I think it’s 8 from 9) I’m expecting a close one. Their pack is quite strong. Our pigs will need to be on to give our backs the opportunity to attack in good field position.

We have the potency to score plenty of points. What I really want to see is some starch in the defence. It’s the area we need to improve in the most from recent seasons.

[TinglyChaff]

(Drumroll….)

With the expectations of a successful season ahead, it felt like a very long off-season… but tonight we’re back!

In too many previous years we’ve dropped early games, and those losses have put us under pressure later in the season. It’s imperative we get off to a strong start.

Tonight we set the tone. Tonight we send a message to the competition that the Roosters are the team to beat in 2026.

We’ve got depth, talent, and we’re due after a few lean years by our standards.

So C’mon Roosters — it’s time to get back to where we belong.

Bring on the Warriors and let’s get these 2 points!

Kick-off 6pm. I can’t wait to get out there.

GO ROOSTERS!

Thanks 13 for your Match Day Threads - I always love to read them it is like a pregame rev up from the Coach
I really think this will be a good game, both teams are class and Wahs are at home with a big season planned.

My prediction is we are slightly behind at half time but our bench helps bring us home for the win.
DCE to be largely invisible and that is not a bad thing as it lets Sammy weave his magic.
Roosters forwards overall too much to handle and they will bag a few tries tonight on both edges.
Robbo bags a much needed win in Round 1
Final score Roosters 24 - 18

Enjoy the atmosphere at the game 13

[kakaruk]

Should have gone with Ramsay instead of junior imo

[Andrew Walker]

Lets go Roosters

[mightyrooster]

Very nervous but excited at the same time as we are notoriously slow starters to the season. Here’s hoping we can change that around this season.

[mattyh]

Im going to be bold in round 1, and say chooks win 22 - 18, bit of a grinding game , but we win comfortably despite never being more then a converted try in front .

Hope i havent jinxed us.

[BigCok007]

Think we’ll prove too much, despite being clunky and a bit leaky on the edges. If we lose Billy though like some have predicted I’m not as confident.

Let’s go chookies!

[Mickie Lane]

Its a 50-50 game to me
Go the Chooks

[Thirteen]

Looking forward to watching reserve grade too. What a great way to start the season with a double header.

[bondi paul]

Some depth in attack would be nice to see rather than a flat line attack that mirrors the defence. Season before last we scored a high level of points and last season took too long to click - Marky Toups and Teddy our only strike weapons.

["gaz"]

Great defense and with a very high completion rate would make me happy

[Bates]

Up the Chooks!

[Rooster_6]

The hardest away game in the comp.

Not fussed about how good we look with ball in hand today, will all be down to how much grit we can show.