Josh Mercer previews the Round 14 clash between the Sydney Roosters vs the Melbourne Storm.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Sydney Roosters Vs Melbourne Storm
Venue: Sydney Cricket Ground
Date: Saturday, June 11, 5:00 pm
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Related: NRL Team List Tuesday
Embed from Getty ImagesRosters: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Paul Momirovski 4. Joseph Manu 5. Joseph Suaalii 6. Sam Walker 7. Luke Keary 8. Lindsay Collins 9. Drew Hutchison 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho 11. Angus Crichton 12. Sitili Tupouniua 13. Nat Butcher 14. Connor Watson 15. Fletcher Baker 16. Egan Butcher 17. Terrell May 18. Lachlan Lam 19. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 20. Ben Marschke 21. Naufahu Whyte 22. Kevin Naiqama 23. Billy Smith
James Tedesco, Daniel Tupou, and Lindsay Collins return from Origin duties, moving Joey Manu to the centres, with Fletcher Baker moving back to the bench, and Kevin Naiqama to the reserves. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is still out with a hamstring injury.
Embed from Getty ImagesStorm: 1. Nick Meaney 2. Dean Ieremia 3. Marion Seve 4. Justin Olam 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Harry Grant 10. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Kenny Bromwich 13. Josh King 14. Brandon Smith 15. Tui Kamikamica 16. Trent Loiero 17. Alec MacDonald 18. Chris Lewis 19. Jayden Nikorima 20. Tyran Wishart 21. Jordan Grant 22. Bronson Garlick 23. William Warbrick 24. Grant Anderson
Other than Xavier Coates, who was injured in Origin 1, most players are backing up. Nelson Asofa-Solomona returns from injury.
Referee: Gerard Sutton
MATCHDAY PREVIEW
What version of the Roosters are fans going to get this weekend? The side that played like the Roosters of old and beat the Sharks? Or the side that showed up against the Raiders and let them walk all over them? And everyone thought that the Roosters were starting to find their mojo.
These games usually are classics, a great match up between competition heavyweights that never fails to produce something magical. However, with the Roostersโ Jekyll and Hyde performances this season, it may be a long night at the Cricket Ground.
Cameron Munster was great in the Maroonsโ win, and he should be able to back it up this weekend. He’s a star player, and Andrew Johns is right to wonder how he can do the things he can. With a full side, the Storm could run up a score here.
With no Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Lindsay Collins and Siosiua Taukeiaho will need to step up as it was where the Roosters were most vulnerable last week. If they are any chance of winning then they need to play the same football they played against the Sharks.
Embed from Getty ImagesINTERESTING FACT
The Storm lead the competition in dummy half runs (it’s no wonder with Grant and Smith) with 162.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Storm by 18.
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