Josh Mercer previews the Round 9 clash between the Sydney Roosters and the Gold Coast Titans.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Sydney Roosters vs Gold Coast Titans
Venue: BB Print Stadium, Mackay
Date: Saturday, May 7, 5:30 pm
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Related: NRL Team List Tuesday
Embed from Getty ImagesRoosters: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Paul Momirovski 4. Joseph Manu 5. Joseph Suaalii 6. Sam Walker 7. Luke Keary 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Sam Verrills 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Angus Crichton 12. Sitili Tupouniua 13. Victor Radley 14. Drew Hutchison 15. Fletcher Baker 16. Nat Butcher 17. Siosiua Taukeiaho 18. Lachlan Lam 19. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 20. Ben Marschke 21. Naufahu Whyte 22. Kevin Naiqama 23. Billy Smith 24. Renouf Atoni
Daniel Tupou (suspension) and Paul Momirovski (illness) return to the backline for the Roosters. Kevin Naiqama moves to the extended bench, and Adam Keighran (ankle) is out of the team.
Embed from Getty ImagesTitans: 1. AJ Brimson 2. Greg Marzhew 3. Brian Kelly 4. Patrick Herbert 5. Corey Thompson 6. Will Smith 7. Toby Sexton 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Erin Clark 10. Isaac Liu 11. Kevin Proctor 12. Beau Fermor 13. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 14. Tanah Boyd 15. Sam Lisone 16. Herman Ese’ese 17. Sam McIntyre 18. Jamayne Isaako 19. Paul Turner 20. Esan Marsters 21. Phillip Sami 22. Jayden Campbell 23. Sosefo Fifita 24. Jaimin Jolliffe
David Fifita (knee) is out and will miss four weeks. Kevin Proctor will start in the back row.
Referee: Chris Butler
MATCHDAY PREVIEW
It takes time to get any combination to click, that is understandable, but the Roosters halves will need to start doing that very soon. There have been times when they have looked good, but not like they will win the premiership. They have also looked pretty ordinary at times; last week against the Bulldogs was one of those times.
The Titans have been pretty much the same. After finishing in the finals last year, big things were expected this year, but they have not delivered. Their million dollar man David Fifita is not being used properly. Hopefully, they can work it out, so they can get the best out of him.
If the Titans that showed up against the Panthers turn up this week, it spells doom for the Roosters. Though they haven’t been playing to their potential, they should still go into this game with confidence considering they almost dumped the Roosters out of the finals last year.
It really is put up or shut up times for the Roosters. They have four wins from eight games, and they can’t lose this game, as their next three are against the Eels, Panthers, and the Sharks. Winning this game and getting the combination right with Sam Walker and Luke Keary will give them confidence heading into those tough games.
Embed from Getty ImagesINTERESTING FACT
The Titans haven’t beaten the Roosters in eight games. Their last was a 20 point win in 2016.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Roosters by eight.
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