The Warriors play the Roosters on Saturday night at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium, where both will be looking to dominate.
TEAM FORM GUIDE
New Zealand Warriors
The Warriors are one of two teams (along with the Dragons) to win three from three games this season. The team has shocked the competition with their improved style of play, attitude and their ability to make magic happen when no one was expecting it. Although the Warriors have been winning games, there is room for improvement, including the amount of penalties conceded. The Roosters are not a team you want to give extra ball to.
The Roosters have won two from three games this season. After a second-rate loss to the Tigers in round one, the Roosters have continued to improve and will be wanting to end the Warriors’ winning streak. The Roosters have a strong ability to take advantage of opportunities and almost always score off them. They are one of the best attacking sides in the competition, and with the advantage of playing at home they will be tough.
SQUAD NEWS
New Zealand Warriors
There are no major changes to the Warriors lineup on Saturday. Agnatius Paasi and Adam Blair will swap between prop and lock while Tevita Satae will be replacing the suspended Sam Lisone on the bench.
Sydney Roosters
The Roosters have not made any changes to their round three lineup. Frank-Paul Nuuausala drops off the extended bench this week and Lindsay Collins returns.
PREVIEW
The Warriors will be on a high after the their three-week winning streak, making it the best opening to a season the club has ever seen. The Roosters started slow but after their 38-8 thrashing of the Knights they looked like the premiership-winning team everyone predicted them to be. If the Warriors want to be in with a chance, they can’t give away as many penalties as they have previously.
The Roosters attack is some of the best in the NRL but the Warriors’ defence has been something to admire this season, with some spectacular try-saving tackles from Tuivasa-Sheck on their line. The game could go either way so it will come down to who wants it more.
Sydney Roosters by eight.
KEY STAT
The Warriors have won three out of the last five games against the Roosters.
SQUADS
New Zealand Warriors
1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (c), 2 David Fusitua, 3 Peta Hiku, 4 Solomone Kata, 5 Ken Maumalo, 6 Blake Green, 7 Shaun Johnson, 8 James Gavet, 9 Issac Luke, 10 Agnatius Paasi 11 Leivaha Pulu, 12 Tohu Harris, 13 Adam Blair.
Interchange: 14 Jazz Tevaga, 15 Ligi Sao, 16 Tevita Satae, 17 Bunty Afoa. Reserves: 18 Mason Lino, 19 Anthony Gelling, 20 Albert Vete, 21 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
Roosters
1 James Tedesco, 2 Reece Robinson, 3 Latrell Mitchell, 4 Joseph Manu, 5 Blake Ferguson, 6 Luke Keary, 7 Cooper Cronk, 8 Sio Siua 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 Mitchell Aubusson, 17 Victor Radley. Reserves: 18 Nat Butcher, 19 Kurt Baptiste, 20 Mitchell Cornish 21 Lindsay Collins
THE IMPORTANT DETAILS
Date: Saturday 31st March
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Kick-off: 5.30pm (AEDT)
