Fierce rivals Canterbury Bulldogs and Sydney Roosters battle it out this Sunday in a most important fixture for different reasons. ย The Bulldogs will be looking to record back-to-back wins for the first time this season on their home turf at ANZ Stadium. ย While the Roosters are fighting for survival with another loss set to put a huge dent in playing finals footy in September.
LAST TIME OUT
Last Sunday Canterbury took on Wests Tigers in an ‘away’ fixture at ANZ Stadium. ย It was going to be a tough game on paper after the Tigers disposed of South Sydney in remarkable fashion before representative week and the Bulldogs fell for the second time this season to Parramatta. ย It was Canterbury who proved too strong for Wests Tigers, taking out the match 36-4. ย A game more remembered for Robbie Farah’s concussion in trying to charge down Josh Reynold’s kick, hitting his head heavily on the ground. ย The Bulldogs led at half time 20-4 and went on to score three second half tries. ย Curtis Rona scoring a double with Josh Reynolds giving New South Wales selectors something to think about with a strong performance.
It’s a well documented story for the Sydney Roosters who slumped to two wins from ten matches after a loss to the Gold Coast Titans on Monday night. ย Deservedly favourites after thrashing Newcastle 38-0 in their last match and the same weekend Gold Coast went down by the same score to Melbourne, they simply didn’t show up as the home side ran away with the game in the second half. ย Leading 8-6 at the break, tries to David Mead, Chris McQueen and Will Zillman gave the Titans their fourth win of the season. ย Joe Burgess came under attack on social media for a poor evening on the losing side. ย Latrell Mitchell’s scintillating try giving Roosters fans a rare highlight on the night.
KEY BATTLE
A good back row battle looms with Josh Jackson expected to be selected for the New South Wales Origin team on Monday facing Queensland Maroons Aidan Guerra. ย Watch with interest as both players try to gain an early advantage on each other going into the first game on June 1.
Ultimately the game is won in the halves. ย Mitchell Pearce willย make his third appearance for the season come Sunday after an extended holiday for his off-field behaviour on Australia Day. ย It’s vital that he makes an impact on this game if the Roosters are any chance of taking the two points. ย A confident Pearce will rub off on an improving Jackson Hastings, a kid with plenty of potential who could play Origin in the future. ย They’ll be up against Josh Reynolds and Moses Mbye. ย While Mbye is still learning his trade at halfback, it’s Reynolds who asks questions of the opposition. ย Five line breaks and eight try assists in his first ten matches this season puts him in with a chance of playing a role in New South Wales’ opening match at ANZ Stadium.
PREDICTION
A breakthrough moment for the Bulldogs this season as they record two wins in a row. ย Roosters have a lot of ground to make up after a crushing loss on Monday night to the Titans – their season well and truly looks gone.
Bulldogs by 16.
SQUADS
Bulldogs: 1 Sam Perrett 2 Curtis Rona 3 Josh Morris 4 Kerrod Holland 5 Tyrone Phillips 6 Josh Reynolds 7 Moses Mbye 8 Aiden Tolman 9 Michael Lichaa 10 James Graham 11 Joshua Jackson 12 Greg Eastwood 13 David Klemmer Interchange: 14 Sam Kasiano 15 Raymond Faitala-Mariner 16 Tim Browne 17 Craig Garvey 19 Lloyd Perrett 21 Adam Elliott
Roosters: 1 Latrell Mitchell 5 Joe Burgess 3 Mitchell Aubusson 4 Blake Ferguson 2 Daniel Tupou 6 Jackson Hastings 7 Mitchell Pearce 8 Sam Moa 9 Jake Friend 10 Dylan Napa 11 Boyd Cordner 12 Aiden Guerra 13 Isaac Liu Interchange: 14 Sio Siua Taukeiaho 15 Kane Evans 16 Ryan Matterson 17 Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 18 Connor Watson
Venue:ย ANZ Stadium
Kick-off:ย Sunday 4pm AEST
