The Roosters will be looking to stake their claim for a spot in the Top 4 as they take on the second placed Panthers at Allianz Stadium.
TEAM FORM GUIDE
Roosters
The Roosters have won 5 out of their last 6 games. They’ve recorded some big victories over the Titans and Warriors while they’ve narrowly edged out 2 point victories against the Sea Eagles, Tigers and Knights.
Their consistency issues extending as far back as last season still haven’t been completely worked out. Ask any of the players though and they’re sure to tell you they’re just happy to get the win and that they were all quality sides.
Panthers
The Panthers are the walking wounded but they just keep winning regardless with a Nathan Cleary field goalย againstย the Raiders notching up theirย 4th consecutive victory. It was the first game they had even conceded a try in since Round 11.
Just one point differential separates them from the Dragons in first position on the ladder.
SQUAD NEWS
Roosters
Boyd Cordner takes his place in the back-row after being rested against the Knights.ย Sio Siua Taukeiaho and Dylan Napa swap between the bench and starting spot. Victor Radley reverts back to the bench while Nat Butcher returns to the reserves.
Ryan Matterson is still another week off returning from a wrist injury.
Panthers
Peter Wallace announced his immediate retirement yesterday bringing an unfortunate end to the career one of League’s toughest players. He joins fellow retiree Tim Browne along with Sam McKendry and Dylan Edwards as players from the Panthers Top 30 out of commission for the season.
In positive news Villiame Kikau is set to miss just one week after fears he would miss more than a month with a torn MCL. Jack Hetherington takes his place on the bench.
PREVIEW
In a match that features one of the competition leaders against a team that has occasionally shown glimpses of their best, it’ll be up to Cronk to ensure the Roosters are on top of their game.
Cronk can take control of the match with his kicking in general play and the pressure he can apply on the Panthers goal-line defence. A couple of signature cross field kicks out to Daniel Tupou on the left-wing has the potential to trouble Christian Crichton all night.
For the Panthers their moustached enforcer Reagan Campbell-Gillard is going to be their go-to man. Regularly playing upwards of 55+ minutes, his strong carries and hard hits in defence can rattle the Roosters forward pack and give the Panthers the momentum.
If Waerea-Hargreaves and Napa don’t step up, Campbell-Gillard is going to walk all over them.
KEY STATS
Cooper Cronk has won his last 6 games against the Panthers.
Tyrone Peachey has scored 3 tries from his last 3 games against the Roosters.
SQUADS
Roosters
1 James Tedesco
2 Daniel Tupou
3 Latrell Mitchell
4 Joseph Manu
5 Blake Ferguson
6 Luke Keary
7 Cooper Cronk
8 Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
9 Jake Friend (c)
10 Dylan Napa
11 Boyd Cordner
12 Mitchell Aubusson
13 Isaac Liu
Interchange:ย
14 Sio Siua Taukeiaho
15 Zane Tetevano
16 Kurt Baptiste
17 Victor Radley
Reserves:
18 Nat Butcher
19 Lindsay Collins
20 Paul Momirovski
21 Billy Smith
Panthers
1 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
2 Christian Crichton
3 Tyrone Peachey
4 Dean Whare
5 Tyrone Phillips
6 James Maloney (c)
7 Nathan Cleary
8 Trent Merrin
9 Sione Katoa
10 Reagan Campbell-Gillard
11 Corey Harawira-Naera
12 Isaah Yeo
13 James Fisher-Harris
Interchange:
14 Wayde Egan
15 Kaide Ellis
16 Jack Hetherington
17 James Tamou
Reserves:
18 Jarome Luai
19 Liam Martin
20 Tyrone May
21 Nick Lui-Toso
THE IMPORTANT DETAILS
Date: Friday June 15th
Venue: Sydney Football Stadium
Kick-off: 7:55pm
WHO WILL WIN?
[totalpoll id=”289098″]
