This top-four clash is missing a little of its entertainment factor now that Canberra's English enforcer John Bateman is out with a fractured eye socket.
Then again, Latrell Mitchell will be there and he rattled off 26 points from a hat-trick and seven goals in the Roosters 42-12 demolition of the Wests Tigers at the SCG last weekend. So as long as he has the ball in hand the punters will get a show.
And with Canberra's Jarrod Croker leading the NRL points race, second rower Elliott Whitehead topping the intercepts and fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad having the most run metres, the Raiders can light up a stadium themselves.
Match: Roosters v Raiders
Round 9 -
home Team
Roosters
1st Position
away Team
Raiders
4th Position
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
The Rundown
Team news
Roosters: The Roosters will start 1-17 with Lindsay Collins and Sam Verrills the last two to be dropped from the bench. Matt Ikuvalu returns on the wing, with Joseph Manu shifting back to centre and the ever-reliable Mitch Aubusson moving back to the bench. Lachlan Lam and Josh Curran were cut from the initial 21-man squad on Saturday.
Raiders: The Raiders will start 1-17 after Aidan Sezer and Emre Guler were omitted 60 minutes before game time. Hudson Young will fill the shoes of injured Englishman John Bateman, who looks set to miss 6-8 weeks with a fractured eye socket. The other change to the side which beat Penrith in Wagga Wagga is the return of Jordan Rapana (ribs) on the wing, with Bailey Simonsson moving to the bench. Jack Murchie and Royce Hunt were cut from the squad on Saturday.
Match: Roosters v Raiders
Round 9 -
home Team
Roosters
away Team
Raiders
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Roosters is number 1 James TedescoFullback for Raiders is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
-
Winger for Roosters is number 2 Daniel TupouWinger for Raiders is number 2 Nick Cotric
-
Centre for Roosters is number 3 Latrell MitchellCentre for Raiders is number 3 Jarrod Croker
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Centre for Roosters is number 4 Joseph ManuCentre for Raiders is number 4 Michael Oldfield
-
Winger for Roosters is number 5 Matt IkuvaluWinger for Raiders is number 5 Jordan Rapana
-
Five-Eighth for Roosters is number 6 Luke KearyFive-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Jack Wighton
-
Halfback for Roosters is number 7 Cooper CronkHalfback for Raiders is number 7 Sam Williams
Forwards
-
Prop for Roosters is number 8 Jared Waerea-HargreavesProp for Raiders is number 8 Josh Papalii
-
Hooker for Roosters is number 9 Victor RadleyHooker for Raiders is number 9 Josh Hodgson
-
Prop for Roosters is number 10 Siosiua TaukeiahoProp for Raiders is number 10 Dunamis Lui
-
2nd Row for Roosters is number 11 Boyd Cordner2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Hudson Young
-
2nd Row for Roosters is number 12 Angus Crichton2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Elliott Whitehead
-
Lock for Roosters is number 13 Isaac LiuLock for Raiders is number 13 Ryan Sutton
Interchange
-
Interchange for Roosters is number 14 Nat ButcherInterchange for Raiders is number 14 Siliva Havili
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Interchange for Roosters is number 15 Zane TetevanoInterchange for Raiders is number 15 Bailey Simonsson
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Interchange for Roosters is number 16 Sitili TupouniuaInterchange for Raiders is number 16 Iosia Soliola
-
Interchange for Roosters is number 17 Mitchell AubussonInterchange for Raiders is number 17 Corey Horsburgh
Match Officials
- Referee: Gerard Sutton
- Referee: Peter Gough
- Touch Judge: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
- Senior Review Official: Steve Chiddy
Last updated:
Key match-up
The 85kg, 179cm frame of Luke Keary - a two-time premiership winner at five-eighth - taking on the 95kg, 189cm frame of Jack Wighton, who is a newbie to this No.6 caper. Wighton is a powerful runner and has scored three tries to Keary's one but the Roosters half is all over him in try assists, forced drop-outs and line-break assists.
For the Roosters to win
Just keep engaging the team's three leading try scorers in Mitchell (6), Daniel Tupou (5) and James Tedesco (5) in any attacking raid.This trio ran more than 200 metres each against the Wests Tigers. Back in the engine room prop Sio Taukeiaho keeps things purring nicely. For his 46 minutes on the SCG last weekend, he made 155 metres and 71 post-contact metres, no matter how many defenders were hanging off him.
For the Raiders to win
Play like they did for the 54 minutes Bateman wasn't on the field in Wagga Wagga last week, due to his facial injury. The Raiders are second, to the Rabbitohs, in the amount of possession they rack up and lead the NRL in dummy-half runs. Their forward pack are committed and cunning and well-managed by No.9 Josh Hodgson.
Brett Kimmorley says
Disappointing news with John Bateman being out. But Josh Hodgson is playing well, Jack Wighton is turning into a running, ball-playing five-eighth and they have tough forwards. I think they’ll challenge the Roosters. Latrell Mitchell was unbelievable last weekend and Luke Keary can continue to put pressure on Brad Fittler to pick him for Origin. Roosters by 6
Stat Attack
The Raiders surprisingly are the worst in the NRL in conceding penalties, but the Roosters are second, to the Eels, in the number of handling errors. It sounds like it could be a stop-start kind of game but with the likes of Nic Cotric, Nicoll-Klokstad, Tupou and Mitchell on the field, that ain't going to happen.
And another thing ...
The man who has played in eight NRL grand finals, winning three with two different clubs - Cooper Cronk - will surpass the man who has won four premierships with the same club - Darren Lockyer. The former Broncos skipper finished his NRL career on 355 games and Cronk plays his 356th in this round. There is only one man out in front now: Cameron Smith playing his 393rd this weekend.
