Roosters v Broncos: Cordner, Tupou return; Milford out
The Roosters fell out of the top four for a couple of hours last Saturday before jumping back in with a strong victory over the Wests Tigers.
Injuries forced coach Trent Robinson to go with a new halves combination of Kyle Flanagan and Drew Hutchinson and the pair didn't let him down.
The Roosters had a field day when they last faced the Broncos and aren't about to show them any mercy on Friday night.
The snakebitten Broncos lost another heart-breaker last week to the Dragons and it will take something truly special to knock off the premiers in enemy territory.
Match: Roosters v Broncos
Round 16 -
home Team
Roosters
4th Position
away Team
Broncos
15th Position
Venue: Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
The Rundown
Team news
Roosters: A late switch an hour before game time with retrurning skipper Boyd Cordner moving to the bench and Nat Butcher taking his place in the starting side.
Coach Trent Robinson said on Thursday that Cordner was right to make his much-anticipated return from a series of head knocks. "He's trained well for a few weeks now, he's trained physically. He's ready to go."
Winger Daniel Tupou (ankle) is also set to return from injury with Matt Ikuvalu and Daniel Fifita out and Nat Butcher dropping to the bench. Max Bailey and Egan Butcher were the players to make way on Thursday.
Fifita and Ryan Hall were omitted an hour before game time.
The Roosters have won 11 of their past 13 games at the SCG.
Broncos: The Broncos are 1-17. Anthony Milford (hamstring) is out with Sean O'Sullivan at five-eighth for his first game of the year. Cory Paix starts at hooker for the suspended Issac Luke with Brodie Croft earning a recall on the interchange.
Winger/second-rower Corey Oates has been included on the extended bench six weeks after suffering a leg injury.
Tyson Gamble and Corey Oates were omitted 24 hours before before kick-off and Jesse Arthars and Pride Petterson-Robati were cut an hour before game time.
Centre Kotoni Staggs has scored eight tries in nine games this year. Peter Gentle will coach the side for the remainder of 2020 after Anthony Seibold's time at the helm ended.
Match: Roosters v Broncos
Round 16 -
home Team
Roosters
away Team
Broncos
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Roosters is number 1 James TedescoFullback for Broncos is number 1 Darius Boyd
-
Winger for Roosters is number 2 Daniel TupouWinger for Broncos is number 2 Richard Kennar
-
Centre for Roosters is number 3 Josh MorrisCentre for Broncos is number 3 Kotoni Staggs
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Centre for Roosters is number 4 Joseph ManuCentre for Broncos is number 4 Jordan Kahu
-
Winger for Roosters is number 5 Brett MorrisWinger for Broncos is number 5 Herbie Farnworth
-
Five-Eighth for Roosters is number 6 Drew HutchisonFive-Eighth for Broncos is number 6 Sean O'Sullivan
-
Halfback for Roosters is number 7 Kyle FlanaganHalfback for Broncos is number 7 Tom Dearden
Forwards
-
Prop for Roosters is number 8 Jared Waerea-HargreavesProp for Broncos is number 8 Joe Ofahengaue
-
Hooker for Roosters is number 9 Jake FriendHooker for Broncos is number 9 Cory Paix
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Prop for Roosters is number 10 Siosiua TaukeiahoProp for Broncos is number 10 Rhys Kennedy
-
2nd Row for Roosters is number 12 Sitili Tupouniua2nd Row for Broncos is number 11 David Fifita
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2nd Row for Roosters is number 16 Nat Butcher2nd Row for Broncos is number 12 Ben Te'o
-
Lock for Roosters is number 13 Isaac LiuLock for Broncos is number 13 Patrick Carrigan
Interchange
-
Interchange for Roosters is number 11 Boyd CordnerInterchange for Broncos is number 14 Brodie Croft
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Interchange for Roosters is number 14 Freddy LussickInterchange for Broncos is number 15 Jordan Riki
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Interchange for Roosters is number 15 Poasa FaamausiliInterchange for Broncos is number 16 Ethan Bullemor
-
Interchange for Roosters is number 17 Lindsay CollinsInterchange for Broncos is number 17 Jamil Hopoate
Match Officials
- Referee: Adam Gee
- Touch Judge: Peter Gough
- Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
- Senior Review Official: Jared Maxwell
Last updated:
Key match-up
Joseph Manu v Kotoni Staggs. It was in the 2018 grand final that Manu gave us a glimpse of the future. The 24-year-old Kiwi has lived up to the hype and is now arguably the best centre in the game.
Staggs, 21, has already cemented himself as a star – he's been one of Brisbane's few shining lights this season – and scored a Try of the Year contender last week against the Dragons. He will be determined to show Manu a trick or two on Friday.
Stat Attack
June 4, 2020 will go down as a dark day in the Broncos' proud history. That was the day the Roosters swaggered into Brisbane and tore the home side to shreds in a stunning 59-0 drubbing.
Led by Angus Crichton's double the Chooks scored 10 tries in the one-sided rout with Kyle Flanagan booting 9/10 conversions and Luke Keary kicking a 39th-minute field goal. In two meetings last year the Roosters cruised to a 36-4 win in round four before the Broncos atoned with a 15-10 triumph in round 10.
