Dragons v Roosters: Bird a late out; JWH missing
St George Illawarra and Sydney Roosters meet for the second time in a month with the pressure gauge on both sides mounting for contrasting reasons.
The Dragons lost their sixth-straight match against the Cowboys in Round 11 but in an even greater concern it was by a big margin - something they hadn't been doing previously.
After the club announced Anthony Griffin's departure this week, the Dragons will be looking to hand interim coach Ryan Carr a first-up win when they take on a Roosters side lacking confidence and energy could be the match-up that helps turn results around.
Meanwhile, the Roosters have lost back-to-back games but in a big concern it's their energy and effort areas that coach Trent Robinson and skipper James Tedesco have labelled the biggest disappointment.
A star-studded Roosters side has plenty of expectation at the best of times but coming off a record-breaking 48-4 loss to the Panthers and that pressure has amplified following their Magic Round defeat.
With only one point splitting them on Anzac Day, whoever is hungrier to win will come out on top of this one and you would be concerned for the club that doesn't after their past fortnight of results.
Sportsbet Betting Preview - Dragons v Roosters
Team news
Dragons: Jack Bird was withdrawn from the squad an hour before kick-off due to knee soreness, prompting Ben Murdoch-Masila to move from the bench to the second row. Jaiyden Hunt is the new man on the interchange. Zac Lomax is back in the centres after a couple of weeks out of the side.
Roosters: Prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is out with a pectoral strain, so Matt Lodge starts and Nathan Brown joins the bench. A late switch sees Brandon Smith revert to the interchange and Jake Turpin start at hooker. With Joey Manu out with an ankle injury, Luke Keary moves to five-eighth and Drew Hutchison comes in at halfback.
Match: Dragons v Roosters
Round 12 -
home Team
Dragons
away Team
Roosters
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Tyrell SloanFullback for Roosters is number 1 James Tedesco
-
Winger for Dragons is number 2 Mathew FeagaiWinger for Roosters is number 2 Corey Allan
-
Centre for Dragons is number 3 Mosese SuliCentre for Roosters is number 3 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii
-
Centre for Dragons is number 4 Zac LomaxCentre for Roosters is number 4 Billy Smith
-
Winger for Dragons is number 5 Mikaele RavalawaWinger for Roosters is number 5 Jaxson Paulo
-
Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Talatau AmoneFive-Eighth for Roosters is number 6 Luke Keary
-
Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Ben HuntHalfback for Roosters is number 7 Drew Hutchison
Forwards
-
Prop for Dragons is number 8 Jack De BelinProp for Roosters is number 10 Lindsay Collins
-
Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Jacob LiddleHooker for Roosters is number 14 Jake Turpin
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Prop for Dragons is number 10 Blake LawrieProp for Roosters is number 17 Matthew Lodge
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2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Jaydn Su'a2nd Row for Roosters is number 11 Egan Butcher
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2nd Row for Dragons is number 16 Ben Murdoch-Masila2nd Row for Roosters is number 12 Sitili Tupouniua
-
Lock for Dragons is number 18 Francis MoloLock for Roosters is number 13 Victor Radley
Interchange
-
Interchange for Dragons is number 14 Jayden SullivanInterchange for Roosters is number 9 Brandon Smith
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Interchange for Dragons is number 15 Toby CouchmanInterchange for Roosters is number 15 Nat Butcher
-
Interchange for Dragons is number 17 Josh KerrInterchange for Roosters is number 16 Angus Crichton
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Interchange for Dragons is number 20 Jaiyden HuntInterchange for Roosters is number 20 Nathan Brown
Reserves
-
Replacement for Dragons is number 19 Moses MbyeReplacement for Roosters is number 18 Sandon Smith
Match Officials
- Referee: Peter Gough
- Touch Judge: Jon Stone
- Touch Judge: Kasey Badger
- Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Roosters have won nine of their last 10 games against the Dragons, including a 27-26 win on Anzac Day in April. The Dragons have not defeated the Roosters outside of Anzac Day since the 2010 Grand Final.
- James Tedesco has scored three tries in his past two games against the Dragons.
- Tautau Moga has scored 11 tries in his past seven NRL appearances.
- Dragons captain Ben Hunt has scored four tries in his past five games at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.
Match: Dragons v Roosters
Round 12 -
home Team
Dragons
17th Position
away Team
Roosters
11th Position
Venue: Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Sydney
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
