Roosters v Broncos: Tupou eyes record; Walsh, Carrigan return
Two premiership contenders will collide in a Saturday night blockbuster when the Roosters host the Broncos at Allianz Stadium.
After a mixed start to the season, the Roosters have found their stride to pile on the points in a four-game winning streak.
An attack led by Sam Walker and Daly Cherry-Evans has scored 167points in the past month to showcase their title credentials.
Saturday's game will see two of the greatest playmakers of the modern era face off, with Cherry-Evans to line up opposite Broncos halfback Adam Reynolds.
Both members of the 300-game club, the pair continue to perform at an elite level and have used their experience to deliver results for their clubs.
The battle up front will also be mouthwatering, with Brisbane preparing to welcome back co-captain Pat Carrigan from suspension.
The Queensland and Australian representative will bring instant punch to a pack also featuring young gun Xavier Willison and Ben Talty.
Willison will go toe-to-toe with NZ teammate Naufahu Whyte in a battle between two of the best young forwards in the game.
Brisbane continue to battle an overflowing casualty ward but they are slowly welcoming back the troops and have shown throughout the past two weeks they have plenty of stars ready to step up.
Match: Roosters v Broncos
Round 9 -
home Team
Roosters
5th Position
away Team
Broncos
7th Position
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Team News
Roosters: Coach Trent Robinson has the luxury of naming the same squad for the fourth consecutive week as the Roosters chase a fifth win on the trot. Egan Butcher, Benaiah Ioelu and Blake Steep round out the 22-man squad.
Broncos: Some huge ins for Brisbane this week with Reece Walsh back from a facial fracture and foot laceration and Pat Carrigan returning from suspension. With Walsh back as fullback, Hayze Perham moves to the extended bench, where fellow back Jesse Arthars will also make a return from a calf injury. Forward Aublix Tawha (facial fracture) also makes his return via the extended bench, replacing the suspended Preston Riki. Carrigan will start at lock, moving Xavier Willison into the second row for the injured Brendan Piakura.
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Roosters is number 1 James TedescoFullback for Broncos is number 1 Reece Walsh
-
Winger for Roosters is number 2 Daniel TupouWinger for Broncos is number 2 Josiah Karapani
-
Centre for Roosters is number 3 Hugo SavalaCentre for Broncos is number 3 Kotoni Staggs
-
Centre for Roosters is number 4 Robert ToiaCentre for Broncos is number 4 Gehamat Shibasaki
-
Winger for Roosters is number 5 Mark NawaqanitawaseWinger for Broncos is number 5 Deine Mariner
-
Five-Eighth for Roosters is number 6 Daly Cherry-EvansFive-Eighth for Broncos is number 6 Ezra Mam
-
Halfback for Roosters is number 7 Sam WalkerHalfback for Broncos is number 7 Adam Reynolds
Forwards
-
Prop for Roosters is number 8 Naufahu WhyteProp for Broncos is number 8 Ben Talty
-
Hooker for Roosters is number 9 Reece RobsonHooker for Broncos is number 9 Cory Paix
-
Prop for Roosters is number 10 Lindsay CollinsProp for Broncos is number 10 Jack Gosiewski
-
2nd Row for Roosters is number 11 Angus Crichton2nd Row for Broncos is number 11 Xavier Willison
-
2nd Row for Roosters is number 12 Siua Wong2nd Row for Broncos is number 12 Jordan Riki
-
Lock for Roosters is number 13 Victor RadleyLock for Broncos is number 13 Patrick Carrigan
Interchange
-
Interchange for Roosters is number 14 Connor WatsonInterchange for Broncos is number 14 Josh Rogers
-
Interchange for Roosters is number 15 Spencer LeniuInterchange for Broncos is number 15 Jaiyden Hunt
-
Interchange for Roosters is number 16 Nat ButcherInterchange for Broncos is number 16 Va'a Semu
-
Interchange for Roosters is number 17 Salesi FoketiInterchange for Broncos is number 17 Aublix Tawha
-
Interchange for Roosters is number 18 Cody RamseyInterchange for Broncos is number 18 Jesse Arthars
-
Interchange for Roosters is number 19 Tommy TalauInterchange for Broncos is number 19 Hayze Perham
Reserves
-
Reserve for Roosters is number 20 Benaiah IoeluReserve for Broncos is number 20 Luke Gale
-
Reserve for Roosters is number 21 Egan ButcherReserve for Broncos is number 21 Thomas Duffy
-
Reserve for Roosters is number 22 Blake SteepReserve for Broncos is number 22 Antonio Verhoeven
Roosters Ins
- Benaiah Ioelu
- Blake Steep
- Egan Butcher
Broncos Ins
- Aublix Tawha
- Jesse Arthars
- Luke Gale
- Patrick Carrigan
- Reece Walsh
Roosters Outs
Broncos Ins
- Brendan Piakura
- Preston Riki
Match Officials
- Referee: Adam Gee
- Touch Judge: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
- Touch Judge: Matt Noyen
- Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Roosters have won six of their last eight games against the Broncos.
- The Broncos have won their last three games in Sydney by four points or less.
- Roosters winger Mark Nawaqanitawase has scored eight tries in his last five games at Allianz Stadium.
- Broncos centre Kotoni Staggs has scored six tries from his past seven games.
- Roosters winger Daniel Tupou requires one try to join Billy Slater in third place on the all-time tryscoring list.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
