Two Round 12 winners who are finding good form go head-to-head, with the Roosters hosting the Raiders in what shapes up as an entertaining clash.
Missing five players with Origin duty, the Roosters’ young guns shone, with the club also blooding two more youngsters to debut in Benaiah Ioelu and Xavier Va’a, who needed only 45 seconds to score in their 42-16 win.
The side has been hitting their straps in recent weeks but has a tough challenge against a Raiders side that overcame the Warriors last week in tough conditions to move into second spot on the ladder.
Team News
Roosters: Provided they emerge from the Origin opener with a clean bill of health, then Lindsay Collins, Spencer Leniu, Connor Watson, Rob Toia, and Angus Crichton are set to back up on Sunday. Salesi Foketi and Egan Butcher go back to the bench after starting last week, while Dom Young goes to 18th man, and Makahesi Makatoa and Benaiah Ioelu drop to the reserves.
Raiders: After 12 games off the bench, Owen Pattie will start this week in place of suspended hooker Tom Starling. Back-rower Hudson Young comes back in after missing the win over the Warriors on Origin duty, so Simi Sasagi reverts to the bench and Noah Martin makes way. Danny Levi has been added to the interchange as backup hooker in his first NRL game of the season.
Backs
- Fullback for Roosters is number 1.JamesTedesco
The fullback for the Raiders is number 1.
Kaeo
Weeks
- Winger for Roosters is number 2.DanielTupou
Winger for Raiders is number 2.
Savelio
Tamale
- Center for Roosters is number 3.BillySmith
Center for Raiders is number 3.
Matthew
Timoko
- Center for Roosters is number 4.RobertToia
Center for Raiders is number 4.
Sebastian
Kris
- Winger for Roosters is number 5.MarkNawaqanitawase
Winger for Raiders is number 5.
Xavier
Savage
- Five-Eighth for Roosters is number 6.SandonSmith
Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6.
Ethan
Strange
- Halfback for Roosters is number 7.HugoSavala
The halfback for the Raiders is number 7.
Jamal
Fogarty
Forwards
- Prop for Roosters is number 8.LindsayCollins
Prop for Raiders is number 8.
Corey
Horsburgh
- Hooker for Roosters is number 9.ConnorWatson
Hooker for Raiders is number 9.
Owen
Pattie
- Prop for Roosters is number 10.SpencerLeniu
Prop for Raiders is number 10.
Joseph
Tapine
- 2nd Row for Roosters is number 11.AngusCrichton
The 2nd row for the Raiders is number 11.
Hudson
Young
- 2nd Row for Roosters is number 12.SiuaWong
The 2nd row for the Raiders is number 12.
Zac
Hosking
- Lock for Roosters is number 13.VictorRadley
Lock for Raiders is number 13.
Morgan
Smithies
Interchange
- Interchange for Roosters is number 14.ZachDocker-Clay
Interchange for Raiders is number 14.
Danny
Levi
- Interchange for Roosters is number 15.SalesiFoketi
Interchange for Raiders is number 15.
Simi
Sasagi
- Interchange for Roosters is number 16.BlakeSteep
Interchange for Raiders is number 16.
Josh
Papalii
- Interchange for Roosters is number 17.EganButcher
Interchange for Raiders is number 17.
Ata
Mariota
Reserves
- Replacement for Roosters is number 18.DominicYoung
The replacement for Raiders is number 18.
Noah
Martin
- Reserve for Roosters is number 19.TaylorLosalu
Reserve for Raiders is number 19.
Trey
Money
- Reserve for Roosters is number 20.BenaiahIoelu
Reserve for Raiders is number 20.
Jed
Stuart
- Reserve for Roosters is number 21.MakahesiMakatoa
Reserve for Raiders is number 21.
Pasami
Saulo
- Reserve for Roosters is number 22.XavierVa’a
Reserve for Raiders is number 22.
Ethan
Sanders
- Reserve for Roosters is number 23.EthanKing
- Reserve for Roosters is number 24.ChadTownsend
