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Roosters v Wests Tigers: Two earn debut; Fresh Hope for Benji

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ljmpta.com
Timestamp

Wests Tigers are teetering in 14th spot on the back of six straight losses and will be desperate to turn around their fortunes against the Roosters.

A return to the finals for the first time since 2011 now seems a forlorn hope for the Tigers while the spectre of a fourth straight wooden spoon looms large unless they can string some wins together.

Given the Roosters have five players on Origin duty the door is open for Benji Marshall's men to produce an ambush, although the absence of Jarome Luai (NSW) and Api Koroisau (concussion) balances the ledger considerably.

With games against the Warriors, Panthers, Bulldogs and Raiders still to come, the task of offloading the dreaded spoon is daunting but the Tigers can take a big step in the right direction with a win on Sunday.

Team News

Roosters: Tom Rodwell will make his NRL debut on the wing with Mark Nawaqanitawase moving into the centres to replace Robert Toia, who is in camp with the Maroons. The absence of Angus Crichton, Connor Watson, Lindsay Collins and Spencer Leniu on Origin duty sees Makahesi Makatoa, Benaiah Ioelu and Blake Steep join the starting side while Egan Butcher returns from concussion to replace Siua Wong (knee). Max McCathie also earns his NRL debut on the bench alongside Zach Dockar-Clay, Taylor Losaulu and De La Salle Va'a, who plays his second NRL game after debuting in Round 27 last year.

Wests Tigers: Heath Mason's suspension sees Sunia Turuva slide to fullback and Charlie Staines come in on the wing. Adam Doueihi moves to five-eighth with Api Koroisau (concussion) sidelined and Luke Laulilii is the new centre partner for Star To'a. With Tallyn De Silva departing for the Eels, Tristan Hope takes over at hooker in just his second NRL appearance after debuting in Round 1. Charlie Murray is the new face on the bench. Alex Twal skippers the side in the absence of Jaroime Luai and Koroisau.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Roosters is number 1 James Tedesco
    Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Sunia Turuva
  • Winger for Roosters is number 2 Daniel Tupou
    Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 Charlie Staines
  • Centre for Roosters is number 3 Billy Smith
    Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Luke Laulilii
  • Centre for Roosters is number 4 Mark Nawaqanitawase
    Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Starford To'a
  • Winger for Roosters is number 5 Tom Rodwell
    Winger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Jeral Skelton
  • Five-Eighth for Roosters is number 6 Sandon Smith
    Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Adam Doueihi
  • Halfback for Roosters is number 7 Hugo Savala
    Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Latu Fainu

Forwards

  • Prop for Roosters is number 8 Naufahu Whyte
    Prop for Wests Tigers is number 8 Terrell May
  • Hooker for Roosters is number 9 Benaiah Ioelu
    Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Tristan Hope
  • Prop for Roosters is number 10 Makahesi Makatoa
    Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 Fonua Pole
  • 2nd Row for Roosters is number 11 Egan Butcher
    2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Samuela Fainu
  • 2nd Row for Roosters is number 12 Salesi Foketi
    2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Jack Bird
  • Lock for Roosters is number 13 Blake Steep
    Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Alex Twal

Interchange

  • Interchange for Roosters is number 14 Zach Dockar-Clay
    Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Charlie Murray
  • Interchange for Roosters is number 15 Max McCathie
    Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Alex Seyfarth
  • Interchange for Roosters is number 16 Taylor Losalu
    Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Sione Fainu
  • Interchange for Roosters is number 17 De La Salle Va'a
    Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Tony Sukkar

Reserves

  • Replacement for Roosters is number 18 Ethan King
    Replacement for Wests Tigers is number 18 Kit Laulilii
  • Reserve for Roosters is number 19 Ethan Roberts
    Reserve for Wests Tigers is number 19 Brent Naden
  • Reserve for Roosters is number 20 Chad Townsend
    Reserve for Wests Tigers is number 20 Royce Hunt
  • Reserve for Roosters is number 21 Ben Johnson
    Reserve for Wests Tigers is number 21 Solomona Faataape
  • Reserve for Roosters is number 22 Tyler Moriarty
    Reserve for Wests Tigers is number 22 Izaac Tu'itupou

Roosters Ins

  • Ben Johnson
  • Chad Townsend
  • De La Salle Va'a
  • Egan Butcher
  • Ethan Roberts
  • Makahesi Makatoa
  • Max McCathie
  • Taylor Losalu
  • Tom Rodwell
  • Tyler Moriarty

Wests Tigers Ins

  • Brent Naden
  • Charlie Staines
  • Izaac Tu'itupou
  • Kit Laulilii
  • Royce Hunt
  • Solomona Faataape
  • Tristan Hope

Roosters Outs

  • Angus Crichton
  • Connor Watson
  • Lindsay Collins
  • Robert Toia
  • Siua Wong
  • Spencer Leniu

Wests Tigers Ins

  • Apisai Koroisau
  • Heath Mason
  • Tallyn Da Silva

Match Officials

  • Referee: Peter Gough
  • Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
  • Senior Review Official: Adam Gee

Last updated:

Stat Attack

  • The Roosters have won 18 of their past 19 games against Wests Tigers.
  • Wests Tigers centre Starford To’a has scored four tries in his past four games.
  • Roosters winger Mark Nawaqanitawase has scored nine tries in his last seven games.
  • Wests Tigers winger Sunia Turuva has scored four tries in four games against the Roosters.
  • Roosters winger Daniel Tupou has scored 21 tries in 15 games against Wests Tigers.

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the 

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