You have skipped the navigation, tab for page content
Match Preview

Roosters v Sea Eagles: Crichton to start; No changes for Des

Author
pan66.com
Timestamp

The word 'choke' wasn't exactly tossed around but the feeling among the Roosters was that they let one get away in round one against the Panthers.

They didn't score a try in the final 60 minutes of the game and were out-played in the second half by a hungrier team.

Manly willingly stood up to the Storm in their season opener but were gradually worn down in the second half.

The Sea Eagles face another tough test on Saturday evening against the premiers.

The Rundown

Team news

Roosters: Poasa Faamausili replaces Nat Butcher on the Roosters bench, while Asu Kepaoa, Daniel Fifita and Lachlan Lam were omitted from the reserves list. Winger Matt Ikuvalu passed all his tests after suffering a head knock last round and coach Trent Robinson said he would be fit to play. Second-rower Angus Crichton is also "itching to get out" there, according to the coach after missing round one due to illness. Robinson said Boyd Cordner would be named in the team next week to finally make his season debut. The Roosters have scored 104 points in their past three games against the Sea Eagles.

Sea Eagles: No injury worries for coach Des Hasler after the round one loss to Melbourne, allowing him to keep the same 17 intact. Taniela Paseka is due to return from an ankle injury in round three. Toafofoa Sipley and Brendan Elliot were trimmed from the extended bench on Saturday after Zac Saddler and Tevita Vuna were cut from the reserves on Friday afternoon.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Roosters is number 1 James Tedesco
    Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Tom Trbojevic
  • Winger for Roosters is number 2 Daniel Tupou
    Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jorge Taufua
  • Centre for Roosters is number 3 Brett Morris
    Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Brad Parker
  • Centre for Roosters is number 4 Joseph Manu
    Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Mosese Suli
  • Winger for Roosters is number 5 Matt Ikuvalu
    Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Reuben Garrick
  • Five-Eighth for Roosters is number 6 Luke Keary
    Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Dylan Walker
  • Halfback for Roosters is number 7 Kyle Flanagan
    Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly   Cherry-Evans

Forwards

  • Prop for Roosters is number 8 Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
    Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Addin  Fonua-Blake
  • Hooker for Roosters is number 9 Jake Friend
    Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Danny Levi
  • Prop for Roosters is number 10 Siosiua Taukeiaho
    Prop for Sea Eagles is number 10 Martin Taupau
  • 2nd Row for Roosters is number 11 Angus Crichton
    2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Joel Thompson
  • 2nd Row for Roosters is number 12 Mitchell Aubusson
    2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Curtis Sironen
  • Lock for Roosters is number 13 Victor Radley
    Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic

Interchange

  • Interchange for Roosters is number 14 Sam Verrills
    Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Lachlan Croker
  • Interchange for Roosters is number 15 Isaac Liu
    Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Sean Keppie
  • Interchange for Roosters is number 17 Lindsay Collins
    Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Morgan Boyle
  • Interchange for Roosters is number 19 Poasa Faamausili
    Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Haumole Olakau'atu

Match Officials

  • Referee: Ben Cummins
  • Referee: Belinda Sharpe
  • Senior Review Official: Steve Chiddy

Last updated:

Key match-up

Plenty of eyes will be on two of the game's best fullbacks at Leichhardt Oval. James Tedesco will be eager for a big game after looking uncharacteristically rattled down the stretch against the Panthers, while Tom Trbojevic looms as a match-winner for the Sea Eagles.

Where it'll be won and lost

Luke Keary has to take charge from the outset and keep his team focused on the task when errors start to creep in, while Jake Friend has to ensure the Roosters forwards work as a pack. Daly Cherry-Evans knows he needs to be at his best against Keary for Manly to spring an upset.

Brett Kimmorley says

I thought Manly were unlucky in defeat against Melbourne. It was an arm-wrestle for 60 minutes until they conceded their first try. The Roosters should be able to fix their last-tackle options, which was what coach Trent Robinson was unhappy with. I wouldn't think the Chooks would lose too many games back-to-back to start the season. Roosters by 2.

Stat Attack

Jorge Taufua's 150th game in Manly colours wasn't his happiest day as a Sea Eagle. Not only did they lose on home turf to the Storm, Taufua had five of his team's 15 handling errors. The Roosters weren't much better in their 20-14 loss to Penrith, finishing with 11 handling errors.

And another thing …

The Sea Eagles can't afford a repeat of their slow start they had against the Roosters in last year's only clash. The Chooks led 22-0 at half-time and stretched it to 26-0 before Manly saved face with three converted tries to go down 26-18. Boyd Cordner and Daniel Tupou scored two tries apiece for the Roosters.

Related

Acknowledgement of Country

 National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.