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

Roosters v Sea Eagles: Butcher sidelined; 'Burbo' boost for Manly

Author
pan66.com
Timestamp

Two proud clubs will fight it out at the SCG on Thursday night in a bid to keep their top-eight hopes alive after rollercoaster 2023 campaigns. 

The Roosters sit four points outside the top eight going into Round 23 and would need to win at least four of their final five matches to give themselves any hope of continuing their six-year finals streak. 

Trent Robinson's side were well-beaten by the Broncos last start and will be up against a Sea Eagles outfit who got the job done in Daly Cherry-Evans' 300th NRL match to make it three wins in their last four games.

Both these sides only met a month ago with the match coming down to the wire for an 18-16 victory to the Sea Eagles at 4 Pines Park. 

Another repeat result would all but spell the end of the Roosters' finals hopes and the Sea Eagles would love nothing more than to be the team that piles on the pain for the Eastern Suburbs club. 

Sportsbet Betting Preview - Roosters v Sea Eagles

Sign up for a free NRL Account to access this video and other exclusive content.

Sign Up

Already have an NRL Account?

Log In

Not sure?   Learn more about an NRL Account .

Team news

Roosters: A late switch an hour before kick-off with Drew Hutchison starting at halfback and Sandon Smith going to the bench. After failing a head injury assessment against the Broncos, forward Egan Butcher will miss the match. Youngster Siua Wong comes in for his fourth game of the season and first as a starter. 

Sea Eagles: The Sea Eagles are 1-17 with no late changes. Ben Trbojevic (hamstring) is back on deck but Christian Tuipulotu (knee) is set to miss at least two weeks. Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega comes in on the wing for his fifth game of the season. Trbojevic's return sees Sean Keppie drop out of the squad. Prop Matt Lodge will play despite missing training this week due to illness.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Roosters is number 1 James Tedesco
    Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Reuben Garrick
  • Winger for Roosters is number 2 Daniel Tupou
    Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason Saab
  • Centre for Roosters is number 3 Billy Smith
    Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Brad Parker
  • Centre for Roosters is number 4 Joseph Manu
    Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Tolutau Koula
  • Winger for Roosters is number 5 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii
    Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Raymond  Tuaimalo Vaega
  • Five-Eighth for Roosters is number 6 Luke Keary
    Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Joshua Schuster
  • Halfback for Roosters is number 14 Drew Hutchison
    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 Toafofoa Sipley
  • Hooker for Roosters is number 9 Brandon Smith
    Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Lachlan Croker
  • Prop for Roosters is number 10 Lindsay Collins
    Prop for Sea Eagles is number 10 Matthew Lodge
  • 2nd Row for Roosters is number 11 Siua Wong
    2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu
  • 2nd Row for Roosters is number 12 Nat Butcher
    2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Kelma Tuilagi
  • Lock for Roosters is number 13 Victor Radley
    Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic

Interchange

  • Interchange for Roosters is number 7 Sandon Smith
    Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Ben Trbojevic
  • Interchange for Roosters is number 15 Nathan Brown
    Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Aaron Woods
  • Interchange for Roosters is number 16 Terrell May
    Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Dean Matterson
  • Interchange for Roosters is number 17 Fletcher Baker
    Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Ethan Bullemor

Reserves

  • Replacement for Roosters is number 21 Fetalaiga Pauga
    Replacement for Sea Eagles is number 19 Jake Arthur

Match Officials

  • Referee: Ashley Klein
  • Touch Judge: Kasey Badger
  • Touch Judge: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
  • Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins

Last updated:

Stat Attack

  • The Roosters have won six of their past nine games against the Sea Eagles.
  • Daly Cherry-Evans has scored four tries in his last four games against the Roosters. 
  • The Roosters have won three of their past four games at the SCG.
  • The Sea Eagles are aiming for home and away wins against the Roosters for the first time since 2017.
  • Sea Eagles hooker Lachlan Croker will play his 100th game for the club.
  • Roosters winger Daniel Tupou has scored five tries in his past three games at the SCG

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

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.