After copping their biggest defeat since the start of the 2021 season last week, the Roosters will be eager to bounce back against a struggling Cowboys side ahead of the finals kicking off.
In the face of a mounting injury toll, the Roosters footed it with the Knights through the opening half being overrun in a 20-4 defeat, which saw them surrender top spot on the ladder to Newcastle.
But with the best attacking and defensive record in the competition, they remain arguably the most feared team around and can still claim the minor premiership if they win in Round 9 and the Knights lose, while a defeat for the Tricolours could see them drop another spot to third.
After picking up two wins in the opening month, the Cowboys are now limping to the finish line in their maiden NRLW season, with their own hefty injury toll not helping through a run of four straight defeats.
In those four consecutive losses they’ve given up 34.5 points per game on average and after eight games have missed more tackles than any other side.
The Roosters lost 16-10 to the Dragons in their only previous visit to Netstrata Jubilee Stadium back in 2021, while North Queensland were 16-12 losers to the Eels there back in Round 6.
Match: Roosters v Cowboys
Round 9 -
home Team
Roosters
2nd Position
away Team
Cowboys
9th Position
Venue: Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Sydney
Team News
Roosters: No late changes on game day after Millie Boyle (shoulder) and Keeley Davis (hamstring) dropped out on Friday with Mya Hill-Moana joining the starting side at prop and Joeli Morris promoted to hooker. Isabelle Kelly will play after undergoing concussion protocols this week while Tyler Bentley and Millicent Scutt come into the side for NRLW debuts. Mia Wood and Kalosipani Hopoate are the new faces on the bench.
Cowboys: A late change on game day sees winger Vitalina Naikore ruled out with Mia Middleton coming into the starting side and Sareka Mooka joining the bench. Fran Goldthorp dropped out of the squad on Friday night after suffering an elbow injury last week, so Jetaya Faifua comes into the run-on side at fullback after originally being named on the bench. Alisha Foord is the new addition to the interchange.
Match: Roosters v Cowboys
Round 9 -
home Team
Roosters
away Team
Cowboys
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Roosters is number 1 Corban BaxterFullback for Cowboys is number 14 Jetaya Faifua
-
Winger for Roosters is number 2 Brydie ParkerWinger for Cowboys is number 5 Krystal Blackwell
-
Centre for Roosters is number 3 Jayme FressardCentre for Cowboys is number 3 Jasmine Peters
-
Centre for Roosters is number 4 Isabelle KellyCentre for Cowboys is number 4 Shellie Long
-
Winger for Roosters is number 5 Tyler BentleyWinger for Cowboys is number 16 Mia Middleton
-
Five-Eighth for Roosters is number 6 Tarryn AikenFive-Eighth for Cowboys is number 6 Tahlulah Tillett
-
Halfback for Roosters is number 7 Jocelyn KelleherHalfback for Cowboys is number 7 Kirra Dibb
Forwards
-
Prop for Roosters is number 10 Maatuleio Fotu-MoalaProp for Cowboys is number 8 Tallisha Harden
-
Hooker for Roosters is number 17 Joeli MorrisHooker for Cowboys is number 9 Emma Manzelmann
-
Prop for Roosters is number 16 Mya Hill-MoanaProp for Cowboys is number 10 April Ngatupuna
-
2nd Row for Roosters is number 11 Otesa Pule2nd Row for Cowboys is number 11 Bree Chester
-
2nd Row for Roosters is number 12 Olivia Kernick2nd Row for Cowboys is number 12 Lily Peacock
-
Lock for Roosters is number 13 Keilee JosephLock for Cowboys is number 13 Tiana Raftstrand-Smith
Interchange
-
Interchange for Roosters is number 14 Millicent ScuttInterchange for Cowboys is number 15 Sera Koroi
-
Interchange for Roosters is number 15 Grace HamiltonInterchange for Cowboys is number 17 Jessikah Reeves
-
Interchange for Roosters is number 18 Pani HopoateInterchange for Cowboys is number 18 Alisha Foord
-
Interchange for Roosters is number 19 Mia WoodInterchange for Cowboys is number 19 Sareka Mooka
Reserves
-
Replacement for Roosters is number 21 Lexi Kiriwi
-
Reserve for Cowboys is number 20 Merewalesi Rokouono
Match Officials
- Referee: Wyatt Raymond
- Senior Review Official: Todd Smith
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- New Tricolours signing Tarryn Aiken leads the competition in both try assists (8) and line break assists (12) this year.
- Thanks to the accurate boot of Kirra Dibb, the Cowboys boast the best conversion rate in the NRLW, with successful kicks 73 percent of the time.
