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Roosters v Storm: Tedesco back on deck; NAS, Chan come in

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Both coming off big wins, the Roosters and Storm will welcome a chance to flex their premiership muscles when the two competition heavyweights kick off Round 7 at Allianz Stadium.

Melbourne are sitting pretty at second on the ladder after stealing another narrow victory off the Bulldogs on Friday to boast a 4-1 record after the first six rounds. 

With all four of those wins coming out of AAMI Park, Thursday night's showdown will come as a big opportunity for Craig Bellamy's side to prove they can carry their winning form on the road after going down to the Knights in Newcastle in Round 3.

The Roosters, meanwhile, will be hot off a morale boosting win over Newcastle, overcoming the absence of several big names to claim their fourth victory for the season.

The performance of Joey Manu was a bright spot for the Roosters and Trent Robinson will be hoping the Kiwi superstar will continue to get plenty of opportunities when he slides back to the centres this week.

Sportsbet Betting Preview - Roosters v Storm

Team News

Roosters: No further changes on game day after Sam Walker was ruled out on Wednesday after he failed to pass the concussion protocols. James Tedesco (concussion) returns after missing Round 6, with Joey Manu shifting back to the centres and Joseph-Aukuso Suaali'i going to the wing. Sitili Tupouniua is sidelined with a head knock, his place on the bench taken by Egan Butcher. Fetalaiga Pauga is 18th man.

Storm: Kiwi giant Nelson Asofa-Solomona has been moved to the bench an hour before kick-off in his first game of the season, with Christian Welch to start the game. Tui Kamikamica has been sidelined by a calf injury, while Joe Chan (hand) is back from injury on the bench. Jack Howarth is 18th man.  

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Roosters is number 1 James Tedesco
    Fullback for Storm is number 1 Ryan Papenhuyzen 
  • Winger for Roosters is number 2 Daniel Tupou
    Winger for Storm is number 2 Will Warbrick
  • Centre for Roosters is number 3 Michael Jennings
    Centre for Storm is number 3 Reimis Smith
  • Centre for Roosters is number 4 Joseph Manu
    Centre for Storm is number 4 Nick Meaney
  • Winger for Roosters is number 5 Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i
    Winger for Storm is number 5 Xavier Coates
  • Five-Eighth for Roosters is number 6 Connor Watson
    Five-Eighth for Storm is number 6 Cameron Munster
  • Halfback for Roosters is number 7 Luke Keary
    Halfback for Storm is number 7 Jahrome Hughes

Forwards

  • Prop for Roosters is number 8 Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
    Prop for Storm is number 10 Josh King
  • Hooker for Roosters is number 9 Brandon Smith
    Hooker for Storm is number 9 Harry Grant
  • Prop for Roosters is number 10 Lindsay Collins
    Prop for Storm is number 15 Christian Welch
  • 2nd Row for Roosters is number 11 Nat Butcher
    2nd Row for Storm is number 11 Shawn Blore
  • 2nd Row for Roosters is number 12 Angus Crichton
    2nd Row for Storm is number 12 Eliesa Katoa
  • Lock for Roosters is number 13 Victor Radley
    Lock for Storm is number 13 Trent Loiero

Interchange

  • Interchange for Roosters is number 14 Zach Dockar-Clay
    Interchange for Storm is number 8 Nelson  Asofa-Solomona
  • Interchange for Roosters is number 15 Naufahu Whyte
    Interchange for Storm is number 14 Tyran Wishart
  • Interchange for Roosters is number 16 Egan Butcher
    Interchange for Storm is number 16 Joe Chan
  • Interchange for Roosters is number 17 Terrell May
    Interchange for Storm is number 17 Alec MacDonald

Reserves

  • Replacement for Roosters is number 18 Fetalaiga Pauga
    Replacement for Storm is number 19 Jack Howarth

Match Officials

  • Referee: Ashley Klein
  • Touch Judge: Liam Kennedy
  • Touch Judge: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
  • Senior Review Official: Adam Gee

Last updated:

Stat Attack

  • The Roosters have not defeated the Storm in Sydney since 2019.
  • The Storm have won eight of their past nine games against the Roosters.
  • Roosters winger Daniel Tupou has scored five tries in six games in 2024.
  • Storm winger Xavier Coates has scored seven tries in his past three games against the Roosters.
  • The Roosters have not won back-to-back games in 2024.

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

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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.