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The Roosters dug deep to come away from Newcastle with two valuable competition points and return to familiar territory at Allianz Stadium with renewed confidence.

Their attack still needs some fine-tuning but coach Trent Robinson is sure to have taken great heart from the defensive resolve shown when the Knights came at them late in the game.

With Joey Manu (29 runs for 318m) and Daniel Tupou (23 runs for 287m) carrying the ball strong and Jake Turpin (53 tackles), Nat Butcher (45) and Egan Butcher (45) working the house down in defence, the Roosters overcame the absence of James Tedesco and Lindsay Collins to register a morale boosting win.

The Raiders need to regroup after a deflating loss to the Warriors in Jarrod Croker's 300th game but they remain in seventh position and face six teams currently below them on the ladder in their final 10 games.

The sides have clashed 43 times in the NRL era with the Roosters winning 28, including the 2019 grand final, and the Raiders getting the money 15 times.

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Team News

Roosters: A change on game day sees Sitili Tupouniua drop out after sustaining a badly corked thigh last week. He's replaced by Angus Crichton at second row while Terrell May comes onto the bench. A change on Saturday saw Nat Butcher drop off the bench after suffering an ankle during the week, his place taken by Drew Hutchison. Five-eighth Luke Keary will play after being cleared of a jaw fracture. After starring at fullback in Round 16, Joey Manu shifts back to centre to accommodate the return of James Tedesco, with Corey Allan the man to drop out. Victor Radley is back from suspension at lock, while Lindsay Collins will back up from Queensland duty. 

Raiders: No late changes on game day. After a weekend off with the bye, Ricky Stuart has named the same 17 who appeared in Canberra's last game against the Warriors in Round 15. Back-rower Hudson Young is a confirmed starter after Stuart gave the green light on Friday that he would be right to play.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Roosters is number 1 James Tedesco
    Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Sebastian Kris
  • Winger for Roosters is number 2 Daniel Tupou
    Winger for Raiders is number 2 Albert Hopoate
  • Centre for Roosters is number 3 Billy Smith
    Centre for Raiders is number 3 Jarrod Croker
  • Centre for Roosters is number 4 Joseph Manu
    Centre for Raiders is number 4 Matthew Timoko
  • Winger for Roosters is number 5 Fetalaiga Pauga
    Winger for Raiders is number 5 Jordan Rapana
  • Five-Eighth for Roosters is number 6 Luke Keary
    Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Jack Wighton
  • Halfback for Roosters is number 7 Sandon Smith
    Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Jamal Fogarty

Forwards

  • Prop for Roosters is number 8 Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
    Prop for Raiders is number 8 Josh Papalii
  • Hooker for Roosters is number 9 Jake Turpin
    Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Zac Woolford
  • Prop for Roosters is number 10 Lindsay Collins
    Prop for Raiders is number 10 Joseph Tapine
  • 2nd Row for Roosters is number 11 Egan Butcher
    2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Hudson Young
  • 2nd Row for Roosters is number 14 Angus Crichton
    2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Elliott Whitehead
  • Lock for Roosters is number 13 Victor Radley
    Lock for Raiders is number 13 Corey Horsburgh

Interchange

  • Interchange for Roosters is number 15 Nathan Brown
    Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Tom Starling
  • Interchange for Roosters is number 17 Naufahu Whyte
    Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Emre Guler
  • Interchange for Roosters is number 18 Terrell May
    Interchange for Raiders is number 16 Nick Cotric
  • Interchange for Roosters is number 19 Drew Hutchison
    Interchange for Raiders is number 17 Pasami Saulo

Reserves

  • Replacement for Roosters is number 22 Zach Dockar-Clay
    Replacement for Raiders is number 18 Matt Frawley

Match Officials

  • Referee: Ashley Klein
  • Touch Judge: Matt Noyen
  • Touch Judge: Liam Kennedy
  • Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins

Last updated:

Stat Attack

  • The Roosters have won four from five at Allianz Stadium this season.
  • The Raiders have won only three of their past 20 games against the Roosters in Sydney.
  • The Roosters have the worst attacking record in the competition.
  • The Raiders have conceded 30 points or more four times in their past seven games.
  • Roosters winger Daniel Tupou needs two tries to equal Anthony Minichiello’s club record of 139 tries.
  • The Roosters and Raiders are ranked 15th and 16th for try assists in 2023 with 31 apiece. The Rabbitohs lead the NRL with 62 try assists. 
  • The Raiders have won four of seven away games in 2023, beating the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium, Rabbitohs at Accor Stadium, Tigers at Campbelltown and Bulldogs at Suncorp in Magic Round.

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

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.

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