SUNDAY JUNE 2nd 2024 ALLIANZE STADIUM, SYDNEY
With both teams significantly impacted by Origin selections, Sunday’s clash between the Roosters and Cowboys will test their squad depth as they each aim to continue their winning streaks.
Origin Impacts on Squad Selections
North Queensland will be minus their two co-captains Tom Dearden and Reuben Cotter, who are joined by Murray Taulagi, Valentine Holmes and Jeremiah Nanai in Maroons camp, while hooker Reece Robson is with the Blues.
Roosters’ Key Players Missing
The Roosters are hardest hit in the pack, with key forwards Lindsay Collins, Angus Crichton, and Spencer Leniu all called up for state duty, along with versatile outside back Joseph Sua’ali’i.
Recent Performance Boosts Morale
However, the Tricolours rebounded convincingly from a Magic Round loss to the Sharks with a 44-16 victory over the Raiders last week. They are also boosted by the presence of captain James Tedesco, who is absent from Game One of an Origin series for the first time since 2016 after being overlooked.
Cowboys Aim for Third Consecutive Victory
Todd Payten’s Cowboys, meanwhile, can aim for a third consecutive victory at Allianz Stadium, where they previously won only eight out of 23 games when it was known as the Sydney Football Stadium.
North Queensland’s 20-6 win over the Roosters last year ended a prior five-game winless streak against them.
Team Line-ups
Roosters
1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Fetalaiga Pauga 4. Joseph Manu 5. Dominic Young 6. Luke Keary 7. Sam Walker 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Brandon Smith 10. Terrell May 11. Nat Butcher 12. Victor Radley 13. Naufahu Whyte , 14. Sandon Smith 15. Siua Wong , 16. Sitili Tupouniua 17. Michael Jennings, 18. Zach Dockar-Clay 19. Blake Steep , 20. Ethan King 21. Jake Elliott 22. Delasalle Vaa
Cowboys
1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Tomas Chester 4. Viliami Vailea 5. Braidon Burns 6. Jake Clifford 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Jake Granville 10. Griffin Neame 11. Heilum Luki 12. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 13. Thomas Mikaele, 14. Sam McIntyre,15. Harrison Edwards 16. Jamal Shibasaki 17. Jason Taumalolo , 18. Kaiden Lahrs ,19. Thomas Duffy 20. Marly Bitungane 21. Jai Hansen 22. Jaxon Purdue
Referee: Gerard Sutton, Touch Judges. Dave Munro, Wyatt Raymond, Bunker, Adam Gee
The Cowboys have lost three of their last four games at Sydney venues.
Roosters center Joseph Manu has scored six tries in his last five games.
Recent Form Insights
The Cowboys have scored 70 points in their last two games.
Roosters halfback Sam Walker has scored 58 points in his last four games at Allianz Stadium.
Prediction
With a fired-up Tedesco leading the way and a potent backline, the Roosters are expected to make light work of the Cowboys. A wet forecast might complicate conditions and could be the Cowboys’ only hope for an upset.
The Roosters thumped the Raiders last week, while the Cowboys had an inconsistent performance in their eventual victory over the Tigers. Both teams lose players to the Origin camps, but the Roosters retain captain James Tedesco for the first time in recent Origin memory.
You can be sure that Tedesco will be motivated for a big performance, as this clash against the Cowboys might be the closest experience to Origin he will have for the rest of his career.
LATE MAIL. I am told that ,TEDESCO IS OUT, and has been called into the NSW Origin team replacing Dylan Edwards.
James Tedesco’s late Blues call-up has resulted in a big re-shuffle to the Roosters line-up. Joseph Manu shifts to fullback as Michael Jennings comes into the centres, while De La Salle Va’a comes into the Roosters’ extended squad. Meanwhile, Blake Steep has been included on the bench to make his NRL debut.
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