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Roosters, Bulldogs continue their rivalry as SBW returns

Will the Roosters go back-to-back in 2014? (AAP Image/Dean Lewins)
Roar Guru
1st April, 2014
6

The return of Sonny Bill Williams from suspension will highlight the Roosters’ grudge match against the Bulldogs, which kicks off Round 5 of the 2014 NRL season.

Ever since his return to the National Rugby League at the start of last season, the former Bulldogs hardman’s game has evolved. Williams has conformed to the new laws put into place during his four-and-a-bit year exile between 2008 and 2012.

His phenomenal – and unexpected – saw him feature in the Roosters’ premiership winning team and be named the world’s international player of the year. But his final NRL season before he returns to rugby union next year has already gotten off to an interrupted start, Williams suspended for three matches for a shoulder charge on the Rabbitohs’ George Burgess in the season opener on March 6.

Williams’ return comes just in time for the Roosters’ grudge match against traditional rivals Canterbury, which indirectly marks the tenth anniversary of the Bulldogs’ most recent premiership at the expense of the Chooks in 2004. It was the Bulldogs’ victory which denied Roosters legend Brad Fittler the perfect retirement gift, putting two years of hell following the salary cap breach of 2002 behind them.

The rivalry even got hotter early last season when the Roosters announced the prized signing of Sonny Bill Williams, setting the stage for their two grudge matches last year – including the Round 6 contest in which the man himself helped plot the downfall of his old club.

One thing that Bulldogs fans will remember is the way Williams left the club in mid-2008, only weeks after signing a five-year contract which would have kept him at Belmore until the end of 2012. The fans have not forgiven him for his act of betrayal on that cold Saturday morning in July, and when the two teams met last year they were out in force at Allianz Stadium to make their feelings known.

And so they will again when the two teams, both on two wins and two losses for this season, collide at the same venue this Friday night in what will mark SBW’s return from suspension.

The Roosters won two of their three matches without him, slipping up against the Sea Eagles last start after previously crushing the Eels at home and coming from behind to pip the Broncos in Brisbane.

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The Bulldogs, on the other hand, enter this match on the back of an impressive victory over the Melbourne Storm which kept the 2012 premiers from inheriting top spot on the ladder – a position currently held by the Dragons.

That follows two narrow losses to the Broncos and Panthers, either side of a 42-4 thrashing of Cronulla, to kick off the post-Ben Barba era.

With the reasonable form that both sides are showing this early in the season, it’s unfortunate that the loser will drop to 2-3 for the season.

But it’s only Round 5, so there’s plenty of time for both sides to book themselves a finals berth.

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