- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
The Roosters are strong favourites to topple the Dragons in the traditional Anzac day clash.
The Dragons have relied on defence in their five game winning streak, often winning by narrow margins against much more fancied opponents.
They also have one of the poorest offensive records in the NRL, scoring only two more points than cellar dwellers Manly.
The Roosters by contrast are the bookies favourites, despite coming into this game on a three-game losing streak. They have the strongest attack in the NRL and the third-best defence after the Dragons and Storm.
But differential points aside, the Roosters are in a pack of teams on six points which span positions 8-15 on the table.
Sydney come into this match without New Zealand enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, who is out for six weeks with a pec strain. Sam Moa is his replacement, back from suspension.
The Dragons are unchanged from last week’s win over the Broncos, still missing their best forward this year Tyson Frizzell, who is suspended, and New Zealand international Jason Nightingale is still out injured.
So what can we expect?
Both the Dragons and Roosters will be desperate to win and the opening 30 minutes may well decide the match. The Dragons’ defensive tactics are designed to put pressure on the opposing halves and if they can fend off the Roosters’ attack for the first 30 then frustration and mistakes may creep into Sydney’s game.
The Dragons new axeman Will Matthews will be keen to test out the Roosters ball retention, and Benji Marshall will be keen for one last good showing before the selection of the New Zealand Test team.
But a team effort for 80 minutes will be necessary to defeat the favourites.
The Dragons forwards are capable of putting in a strong performance to match the Roosters pack, so it may be a question of whether the Roosters halves can get over the top of Benji and Gareth Widdop and provide good ball to their outside backs.
The Roosters will likely target Dragons centre Dylan Farrell in attack, who was earlier in the year a weak spot in the Dragons outside defence and also prone to making errors. Farrell has been improving but is still a work in progress and he will certainly be put to the test by the Roosters.
While Anzac day may be a bit foreign to Dragons Englishmen Widdop and prop Mike Cooper, they both know what a battle against the odds is and I expect they will both feature after strong performances last week.
I am tipping the Dragons to win, despite the bookies, as they have demonstrated an ability to dig deep to win tight matches against the odds, whereas in the last two weeks the Roosters have failed to.
Dragons by 8.
Reckon you can pick the winning team? Build your own dream team with Draftstars daily fantasy and compete on any match. For great odds on the NRL head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
It might have been that simple all along. As much as the structures, coaching and roster come under pressure at the Roosters, the solution…
Zac Lomax, Ben Hunt and Jack Bird collided in a horror moment for the Dragons. Joey Manu scored off the back of it untouched.
The Roosters half was having a blinder and after a crucial tackle on Tyrell Sloan, sprayed the touchie it happened in front of. Sloan…
This just about summed up the first half for the Dragons as they trailed 30-6 at the break.
Mosese Suli was ruled out of the game after a horror collision with Jared Waerea-Hargreaves. Nine's Phil Gould dismissed JWH's high forearm as 'accidental'…
