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The Sydney Roosters have consigned the North Queensland Cowboys to their third-straight loss, winning by 12 points on Sunday.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Roosters 22
Cowboys 10
After two losses in a row, the North Queensland Cowboys will be eager to edge closer to the top four when they take on the Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium. Join The Roar from 4pm (AEST) for live coverage.
After a heavy loss at the hands of the Panthers, the Roosters are looking to move up from second last position with a win to push them up alongside the Rabbitohs and Eels on 14 points.
It comes after a season from hell for the Roosters that has been defined by injury, suspensions and the hangover from key player departures last year.
Riddled with inconsistency, Trent Robinson has had his stars moving in and out of the team and will welcome back Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Mitchell Pearce to the 17.
Waerea-Hargreaves has failed to find his groove in 2016 with the former Kiwi international unable to return to his wrecking ball status. If the tricolours are to come close to the Cowboys, they will need the big man to fire and lead his forward pack against a formidable Cowboys opposition.
Like Waerea-Hargreaves, Pearce has also been plagued with inconsistency in 2016. After a sour start to the season that resulted in his suspension, the halfback had a good patch midway through the season but has since gone back into his hiding hole.
The former Origin holds the key to success for the Roosters and will come up against energetic half Michael Morgan.
Morgan was silenced by the Wests Tigers last week alongside his halves partner Johnathan Thurston.
It was a week to forget for Cowboys fans after they tallied up their second loss in as many weeks.
They will be eager to turn it around against Sydney with Paul Green making a number of changes.
Ben Hannant’s knee injury sees Patrick Kaufusi and Coen Hess come onto the bench while Kyle Feldt returns from suspension on the wing pushing Javid Bowen to an extended bench.
The biggest change to the North Queensland lineup lies in the hooking position with Ray Thompson to wear the No.9 jersey after Jake Granville sustained a hand injury sidelining him until the penultimate round of the regular season.
The Roosters have dominated encounters between the two clubs winning 19 of 29 matches since 1998.
Last time they met, North Queensland humiliated the Roosters with a 40-0 victory in Round 3 of this year.
Prediction
North Queensland will get their first win in three weeks with Thurston to lead the way.
Cowboys by 6.
Join The Roar from 4pm (AEST) for live score updates and debate in our live blog.
You can find Riley on Twitter @rileypettigrew.
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