The Sydney Roosters and Melbourne Storm put their top-four ambitions on the line when they clash in what promises to be the game of the round. Join The Roar from 7:30pm (AEST) for live scores and coverage of this Round 25 fixture.
Buoyed by a comprehensive victory over the Warriors last start, the Sydney Roosters are out to prove that the possibility of back-to-back premierships isn’t a pipe dream.
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They face a formidable challenge in the Storm though, who themselves are no strangers to what it takes to win games at the business end of the season.
Trent Robinson’s charges have hit form at the right time of the season and have had a relatively good run with injury leaving them close to full strength as they head towards the finals.
Sonny Bill Williams will start for the first time since suffering a thumb injury with Frank-Paul Nuuausala shifting to the bench.
Aidan Guerra shifts to lock, Sam Moa will start at prop, and Dylan Napa goes to the bench in the only other changes to the side that thrashed the Warriors last week.
The Storm are in the midst of a draw that has kept them on the road for virtually a month and after another short-turn-around have opted to named an extended bench to cover all eventualities.
Their forward pack has been boosted by the return of Jesse Bromwich who has been named after missing the loss to the Panthers due to the birth of his child.
He has been a key-man for the Storm this season giving them plenty of go-forward and giving players such as Cooper Cronk the space to dictate terms in the middle of the ruck.
Jordan McLean will shift back to the bench in a direct swap with Bromwich.
They say the spine 1,6,7,and 9 are the players who have the most direct influence on the result in any game of modern rugby league, and this game provides intriguing match-ups between the men tasked to play these vital positions.
James Maloney is in fine form for the Roosters while Craig Bellamy seems to have worked out the secret for getting the best out of Ben Roberts.
Cooper Cronk’s broken arm seems to have refreshed the playmaker with him being in sensational form of late, while Mitchell Pearce is playing with increased maturity after his Origin demotion.
At the back the wily veteran Minichiello is keen to go out a winner, while Billy Slater has shown he is just as dangerous as ever with a starring performance against the Panthers.
Jake Friend is viewed in many circles as the heir apparent to Smith’s representative jerseys, and will be keen to put one over the Storm, Queensland and Australian captain with a big performance.
It’s worth tuning into this match to watch these match-ups alone. Throw in two huge forward packs and you have the ingredients for an entertaining game of footy.
Prediction:
Honours have been fairly even over the past few meetings between these two sides, and it could be the home factor that is enough to get the Roosters home.
Roosters to win in a tight one.
Scrubbit
Guest
Doesn't take much for a team to slip up these days.
steveng
Guest
How can the Bulldogs lose against the Titans? You're kidding?
steveng
Guest
How can the Bulldogs lose against the Titans? You're kidding?
Manly Man
Guest
Roosters 13th in 2012
Terence Ossle
Guest
Spot on, spectator. Time to put the blanket out over the knees and switch to A league. Leave this boring NRL rubbish to us bogans....
Manly Man
Guest
Gold.
Terence Ossle
Guest
Thanks Joister, that comment makes my SBW 800m typo look almost informed!
Terence Ossle
Guest
Aren't we a happy camper?
Muzz
Guest
90m
Terence Ossle
Guest
Oops 80m....self-uppercut duly applied
Elma Dudd
Guest
If the roosters had held the ball they woulda won by 50. Farkin unbelievable defence . The boob and jimmy have improved ten fold in getting the defence in two minds and jake friend has come on ... Robbo would be rapt.
eagleJack
Guest
I also heard during the half-time break he brokered a peace deal in the Middle East! He's gonna sleep well tonight!
Elma Dudd
Guest
And set an Olympic record .
Terence Ossle
Guest
Elma, finally....someone who understands the game. For a Sydney team to win in horrible, Melbourne-like conditions playing against opponents who practice their wrestling and big 3 attacking combinations under equal weather each day, holding only 40% of possession and making 36 more tackles in your own death zone? Helped along by sympathetic refereeing and a howling southerly in their favour? Epic is the only adjective that comes to mind. All these SBW trolls need to swallow a few happy pills and take rest of the year off.
The spectator
Guest
They write that at the terror for silly buggers to read into!
eagleJack
Guest
Haven't seen the game. But I'm glad I recorded it. Will be watching history with SBW running for over 800m!
Elma Dudd
Guest
Admit it ... That's gotta worry every team on the comp. Strain a blood vessel ??? I think I had two litters of kittens and blew a poopi valve during that game .
Elma Dudd
Guest
Sea eagles are gone . The off field crap has caught up with em , along with a few injuries etc. Won't be surprised to send the panthers tune em up . Either way I don't think either side will be walking on cake .
Manly Man
Guest
Take it easy elma you strain a blood vessel.
The spectator
Guest
It is interesting that there set pieces have been put away for a few weeks, and there a few in there as well as the usual lift come semi's, and apart from Gifty who apparently is over rated anyway is at full strength, mmm!