Following a humbling 10-8 loss at the hands of Wests Tigers, the Sydney Roosters will be looking for a quick turnaround against a Canterbury side out to avenge their 36-18 loss to reigning premiers the Melbourne Storm.
The Bondi club were devoid of ideas, looking almost afraid to shift the ball. Star recruits James Tedesco and Cooper Cronk will once again have all the attention as the Roosters attempt to get their early season form on track.
The Bulldogs have new recruits of their own – most notably Kieran Foran and Australian and New South Wales prop Aaron Woods. While having lost, the Dogs will take plenty of confidence into Friday night’s match.
The Bulldogs have lost five of their past seven encounters against Trent Robinson’s men, including both of their 2017 fixtures.
Canterbury pride themselves on physicality, and this week will be no different. David Klemmer and Aaron Woods will face stiff competition coming up against Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Sio Siua Taukeiaho. The Roosters’ pair must lay a platform for the likes of Cronk and Luke Keary to really influence the game. The same can be said for the Bulldogs, with a strong effort through the middle required to provide opportunity for Foran and new fullback Moses Mbye.
The Tricolours’ disappointing loss to the Tigers may be a blessing in disguise, helping to lower expectations of a club tipped to be vying for the title. The combinations will take time, but expect the Roosters to improve by Friday. With the attacking prowess of Latrell Mitchell and Tedesco, and the experience of Cronk, they have the potential to steamroll any opposition.
As for the Bulldogs, they have finally got themselves a halves pairing that can no longer be described as ‘makeshift’. Matt Frawley and Kieran Foran will have plenty of influence on the game, which, if compounded by solid go-forward by the likes of Klemmer, Woods, and Josh Jackson, could see them home.
Prediction
Roosters by 8.
Alec
Guest
Bulldogs by 8. The roosters backline is up there with the worst in the comp, Latrell and Manu still dont know how to defend their edges, Tupou again gets dominated nearly every time he runs it and doesnt know how to defend at all, and Fergo is hot and cold, Tedesco himself is one of the worst defensive fullbacks in the game just put on a step on him and its a guaranteed try. The forward pack is where the bulldogs really dominate, Woods and Klemmer are the Australian world cup winning props, JWH hasnt had a top game since his 2015 injury and Taukeiaho is a backrower being wasted in the position. So all in all the dogs should win this
Oingo Boingo
Guest
Dirk , I hope you haven't be see loitering around suburban car parks of late . This early in the year everything amounts to very little , obviously both teams want to win , but it's not the end of their season if they don't . I'm hoping to see a big improvement from the Roosters and no improvement from the dogs . Roosters in a close one.
Dirk Diggler
Roar Rookie
Arguably best pack in the NRL? That's a big statement for sure I would say top 5 but not #1. The bulldogs played well at times against the Storm, their attack was expansive, and Foran was close to the best game he's played in years so there's plenty of upside for the Doggies. Travel schedule can't be used as an excuse this early in the season. Roosters pack I'd rank middle of the road. How did Napa go from an origin breakthrough to what people are saying about him now?? Waerea Hargreaves is on the downside of his career and isn't the devastating tough guy he used to be. Agree it will take time for the Roosters halves to synch so not prepared to lower my expectations this year. I expect a tough physical battle this week, and if the dogs play 10% better than they did against the Storm they could win but I'd have a bet that Robinson will have the Roosters fired up and they should win by 4.
TigerMike
Guest
It'll be decided by whether or not Woodsy can Tackle Teddy
Nat
Roar Guru
Arguably the best pack vs the best backs in the comp. Small things for the Roosters to get better and the Dogs played better than they have in a while. Foran/Mbye were good, Frawley not so much. Tede hasn't made those two big mistakes in years and won't again. However, the forwards will be the difference. Happy to be wrong but Easts in a tight one.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Looking forward to this game. Tedesco and the front row for the Rooters looked very pedestrian in the trial and by the sounds of it in the first round as well. Are these three crucial players on the wane or are they poised to strike?
DP Schaefer
Guest
uglykiwi, true. Roosters are ripe for another plucking. Their backs too reliant on Cronk and Tedesco last week and this week will make the mistake of talking up their forwards. Their pack just doesn't match the Dogs forwards and (provided they [the Dogs] put in the efforts) Roosters will be steamrolled..
3 recalcitrant monkeys
Guest
The roosters middle lack of all round consistency last year cost them dearly in the end . And I think matching the old look doggies up front will be a task its a really important game for both teams early in the comp.the roosters have more points in them but looked like they couldn't buy a try last week .roll a dice or flip a coined phrase
Joe
Roar Rookie
The only reason I'm hesitant to tip the Dogs is because of their travel schedule over the last week. Played in Perth last Saturday against the Storm who have a big pack. That leaves precious little recovery time to be up for a game against the Roosters this Friday. This is where the favourable draw for the Roosters kicks in. I also think the Roosters will improve if Keary plays and also off the back of their loss last week. Roosters to prevail in the end after a very tough and torrid 60 mins.
uglykiwi
Roar Pro
David Klemmer and Aaron Woods will face stiff competition coming up against Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Sio Siua Taukeiaho. hahahah; Hargraves hasn't played a decide game since he got injured. Taukeiaho is a decent first grader..... thats about it. The reason Roosters lost and the reason they won't make the 8 is because the forwards are not hard enough. The Roosters were out muscled by The Tigers and the Cowboys (last year) in there last two games. They will get smashed, beaten up and spat out by the Dogs pack. Roosters needed to buy FORWARDS not flashy backs. Dogs will win this by 20.