The biggest match on the rugby league calendar is nearly upon us, and it brings together two in-form teams in the Sydney Roosters and St George Illawarra Dragons at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground.
While Allianz Stadium is knocked down and rebuilt, the annual Anzac Day match, which has been held since 2002, will shift a few metres south for the next three years, ensuring that there will be a historic backdrop for the game during this period.
After six rounds, the Sydney Roosters remain the team to catch for this year’s premiership, stringing together five consecutive victories after losing to the South Sydney Rabbitohs at the SCG in Round 1.
Against the Storm last week, they led 20-0 just before half-time before the Storm hit back to level the scores by the full-time siren, ensuring a tense golden point period during which Latrell Mitchell stepped up to kick the match-winning field goal and give his side a narrow 21-20 win.
They had also been impressive in victories over the Sea Eagles, Eels, Broncos and Sharks – and thus possess the NRL’s best attack with 161 points scored.
With the recent retirement of Greg Inglis, the 21-year-old may have taken over the mantle as the best player in the game, such is the impact he has made on the team, and by extension the competition, since his debut in 2016.
Latrell Mitchell. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Therefore, it will take a whole team effort from the Dragons to shut him down if they are to end the Chooks’ five-match winning streak and notch up a fifth consecutive victory of their own.
After dominating the Bulldogs at Kogarah Oval in Round 5, Paul McGregor’s side was forced into a tight tussle against the Sea Eagles at their other home ground, WIN Stadium, before grounding out a gritty 12-10 win to retain their place in the eight.
Halfback Ben Hunt backed up his stunning performance against the Bulldogs with another impressive display against the Sea Eagles, just about winning the battle for the Maroons’ number seven guernsey against his Manly counterpart Daly Cherry-Evans.
The win over the Silvertails wasn’t without its controversy, though, as Tim Lafai just escaped being penalised at the death for an apparent block on his Manly opponent, which would’ve seen the Sea Eagles take a shot at goal on the siren to force golden point.
Still, it was the perfect way for McGregor to celebrate having his contract extended to the end of the 2021 season, at the end of which he will become the joint venture’s longest-serving coach, surpassing Nathan Brown who was at the helm for six seasons between 2003 and 2008.
Dragons coach Paul McGregor has received a contract extension. (Photo by Matt Blyth/Getty Images)
Historically, the Dragons have dominated the Anzac Day Cup since it was introduced in 2002, winning the fixture eleven times, most recently last year when Ben Hunt led his side to a convincing 24-8 victory at Allianz Stadium.
However, it will be the Roosters who enter this Thursday’s clash, the first to be held at the SCG since its inception, as favourites; it will also be the first time the two sides have met at the iconic ground since 2010.
In the evening, the Melbourne Storm and New Zealand Warriors will face off at AAMI Park, with the match to mark a decade since that fixture’s inception in 2009, which ended in a 14-all draw.
Craig Bellamy’s side will start favourites to notch their sixth win of the season, the side having had their undefeated start ended last week when it lost to the Sydney Roosters in golden point extra time at home last week.
The Warriors, meanwhile, will be looking to turn around a slow start to the season in which it has won only two of their first six matches, their last outing resulting in a 17-10 loss to the Cowboys at home last Saturday night. They also haven’t won in Melbourne since 2014.
The match will kick off at 7:50pm, some two hours after the conclusion of the AFL clash between Essendon and Collingwood over the bridge at the MCG, thus allowing fans to enjoy both matches without the hassle of being late to AAMI Park.
#Longstone
Roar Rookie
they did last night.
Max
Guest
I read elsewhere the first NRL games on Anzac Day were in 1927. Is it possible that an actual Anzac WW1 serviceman played in an Anzac Day first grade game?
Zavjalova
Roar Rookie
Lets hope the crowd turns up. Come on Sydney! get there.
paulie
Guest
really? what about luke cleary
Pedro the Saint
Roar Rookie
Its ANZAC day - toss the coin and see if a dragons head comes up. The halves for Saints are clicking nicely and Dufty has enough speed to cover the back end of the park on the kicking game of Cronk. The biggest concern is Latrell Mitchel is on fire but bringing him back in the halves leaves an unknown factor for the game. Blake Lawrie will be primed for this one.
Superspud
Roar Rookie
Yeah looks that way. Interesting how Robinson essentially picks a 3 man bench. Last week Varills gets 5 minutes he carried Lam on at least one occasion giving him 2 minutes at the end.
steveng
Roar Rookie
They looked ok, not top notch as they didn't have to! We always looked like winning and that is what the Bunnies are doing at this stage. Lets see if the mongrel comes out this week and especially next week against the Broncs, as that is what they will have to do, as they cant play like they have been.
Dutski
Roar Guru
That's a risk for sure - don't like how the Chooks fade away. What did you make of your Bunnies last start steveng?
steveng
Roar Rookie
lol this is usually what happens once they leave the Bunnies burrow, there never the same! Lets see, Seibs now Chrichton lol yes he had a few good games for us but he hasn’t shown that with the Chooks, I never rated Chrichton when he was at the Bunnies, he had top forwards around him, that set him up. The Dragons will beat the Chooks if the Dragons dont let them get away to any sizable lead in the first half as that is the Chooks go.
db
Guest
Keary has now been ruled out. Mitchell has been named to play 5/8.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Yep ! He has been slow to fit into the Chooks operation. But I reckon his last match indicated he is nearly ready to start to show up. You need to remember he is running on their generally "neglected" right edge, where they are traditionally just setting up the play for those sweeping moves back to feed the stars (Keary, Mitchell, Cordner & Teddy) on the more popular left side.
Big Daddy
Guest
Pretty similar to all the hype about grand final replay. No such thing. It was last year's grand finalists playing a normal match. Different ground, different pressure, different conditions. It's all marketing hype. The media come up with things like replay of 1999 grand final. It's only a replay if it's a draw.
Superspud
Roar Rookie
So now confirmed no Bmoz no Liu, Keary and Taukeiaho in doubt. Things looking shaky. I think if Keary doesn't play they should go with Lam.
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
That win over the Storm must have taken a lot out of the Roosters and the Dragons have won 4 in a row, but 3 have been tight. The teams usually go to another gear for this one and I'm tipping the Dragons to come out on top. Providing tries are scored under the posts due to Lafai's questionable goal kicking. Lomax must be really unlucky not to get a start in the centres
Paul
Roar Guru
no Keary, no bueno. If Keary doesn't play, the Dragons have to consider themselves a good chance, as long as they're close with 10 minutes to go or in front. If Keary's fit and plays as he has been, it's hard to see the Roosters losing assuming they don't have a let down from last weeks game against the Storm
Dutski
Roar Guru
Good question. They showed in the last 10-15 minutes on the weekend they can, but if he's out for an extended period they'd struggle. I guess most clubs would with one of their first choice halves out. He seems to have grown into a player who can pull off the big plays, though.
Superspud
Roar Rookie
The Roosters won without Cronk. They won without JWH can they win without Keary?
Superspud
Roar Rookie
Not at all. For the money spent they got more from Matterson. Having said that there were some moments from Crichton the other night that indicated he is warming to the task.
BA Sports
Roar Guru
I don't think you are being too hard. I think he has been fine. But they are paying for more than 'fine'. If he was playing in a team that was 1-5 not 5-1, he might be feeling a little more pressure.
Dutski
Roar Guru
Really? That's a shocker. I gotta say as a Roosters fan Crichton has underwhelmed since moving across. I get that he was coming off injury to start but he certainly doesn't look like an Origin backrower at the moment. Don't get me wrong he's doing a job but he's certainly not standing out as something special. Am I judging him too hard?