The Sydney Roosters and Canberra Raiders have picked their 21-man squads for this Sunday’s NRL grand final, with no surprises from either side.
Jared Waerea-Hargeaves is back in the Sydney team after missing their preliminary final win over the Storm, pushing Siosiua Taukeiaho to the bench.
Jake Friend, as was the case last week, has been named amongst the reserves for the Chooks. The co-captain has only made five appearances in 2019 and last played in Round 18, having since been hampered with a calf injury.
However, with young hooker Sam Verrills performing admirably in the veteran’s absence, there are calls for Friend to be overlooked for selection even if he is passed fit for the grand final.
Reigning Clive Churchill medallist Luke Keary has also been named to start by Trent Robinson, despite an ankle injury concern hovering over the star five-eighth.
Ricky Stuart, meanwhile, has opted for an unchanged line-up. Both Joey Leilua and Josh Hodgson have been named in the starting XIII, although both are under fitness clouds.
Leilua picked up a calf contusion in Canberra’s win over South Sydney last Friday but trained today and is expected to play.
Co-captain Hodgson, however, was a notable absentee at Raiders training today on account of a viral infection, with the Raiders confirming they didn’t want to risk him spreading the illness to any of his teammates. Like Leilua, Hodgson is still expected to run out for Sunday’s decider.
Sydney Roosters
1. James Tedesco
2. Daniel Tupou
3. Latrell Mitchell
4. Joseph Manu
5. Brett Morris
6. Luke Keary
7. Cooper Cronk
8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
9. Sam Verrills
10. Isaac Liu
11. Boyd Cordner (c)
12. Mitchell Aubusson
13. Victor Radley
Bench
14. Angus Crichton
15. Zane Tetevano
16. Nat Butcher
17. Siosiua Taukeiaho
Reserves
18. Lindsay Collins
19. Drew Hutchison
20. Jake Friend (c)
21. Ryan Hall
Canberra Raiders
1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
2. Nick Cotric
3. Jarrod Croker (c)
4. Joseph Leilua
5. Jordan Rapana
6. Jack Wighton
7. Aidan Sezer
8. Josh Papalii
9. Josh Hodgson
10. Iosia Soliola
11. John Bateman
12. Elliott Whitehead
13. Joseph Tapine
Bench
14. Bailey Simonsson
15. Emre Guler
16. Corey Horsburgh
17. Dunamis Lui
Reserves
18. Sam Williams
19. Ryan Sutton
20. Siliva Havili
21. Sebastian Kris
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