Match Discussion: Round 7 vs Sydney @ Allianz Stadium, Moore Park / Gadigal

[League Unlimited News]

NRL 2026 - Round 7
Sydney Roosters v Newcastle Knights
Allianz Stadium, Moore Park / Gadigal (TICKETS)

Sunday 19 April 2026
Kickoff 2:00pm AEST
Live on Fox League, Kayo Sports

1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Hugo Savala 4. Robert Toia 5. Mark Nawaqanitawase 6. Daly Cherry-Evans 7. Sam Walker 8. Naufahu Whyte 9. Reece Robson 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Angus Crichton 12. Siua Wong 13. Victor Radley 14. Connor Watson 15. Spencer Leniu 16. Nat Butcher 17. Salesi Foketi 18. Cody Ramsey 19. Tommy Talau 20. Benaiah Ioelu 21. Egan Butcher 22. Billy Smith

Changes from last match:
In: Cody Ramsey (bench), Tommy Talau (bench)

1. Fletcher Sharpe 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Fletcher Hunt 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Sandon Smith 7. Dylan Brown 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Trey Mooney 11. Thomas Cant 12. Jermaine McEwen 13. Mathew Croker 14. Harrison Graham 15. Pasami Saulo 16. Cody Hopwood 17. Francis Manuleleua 18. Kyle McCarthy 19. Peter Hola 20. Tyson Gamble 21. Elijah Leaumoana 22. James Schiller

Changes from last match:
Out: Wilson De Courcey (centre), Dylan Lucas (second row), Tyson Frizell (bench)
In: Dylan Brown (halfback), Cody Hopwood (bench), Francis Manuleleua (bench), Kyle McCarthy (bench), Peter Hola (bench)
Changes: Fletcher Hunt (fullback to centre), Fletcher Sharpe (five-eighth to fullback), Sandon Smith (halfback to five-eighth), Thomas Cant (bench to second row)

Referee: Ashley Klein
Sideline Officials: Kasey Badger, Drew Oultram
Video Referee: Chris Butler

HEAD TO HEAD - 1988 - 2025​

	TOTAL	SYDNEY	NEWCASTLE	DRAWN
ALL MATCHES	62	39	21	2
ALLIANZ	0	0	0	0

LAST FIVE MEETINGS​

YEAR	ROUND	RESULT	VENUE	CROWD
2022	Round 1	NEWCASTLE 20-6	SCG	14710
2022	Round 19	SYDNEY 42-12	McD. Jones	13701
2023	Round 16	SYDNEY 18-16	McD. Jones	21966
2024	Round 6	SYDNEY 22-20	McD. Jones	21940
2025	Round 15	SYDNEY 12-8	McD. Jones	24849

BIGGEST WINS​

YEAR	ROUND	RESULT	VENUE	CROWD
2000	Round 22	NEWCASTLE 46-12	Marathon	15394
2001	Qualifying Final	NEWCASTLE 40-6	Marathon	22061
2004	Round 15	SYDNEY 48-4	Aussie	11678

NEXT FOUR MATCHES​

	Round 8	Round 9	Round 10	Round 11
SYDNEY	ST GEO ILLA (A)	BRISBANE (H)	GOLD COAST (H)	NORTH QLD (H)
NEWCASTLE	PENRITH (H)	SOUTH SYDNEY (H)	ST GEO ILLA (A)	GOLD COAST (A)

LAST THREE MATCHES​

	Round 4		Round 5		Round 6
SYDNEY	MANLY	W 33-16	(BYE)		CRONULLA	W 34-22
NEWCASTLE	CANTERBURY	W 24-16	CANBERRA	W 32-12	WESTS TIGERS	L 22-42

STATE OF PLAY: 2026 SEASON​

	POSITION	PLAYED	BYES	W-L-D	FOR	AGAINST
SYDNEY	8th	5	1	3-2-0	115	138
NEWCASTLE	5th	6	0	4-2-0	154	142

 

[The Axe of Druss]

Hopefully the boys bounce back and dont have 2 awful performances in a row

 

[League Unlimited News]

1. Fletcher Sharpe 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Fletcher Hunt 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Sandon Smith 7. Dylan Brown 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Trey Mooney 11. Thomas Cant 12. Jermaine McEwen 13. Mathew Croker 14. Harrison Graham 15. Pasami Saulo 16. Cody Hopwood 17. Francis Manuleleua 18. Kyle McCarthy 19. Peter Hola 20. Tyson Gamble 21. Elijah Leaumoana 22. James Schiller

Changes from last match:
Out: Wilson De Courcey (centre), Dylan Lucas (second row), Tyson Frizell (bench)
In: Dylan Brown (halfback), Cody Hopwood (bench), Francis Manuleleua (bench), Kyle McCarthy (bench), Peter Hola (bench)
Changes: Fletcher Hunt (fullback to centre), Fletcher Sharpe (five-eighth to fullback), Sandon Smith (halfback to five-eighth), Thomas Cant (bench to second row)

NRL TEAMS & OFFICIALS - 2026 Round 7 » League Unlimited

leagueunlimited.com

 

[ryan.a87]

It’s actually wild to see the coach name the most logical team we can pick with the troops we have

AOB would have stuck we DeCoursey for sure

 

[K-Man]

I still don't understand Cant, but he was obviously getting promoted off the bench for this one. Other than that it's a team that makes sense with the players available. Hunt will probably struggle defensively at centre again, but there's nobody else to play there so it has to at least be the guy with some of the requisite qualities for an outside back. He'll give it everything, we know that.

Unfortunately I think we will get eaten alive up the middle and then easily exposed on the edges - particularly our left side again. Toia and Nawaqanitawase are going to have a field day.

I'm also not sure what ESL has done wrong from showing promise in the NRL last season to continually being leapfrogged by other forwards. Now even Hola is ahead of him. Yet ESL is captain of the NSW Cup team, clearly superior at that level, and has experience with loads of upside.

 

[MakeItStop85]

Yeah this is going to get UGLY….

Roosters 62-4

Marky Mark to bag 6 tries

 

[mozza91]

Team looks decent considering the outs. Chooks are beatable. Just need to bring the effort we did against the Dogs and Raiders and match them in the middle.

 

[Zoidberg]

Yeah this is going to get UGLY….

Roosters 62-4

Marky Mark to bag 6 tries

Okay

 

[Woody90]

Yeah this is going to get UGLY….

Roosters 62-4

Marky Mark to bag 6 tries

Can you go “support” another team please. You’re boring.

 

[perverse]

I actually think the spine is better this week. Worried about our left edge, and the ever present issue of whether our forwards will do enough or not.

 

[SamSepi0l]

Oh cool. Cant starting. Good good good.

 

[Yosh]

Our left side will be Cant, Hunt, Marzhew. That's a lot of potential errors and missed tackles right there. If they can hold their own, we're in with a real good chance.

 

[The Axe of Druss]

Cant has been pretty good in his time on the field this year, I'm happy for him to get a run and prove he's worthwhile being in the squad. He wouldn't be the 1st whipping boy to come good

 

[mozza91]

Can you go “support” another team please. You’re boring.

He’s not a Knights fan he’s a troll who only posts after losses.

 

[macavity]

On paper that Roosters team should be competing for premierships, and may well be.

Games aren't played on paper, but still, could be a tough outing.

 

[SamSepi0l]

Yep I think this week will be an ugly one. There are signs for hope but out left side is ass. I'll die on my hill with Hunt, I think he has a lot, but he's been playing weeks at fullback and now shifts into a role vs an Origin centre where he has zero combination with winger or edge. Should be great right?

 

[Apey]

I kinda wanted to go to this game but I'm pretty lazy and want to have some hope for a win if I'm traveling to Sydney. Win just to spite me boys?

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

I kinda wanted to go to this game but I'm pretty lazy and want to have some hope for a win if I'm traveling to Sydney. Win just to spite me boys?

I'm not expecting a win but I'm highly considering heading down. I love the game day experience at Allianz. Nothing like walking up from Central and stopping at the many pubs along the way lol

 

[Zoidberg]

GAME DAY BABY!!!
My thoughts keep changing on how this might go. On one hand, we have Brown back and Sharpe going to fullback, then I remember we lost Lucas and Frizz.

 

[K-Man]

If we had Lucas and Best I’d still be relatively confident. At least of a strong performance. But even though I like the look of this spine, I just can’t see how we don’t get steamrolled through the middle and exposed on the edges. This feels like a game where the spine doesn’t get much opportunity and is not really the problem.