Round 7 vs Roosters

[Saint_JimmyG]

I know the copy and paste is coming every week but its still hard to swallow when it happens.
Another week of Lomax sitting on the bench.
Another week without a specialist goal kicker.
Its incredibly frustrating.

I would use something a lot stronger.

 

[getsmarty]

Behind enemy lines: Round 7 (Anzac Cup)
Author
Dragons.com.au dragons.com.au
Timestamp
Tue 23 Apr 2019, 06:54 PM

Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson has named his mandatory 21-man squad to face the St George Illawarra Dragons at the Sydney Cricket Ground for the traditional Anzac Day clash.

Luke Keary (concussion) has been ruled out. Latrell Mitchell has shifted to five-eighth in Keary's absence and replaced in the centres by the returning Joseph Manu (suspension).

The Roosters have received a timely boost in the front row however with prop Siosiua Taukeiaho and hooker Jake Friend named to return.

Victor Radley moves from dummy half to lock, with Zane Tetevano to come off the bench. Lindsay Collins is 18th man and Josh Curran hasn't been named.

Lachlan Lam also replaces Sam Verrills in the 17.

Sydney Roosters squad to face St George Illawarra Dragons –

1. James Tedesco

2. Daniel Tupou

3. Joseph Manu

4. Mitchell Aubusson

5. Matt Ikuvalu

6. Latrell Mitchell

7. Cooper Cronk

8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves

9. Jake Friend (c)

10. Siosiua Taukeiaho

11. Boyd Cordner

12. Angus Crichton

13. Victor Radley

Interchange:

14. Nat Butcher

15. Zane Tetevano

16. Sitili Tupouniua

17. Lachlan Lam

18. Lindsay Collins

19. Poasa Faamausili

20. Brock Lamb

21. Sam Verrills


https://www.dragons.com.au/news/2019/04/23/behind-enemy-lines-anzac-day-round-7/

 

[getsmarty]

St George Illawarra prepared for unsettled Sydney Roosters in Anzac Day clash

• Cameron Mee

Dragons Den

Ruled out: Sydney Roosters five-eighth Luke Keary. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts.

St George Illawarra are preparing to face an unsettled Sydney Roosters side on Thursday after the premiers were forced to reshuffle their lineup for the annual Anzac Day clash.

Luke Keary will miss the match after suffering a concussion in last week's win over the Storm, with Latrell Mitchell moving to five-eighth and Mitchell Aubusson into the centres. In positive news for the Roosters, co-captain Jake Friend will return to the team after missing the last three matches.

Dragons coach Paul McGregor has no such concerns, with the newly-re-signed leader naming an unchanged lineup to the side that secured a two-point victory over Manly on Saturday night.

Thursday's clash will see six Dragons lining up in their first Anzac Day fixture for the club, with Corey Norman, Jordan Pereira and Blake Lawrie among that group.

New challenge: Jordan Pereira will play his first Anzac Day game on Thursday. Picture: AAP Image/Darren Pateman.

For Pereira, who is in just his second season of NRL, the opportunity to play on a day with so much meaning is an honour and a privilege.

"I'm anticipating it to be similar to a finals atmosphere," Pereira said. "I'm just taking it like it's just another game, try not let the noise affect me.

"But to be a part of something that means so much to where I'm from in New Zealand, and as well as here, it adds that special element to it."

"It will be like that finals atmosphere, but I think a fair bit more passionate."

Pereira will line up opposite Roosters winger Matt Ikuvalu, who will play just his eighth game in the NRL on Thursday after coming into the side to replace the injured Brett Morris in round three.

With Ikuvalu a relative unknown for most rugby league fans, Pereira concedes he too doesn't know too much about the man he will oppose at the SCG.

Read more: Dragons ready for Anzac Day test

"I haven't done the video yet, I don't watch football. I wait until we do our homework and we go from there.

"I suppose it'll be like you guys reading the paper, maybe you don't like doing it, or maybe you do, I'm not sure. I like to take my mind as far away from football.

"It's real consuming this sport, especially the professional environment, it's mentally taxing and I've found personally it's good to clear my head and do stuff with my fiancee that's not football related."

"Normally I'm trying to recover, so I'm just going to the beach, or if we just go on a bush walk, I try to find a local swimming hole, there's heaps throughout the Illawarra area."


https://www.illawarramercury.com.au...d-sydney-roosters-in-anzac-day-clash/?cs=3713

 

[getsmarty]

Dragons prepared for Sydney Roosters Anzac Day test

• Cameron Mee

Dragons Den

Leading the charge: Paul Vaughan has been among the Dragons best throughout their four-game winning streak. Picture: AAP Image/Dean Lewins.


The St George Illawarra Dragons don't need to be told they face a challenge on Thursday afternoon.

Like most within rugby league circles, Dragons players are labelling the Sydney Roosters the NRL's benchmark through the opening six weeks of the season.

But while some may view Thursday's Anzac Day clash as a daunting prospect, the Dragons are viewing it as an opportunity.

An opportunity to make a statement on the biggest stage of the regular season.

Given the importance of Thursday's match, Dragons co-captain Tyson Frizell is confident his teammates will turn up ready to fire at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

"It's such a privilege to be able to play on this day," Frizell said from Hyde Park War Memorial.

"All us players circle it in the calendar and want to be a part of it. Both teams really rise to the occasion and what it means to be able to play on that day.

"We get to play out on the SCG this year, I've only played out there a couple of times and never played in front of a packed stadium there. It will be pretty special to go out there and play."

After a slow start to the year, the Dragons have turned their season around with four-straight wins to climb to sixth on the ladder and ensure this week's match will be a high-quality clash between two in-form teams.

Leading the charge throughout the winning streak has been Paul Vaughan, the representative prop ranked third among all forwards in the NRL for running metres.

Heading into his third Anzac Day match, Vaughan is looking forward to another challenging encounter against what he described as an international-calibre team.


"They've got a great forward pack there," Vaughan said. "With Hargreaves, Siosiua Taukeiaho, he's an absolute beast. You look across the whole park and it's like an international team from one to 13, even one to 17.

"It's been well documented that we've been down a couple of players at the start of the season, so as a forward pack, we've got a massive job to do.

"It's going to be one of those games where it's going to be a tight one, both forward packs are going to be getting stuck into other other.

"It's going to be one of those games where if we can get the upper hand throughout the middle, it will let the backs do the ball playing."

The Dragons face a limited preparation for the crucial game, having survived a gruelling clash with Manly in Wollongong on Saturday night.

To Frizell, that short turnaround makes it even more crucial that St George Illawarra get their preparation right.

"The Roosters are probably the standout team in terms of their performances so far," Frizell said. "We can't really worry about them too much this week, we've got a short preparation.

"In a short preparation you need to really focus on yourselves as a team. They're going to be up for the game and we're going to be up for the game, we're really looking forward to it."


https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/6083933/dragons-prepared-for-anzac-day-test/?cs=3713

 

[getsmarty]

Roosters v Dragons: Keary out, Friend in; Red V unchanged
Author
NRL.com
Timestamp
Tue 23 Apr 2019, 04:01 PM

The Roosters came, saw, and conquered in last week's grand final re-match with Melbourne, sending a firm reminder to everyone that the road to the premiership runs through Bondi.

A head injury to Luke Keary was a concern for coach Trent Robinson but the premiers showed once again their knack for covering important positions when key men go down.

They boast some of the most lethal players in the game - Tedesco, Mitchell - and are playing much better than they were this time last year but can't drop their guard in Thursday's annual Anzac Day showdown.

The Dragons beat the Roosters 24-8 in last year's Anzac Day game and have won four in a row after dropping their first two games in 2019. They won't mind being the underdogs on Thursday.


Match: Roosters v Dragons

Round 7 - Thursday 25th April

4:05pm

Home Team

Roosters

2nd Position


Away Team

Dragons

6th Position

Venue: Sydney Cricket Ground

Match broadcasters:

• Nine Network
• Foxtel
• LIVE PASS
• KAYO

Buy Tickets
The Rundown
Team news
Roosters: Luke Keary has been ruled out as he recovers from concussion. Latrell Mitchell will wear the No.6 jersey, with Joseph Manu back to partner Mitch Aubusson in the centres. Jake Friend returns from an injury layoff to start at hooker, while Victor Radley switches to lock. Zane Tetevano is on the bench and Lachlan Lam is also on the bench in place of Sam Verrills.

Dragons: Not a single change for coach Paul McGregor, with the same 17-man team named for a shot at a fifth straight win. The Dragons hold bragging rights after a 24-8 triumph over the Roosters in last year's Anzac Day clash.


Match: Roosters v Dragons

Round 7 - Thursday 25th April

4:05pm

Home Team

Roosters


Away Team

Dragons

Venue:Sydney Cricket Ground

Team Lists
Backs

• Fullback for Roosters is number 1 James Tedesco
  1
  
  Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Matthew Dufty
• Winger for Roosters is number 2 Daniel Tupou
  2
  
  Winger for Dragons is number 2 Jordan Pereira
• Centre for Roosters is number 4 Joseph Manu
  4 3
  
  Centre for Dragons is number 3 Euan Aitken
• Centre for Roosters is number 3 Mitchell Aubusson
  3 4
  
  Centre for Dragons is number 4 Timoteo Lafai
• Winger for Roosters is number 5 Matt Ikuvalu
  5
  
  Winger for Dragons is number 5 Mikaele Ravalawa
• Five-Eighth for Roosters is number 6 Latrell Mitchell
  6
  
  Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Corey Norman
• Halfback for Roosters is number 7 Cooper Cronk
  7
  
  Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Ben Hunt

Forwards

• Prop for Roosters is number 8 Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
  8
  
  Prop for Dragons is number 8 James Graham
• Hooker for Roosters is number 9 Jake Friend
  9
  
  Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Cameron McInnes
• Prop for Roosters is number 10 Siosiua Taukeiaho
  10
  
  Prop for Dragons is number 10 Paul Vaughan
• 2nd Row for Roosters is number 11 Boyd Cordner
  11
  
  2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Tyson Frizell
• 2nd Row for Roosters is number 12 Angus Crichton
  12
  
  2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Tariq Sims
• Lock for Roosters is number 13 Victor Radley
  13
  
  Lock for Dragons is number 13 Blake Lawrie

Interchange

• Interchange for Roosters is number 14 Nat Butcher
  14
  
  Interchange for Dragons is number 14 Jeremy Latimore
• Interchange for Roosters is number 15 Zane Tetevano
  15
  
  Interchange for Dragons is number 15 Zac Lomax
• Interchange for Roosters is number 16 Sitili Tupouniua
  16
  
  Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Jacob Host
• Interchange for Roosters is number 17 Lachlan Lam
  17
  
  Interchange for Dragons is number 17 Luciano Leilua

Reserves

• Reserve for Roosters is number 18 Lindsay Collins
  18
  
  Reserve for Dragons is number 18 Mitchell Allgood
• Reserve for Roosters is number 19 Poasa Faamausili
  19
  
  Reserve for Dragons is number 19 Jai Field
• Reserve for Roosters is number 20 Brock Lamb
  20
  
  Reserve for Dragons is number 20 Lachlan Timm
• Reserve for Roosters is number 21 Sam Verrills
  21
  
  Reserve for Dragons is number 21 Jonus Pearson

Roosters Ins

• Brock Lamb
• Jake Friend
• Joseph Manu
• Lachlan Lam
• Poasa Faamausili
• Siosiua Taukeiaho

Ins
Dragons Ins

• Jai Field
• Jonus Pearson
• Lachlan Timm
• Mitchell Allgood

Roosters Outs

• Joshua Curran
• Luke Keary

Outs
Dragons Ins

Key match-up
Plenty hinges on the clash between halves Cooper Cronk and Ben Hunt, but Tim Lafai has a truly tough job on his hands trying to subdue Roosters centre Latrell Mitchell, who has shrugged off a relatively slow start to the season to be back in peak form. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves' battle with old hard-head James Graham should also be a beauty.

For the Roosters to win
Trent Robinson was pumping his fists when Mitchell nailed the match-winning field goal in extra time against the Storm but it would've been an entirely different picture if his team had lost after leading 20-0. The Roosters have to rid themselves of their tendency to fall asleep in the second half after charging out to comfortable leads.

For the Dragons to win
They need to keep the Roosters in their own half as much as possible via a pinpoint kicking game and must play with discipline. Shutting down second-phase play is crucial, especially when Keary and Tedesco are lurking. The outside backs will have to be defensively alert for 80 minutes.

Brett Kimmorley says
Due to the aura of Anzac Day, it is a great honour for the players to be involved in this match. Latrell Mitchell was amazing last week and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves was also back to his best. Hopefully Luke Keary will be fine to play. For the Dragons, they’ve been fighting their way to wins. The forward battle will be amazing. Whatever pack wins, their haves will have time to play footy. Roosters by 2

Stat Attack
Latrell Mitchell is the NRL's top point-scorer (57) after six rounds and has kicked the most goals (24), while Luke Keary is tops in try assists (9) and support play (120). On the flip-side, Mitchell has given away a league-high 12 penalties.

And another thing ...
The Dragons were going so well 12 months ago that the Anzac Day game was billed as a possible grand final preview. It was half right. The Roosters clicked into turbo over the second half of the season and went on to claim the title. The Dragons hit the wall heading into the post-season before shocking the Broncos in Brisbane in week one of the finals and almost upstaging the Rabbitohs before a late-game meltdown.



https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/04/23/roosters-v-dragons-round-7-preview/

 

[Dennis Papaioannou]

Cleary isnt named for the Roosters. Mitchell to 5/8 with Aubusson at centre.
Lachlam Lam has been brought in to the 17, wouldnt surorised to see a late change to the starting line-up for them

Sounds like mind games to me...Keary will most likely play

 

[Glenn012]

Sounds like mind games to me...Keary will most likely play

They are scared we are going to burst their bubble.

 

[Dennis Papaioannou]

It helps insofar as Mitchell is playing out of position but to be honest, I don't buy the hype around Keary. He plays well when Rorters forwards are dominating but I was interested to see how he would go against our superior forwards. I backed him to stink it up like a certain 5/8 did for us in tough games for many years. But we need JDB and Sims back to really ram home the advantage over the Rorters, Melbourne and Canberra.

The only problem with the Mitchell positional change is that Manu comes back into the side at centre.
One of the best in the comp and will terrorize our centre pairing.
While everyone is worrying about Mitchell, Manu and others will be creating major challenges.
Their forwards have been strengthened by the return of Friend and Taukeiaho but especially Radley moving back to lock.

 

[Glenn012]

The only problem with the Mitchell positional change is that Manu comes back into the side at centre.
One of the best in the comp and will terrorize our centre pairing.
While everyone is worrying about Mitchell, Manu and others will be creating major challenges.
Their forwards have been strengthened by the return of Friend and Taukeiaho but especially Radley moving back to lock.

Rorters outside backs are much stronger so we need our forwards to dominate and our halves to dominate off the back of that. Friend and Radley are going to cop a good ol fashioned beating. They instill zero fear. Taukeiaho will be gassed after 10min. Still, it would make me feel much more confident if McGregor selected Timm instead of Latimore and better still if we had JDB and K. Sims on deck.

 

[possm]

Rorters outside backs are much stronger so we need our forwards to dominate and our halves to dominate off the back of that. Friend and Radley are going to cop a good ol fashioned beating. They instill zero fear. Taukeiaho will be gassed after 10min. Still, it would make me feel much more confident if McGregor selected Timm instead of Latimore and better still if we had JDB and K. Sims on deck.

In our last match - against Manly - our forwards did get on top and our halves did their job but still our outside backs were largely ineffective and clunky in attack.

I'm afraid more of the same against Easts. We need the rub of the green and more than our share of the 50/50 calls to win.

No matter how bad Aitken and Rav play, Mary has shown us is stubbon mindset and will not bring about change even if we lose badly.

 

[gitano]

In our last match - against Manly - our forwards did get on top and our halves did their job but still our outside backs were largely ineffective and clunky in attack.

I'm afraid more of the same against Easts. We need the rub of the green and more than our share of the 50/50 calls to win.

No matter how bad Aitken and Rav play, Mary has shown us is stubbon mindset and will not bring about change even if we lose badly.

Clunky in attack naturally. A lot of dew on the surface and a defensive line big on cutting down our backs time.

Even the Harlem Globetrotters would tuck it under the arm there. Very narrow minded criticism based on proving your misguided agenda

 

[Crush]

I said it elsewhere a while back but the only way we beat the Roosters is to rattle them with heaps of second phase footy. Offloads galore. Running on the last. Forty twenties.
If we employ the high completion power game we lose. They have too much class, they won't beat themselves.
We have to throw caution to the wind, if we lose we lose but with 4 hit ups and kick down Tedesco throat we lose anyway.

 

[Dennis Papaioannou]

I said it elsewhere a while back but the only way we beat the Roosters is to rattle them with heaps of second phase footy. Offloads galore. Running on the last. Forty twenties.
If we employ the high completion power game we lose. They have too much class, they won't beat themselves.
We have to throw caution to the wind, if we lose we lose but with 4 hit ups and kick down Tedesco throat we lose anyway.

Sounds like a good game plan every week...
Fans will love it!

 

[Crush]

Sounds like a good game plan every week...
Fans will love it!

I actually don't think this game plab should be employed every week, its high risk footy and will lose you games in the long run.
Against the lesser teams we need to play high completion footy and grind them into the gound, they mostly beat themselves those teams.
Against the very top teams though such as Roosters, Storm, Sharks, Bunnies they need to play some footy to win.
Horses for courses.

 

[Dennis Papaioannou]

I actually don't think this game plab should be employed every week, its high risk footy and will lose you games in the long run.
Against the lesser teams we need to play high completion footy and grind them into the gound, they mostly beat themselves those teams.
Against the very top teams though such as Roosters, Storm, Sharks, Bunnies they need to play some footy to win.
Horses for courses.

Our track record against the also rans playing our normal style of footy is pretty ordinary.
Think about some of the games we have lost in recent years.
2017 lost to Newcastle (wooden spooners), Titans and Canterbury in quick succession to bomb out of the finals.
Last year we lost (got flogged actually) by Parramatta (wooden spooners) and Canterbury (flogged in front of our home fans) late in the season.
In all those examples, we were the ones that beat ourselves, not our lowly opposition.
As a fan, I would rather lose the occasional game watching attractive football every week than some of the snooze fest games we get served up.

 

[Water11]

We'll be flogged. We are nowhere near them with moron in charge, we never will be. Argh….

 

[giboz71]

We'll be flogged. We are nowhere near them with moron in charge, we never will be. Argh….

Did you not watch last year's game?

Pretty sure Mary was in charge that day.

 

[Brutalitops]

Sounds like mind games to me...Keary will most likely play

He's not named in the 21 so it's impossible.

 

[Brutalitops]

We'll be flogged. We are nowhere near them with moron in charge, we never will be. Argh….

I mean, Robinson is 1000 times the coach Mary is, and we still convincingly beat them in the corresponding fixture last year.

We always lift for ANZAC Day. Roosters aren't unbeatable, they trail off in the second half. We are a chance.

 

[giboz71]

I mean, Robinson is 1000 times the coach Mary is, and we still convincingly beat them in the corresponding fixture last year.

We always lift for ANZAC Day. Roosters aren't unbeatable, they trail off in the second half. We are a chance.

Mary is actually 3 wins from 4 games since he's been coach. Only loss was 2017 when Pearce beat us in golden point when Widdop went off injured.

We are always a good chance in this game.