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Roosters v Tigers: Hutchison to start; Maumalo ready to wing it

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The Roosters' five-game winning streak has carried them in to the top eight and has them poised to play finals footy for the sixth year in a row.

With James Tedesco in supreme form and their forwards doing a mighty job in the middle, the Roosters are looking every bit a serious title contender, but they still have some significant challenges ahead.

Most expect them to roll over the top of the struggling Tigers on Saturday night but the Storm and Rabbitohs will offer far sterner tests in the final two games of the regular season.

Having dropped to last on the back of their loss to Cronulla, the Tigers must dig deep against the Roosters, Dragons and Raiders in their last three games if they are to avoid the joint venture's first ever wooden spoon.

Sportsbet Betting preview: Roosters v Wests Tigers

The Rundown

Team news

Roosters: Drew Hutchison will start at centre in a late switch with mid-season recruit Oliver Gildart, who reverts to the bench in his club debut. Paul Momirovski dropped out on Friday. Big men Lindsay Collins (concussion) and Siosiua Taukeiaho (cheekbone) remain sidelined.

Wests Tigers: The Tigers are 1-17 with no late changes. Ken Maumalo returns from a knee injury so Starford To'a moves to the centres and James Roberts drops out. Alex Seyfarth has been added to the bench and Tyrone Peachey goes to the reserves. Stefano Utoikamanu (wrist) and Luke Brooks (calf) are not expected back until Round 24 at the earliest.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Roosters is number 1 James Tedesco
    Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Daine Laurie
  • Winger for Roosters is number 2 Daniel Tupou
    Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 Brent Naden
  • Centre for Roosters is number 4 Joseph Manu
    Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Starford To'a
  • Centre for Roosters is number 16 Drew Hutchison
    Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Asu Kepaoa
  • Winger for Roosters is number 5 Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i
    Winger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Ken Maumalo
  • Five-Eighth for Roosters is number 6 Luke Keary
    Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Adam Doueihi
  • Halfback for Roosters is number 7 Sam Walker
    Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Jock Madden

Forwards

  • Prop for Roosters is number 8 Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
    Prop for Wests Tigers is number 8 James Tamou
  • Hooker for Roosters is number 9 Sam Verrills
    Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Fa'amanu Brown
  • Prop for Roosters is number 10 Matthew Lodge
    Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 Zane Musgrove
  • 2nd Row for Roosters is number 11 Angus Crichton
    2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Luke Garner
  • 2nd Row for Roosters is number 12 Nat Butcher
    2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Kelma Tuilagi
  • Lock for Roosters is number 13 Victor Radley
    Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Joe  Ofahengaue 

Interchange

  • Interchange for Roosters is number 14 Connor Watson
    Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Fonua Pole
  • Interchange for Roosters is number 15 Egan Butcher
    Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Austin Dias
  • Interchange for Roosters is number 17 Terrell May
    Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Tom Freebairn
  • Interchange for Roosters is number 20 Oliver Gildart
    Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Alex Seyfarth

Reserves

  • Replacement for Roosters is number 19 Fletcher Baker
    Replacement for Wests Tigers is number 18 Jake Simpkin

Match Officials

  • Referee: Ben Cummins
  • Touch Judge: Dave Munro
  • Senior Review Official: Chris Butler

Last updated:

Key match-up

Luke Keary v Adam Doueihi: Different size, different styles but both No.6s are critical to their team's chances. Since returning to the field in Round 19, Keary has helped orchestrate convincing wins over Newcstle, Manly, Brisbane and the Cowboys, finding his groove with halfback Sam Walker and igniting plenty of raids down the Roosters' left edge. Doueihi only started his season in Round 15 after a knee reconstruction but his running game and powerful boot have added a new dimension to the Tigers. For all his efforts, the Tigers have tasted victory just once in eight games since he came back and that will not sit well with the ultra-competitive Doueihi.

Stat Attack

The Roosters have racked up 182 points in the past five games at a tick over 36 per game. Their season average is 24.7ppg. The Tigers average just 15 points per game across the entire year with 314 points in 21 games. Only the Knights have scored less points in 2022 with 308.

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National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.

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