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Dragons v Roosters: Bird a late out; JWH missing

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St George Illawarra and Sydney Roosters meet for the second time in a month with the pressure gauge on both sides mounting for contrasting reasons.

The Dragons lost their sixth-straight match against the Cowboys in Round 11 but in an even greater concern it was by a big margin - something they hadn't been doing previously. 

After the club announced Anthony Griffin's departure this week, the Dragons will be looking to hand interim coach Ryan Carr a first-up win when they take on a Roosters side lacking confidence and energy could be the match-up that helps turn results around. 

Meanwhile, the Roosters have lost back-to-back games but in a big concern it's their energy and effort areas that coach Trent Robinson and skipper James Tedesco have labelled the biggest disappointment. 

A star-studded Roosters side has plenty of expectation at the best of times but coming off a record-breaking 48-4 loss to the Panthers and that pressure has amplified following their Magic Round defeat.

With only one point splitting them on Anzac Day, whoever is hungrier to win will come out on top of this one and you would be concerned for the club that doesn't after their past fortnight of results.

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Team news

Dragons: Jack Bird was withdrawn from the squad an hour before kick-off due to knee soreness, prompting Ben Murdoch-Masila to move from the bench to the second row. Jaiyden Hunt is the new man on the interchange. Zac Lomax is back in the centres after a couple of weeks out of the side. 

Roosters: Prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is out with a pectoral strain, so Matt Lodge starts and Nathan Brown joins the bench. A late switch sees Brandon Smith revert to the interchange and Jake Turpin start at hooker. With Joey Manu out with an ankle injury, Luke Keary moves to five-eighth and Drew Hutchison comes in at halfback.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Tyrell Sloan
    Fullback for Roosters is number 1 James Tedesco
  • Winger for Dragons is number 2 Mathew Feagai
    Winger for Roosters is number 2 Corey Allan
  • Centre for Dragons is number 3 Mosese Suli
    Centre for Roosters is number 3 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii
  • Centre for Dragons is number 4 Zac Lomax
    Centre for Roosters is number 4 Billy Smith
  • Winger for Dragons is number 5 Mikaele Ravalawa
    Winger for Roosters is number 5 Jaxson Paulo
  • Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Talatau Amone
    Five-Eighth for Roosters is number 6 Luke Keary
  • Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Ben Hunt
    Halfback for Roosters is number 7 Drew Hutchison

Forwards

  • Prop for Dragons is number 8 Jack De Belin
    Prop for Roosters is number 10 Lindsay Collins
  • Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Jacob Liddle
    Hooker for Roosters is number 14 Jake Turpin
  • Prop for Dragons is number 10 Blake Lawrie
    Prop for Roosters is number 17 Matthew Lodge
  • 2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Jaydn Su'a
    2nd Row for Roosters is number 11 Egan Butcher
  • 2nd Row for Dragons is number 16 Ben Murdoch-Masila
    2nd Row for Roosters is number 12 Sitili Tupouniua
  • Lock for Dragons is number 18 Francis Molo
    Lock for Roosters is number 13 Victor Radley

Interchange

  • Interchange for Dragons is number 14 Jayden Sullivan
    Interchange for Roosters is number 9 Brandon Smith
  • Interchange for Dragons is number 15 Toby Couchman
    Interchange for Roosters is number 15 Nat Butcher
  • Interchange for Dragons is number 17 Josh Kerr
    Interchange for Roosters is number 16 Angus Crichton
  • Interchange for Dragons is number 20 Jaiyden Hunt
    Interchange for Roosters is number 20 Nathan Brown

Reserves

  • Replacement for Dragons is number 19 Moses Mbye
    Replacement for Roosters is number 18 Sandon Smith

Match Officials

  • Referee: Peter Gough
  • Touch Judge: Jon Stone
  • Touch Judge: Kasey Badger
  • Senior Review Official: Chris Butler

Last updated:

Stat Attack

  • The Roosters have won nine of their last 10 games against the Dragons, including a 27-26 win on Anzac Day in April. The Dragons have not defeated the Roosters outside of Anzac Day since the 2010 Grand Final. 
  • James Tedesco has scored three tries in his past two games against the Dragons.
  • Tautau Moga has scored 11 tries in his past seven NRL appearances.
  • Dragons captain Ben Hunt has scored four tries in his past five games at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the 

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