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Roosters v Cowboys: Tedesco out, Manu fullback; Chester hamstrung

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With both clubs hit hard by Origin selections, Sunday’s clash between the Roosters and Cowboys will be a battle of squad depth as much as anything else as they each look to extend current winning runs. 

North Queensland will be minus their two co-captains Tom Dearden and Reuben Cotter, who are joined by Murray Taulagi, Valentine Holmes and Jeremiah Nanai in Maroons camp, while hooker Reece Robson is with the Blues.

The Roosters are heaviest hit in the pack, with key big men Lindsay Collins, Angus Crichton and Spencer Leniu all called away for state duty, while versatile outside back Joseph Sua'ali’i is out too. They also lost James Tedesco at the 11th hour after he was called into the team as a late replacement for Dylan Edwards.

The Tricolours bounced back from a Magic Round loss to the Sharks in convincing fashion last week with a 44-16 trouncing of the Raiders. 

Todd Payten’s Cowboys, meanwhile, can make it three in a row with a victory at Allianz Stadium, where in its previous life as the Sydney Football Stadium, they won just eight times in 23 trips.

North Queensland’s 20-6 win over the Roosters last year snapped a prior five-game winless run against them.

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Team News

Roosters: No further changes after James Tedesco was ruled out by the Roosters and called into the Blues Origin camp following an injury to Dylan Edwards. Luke Keary, who was in NSW camp as a backup option to Nicho Hynes, has also been released from state duty for the game and will play at five-eighth. Joey Manu will go to fullback with Michael Jennings called into the centres, while Blake Steep debuts off the bench.

Cowboys: A late change sees young gun Tom Chester ruled out (hamstring) with 18-year-old Jaxon Purdue called into the starting side to make his NRL debut at centre. Braidon Burns gets another shot on the wing after an impressive club debut in Round 11 while Thomas Duffy is 18th man.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Roosters is number 4 Joseph Manu
    Fullback for Cowboys is number 1 Scott Drinkwater 
  • Winger for Roosters is number 2 Daniel Tupou
    Winger for Cowboys is number 2 Kyle Feldt
  • Centre for Roosters is number 3 Fetalaiga Pauga
    Centre for Cowboys is number 4 Viliami Vailea
  • Centre for Roosters is number 17 Michael Jennings
    Centre for Cowboys is number 22 Jaxon Purdue
  • Winger for Roosters is number 5 Dominic Young
    Winger for Cowboys is number 5 Braidon Burns
  • Five-Eighth for Roosters is number 6 Luke Keary
    Five-Eighth for Cowboys is number 6 Jake Clifford
  • Halfback for Roosters is number 7 Sam Walker
    Halfback for Cowboys is number 7 Chad Townsend

Forwards

  • Prop for Roosters is number 8 Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
    Prop for Cowboys is number 8 Jordan McLean
  • Hooker for Roosters is number 9 Brandon Smith
    Hooker for Cowboys is number 9 Jake Granville
  • Prop for Roosters is number 10 Terrell May
    Prop for Cowboys is number 10 Griffin Neame
  • 2nd Row for Roosters is number 11 Nat Butcher
    2nd Row for Cowboys is number 11 Heilum Luki
  • 2nd Row for Roosters is number 12 Victor Radley
    2nd Row for Cowboys is number 12 Kulikefu  Finefeuiaki
  • Lock for Roosters is number 13 Naufahu Whyte
    Lock for Cowboys is number 13 Thomas Mikaele

Interchange

  • Interchange for Roosters is number 14 Sandon Smith
    Interchange for Cowboys is number 14 Sam McIntyre
  • Interchange for Roosters is number 15 Siua Wong
    Interchange for Cowboys is number 15 Harrison Edwards
  • Interchange for Roosters is number 16 Sitili Tupouniua
    Interchange for Cowboys is number 16 Jamal Shibasaki
  • Interchange for Roosters is number 19 Blake Steep
    Interchange for Cowboys is number 17 Jason Taumalolo

Reserves

  • Replacement for Roosters is number 18 Zach Dockar-Clay
    Replacement for Cowboys is number 19 Thomas Duffy

Match Officials

  • Referee: Gerard Sutton
  • Touch Judge: Dave Munro
  • Touch Judge: Wyatt Raymond
  • Senior Review Official: Adam Gee

Last updated:

Stat Attack

  • The Cowboys have lost three of their past four games at Sydney venues.
  • Roosters centre Joseph Manu has scored six tries in his past five games.
  • The Cowboys have scored 70 points in their past two games.
  • Roosters halfback Sam Walker has scored 58 points in his past four games at Allianz Stadium.

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services,  

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Acknowledgement of Country

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.