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Dragons v Roosters: Leilua, Stewart return; Walker's back
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Dragons v Roosters: Leilua, Stewart return; Walker's back

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ljmpta.com
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With one win between seventh on the ladder and 11th, the heat is rising on the five sides in that logjam.

The Dragons have won just one of their past four and sit in 11th while the Roosters slipped to ninth on the back of a disappointing loss to Wests Tigers. 

The Roosters will be sweating on the availability of their Origin reps Angus Crichton, Rob Toia, Lindsay Collins, Spencer Leniu and Connor Watson, all of whom will no doubt be keen to back up to try and help their side to a crucial win.

When the two sides clashed on Anzac Day it was the Roosters doing a job on the Red V in a 46-18 triumph and the boys from Bondi will go in as warm favourites to repeat the dose at Kogarah.

Team News

Dragons: Maroons star Val Holmes has been named to back up from Origin Three so Corey Allan goes to 18th man. Back-rowers Luciano Leilua (quad) and Hamish Stewart (concussion) are back on deck so Michael Molo reverts to the bench and Viliami Fifita and Loko Pasifiki Tonga drop out. 

Roosters: Gun halfback Sam Walker makes his long-awaited return to the NRL after a thumb injury delayed his comeback after he had recovered from an ACL injury. Centre Billy Smith (knee) and lock Victor Radley (concussion) also return in a further boost for the Bondi boys. Origin reps Rob Toia, Connor Watson, Lindsay Collins, Angus Crichton and Spencer Leniu have all been named to back up following the decider. 

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Clinton Gutherson
    Fullback for Roosters is number 1 James Tedesco
  • Winger for Dragons is number 2 Tyrell Sloan
    Winger for Roosters is number 2 Daniel Tupou
  • Centre for Dragons is number 3 Moses Suli
    Centre for Roosters is number 3 Billy Smith
  • Centre for Dragons is number 4 Valentine Holmes
    Centre for Roosters is number 4 Robert Toia
  • Winger for Dragons is number 5 Sione Finau
    Winger for Roosters is number 5 Mark Nawaqanitawase
  • Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Lyhkan King-Togia
    Five-Eighth for Roosters is number 6 Hugo Savala
  • Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Kyle Flanagan
    Halfback for Roosters is number 7 Sam Walker

Forwards

  • Prop for Dragons is number 8 Emre Guler
    Prop for Roosters is number 8 Naufahu Whyte
  • Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Damien Cook
    Hooker for Roosters is number 9 Connor Watson
  • Prop for Dragons is number 10 David Klemmer
    Prop for Roosters is number 10 Lindsay Collins
  • 2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Luciano Leilua
    2nd Row for Roosters is number 11 Angus Crichton
  • 2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Jaydn Su'A
    2nd Row for Roosters is number 12 Salesi Foketi
  • Lock for Dragons is number 13 Jack De Belin
    Lock for Roosters is number 13 Victor Radley

Interchange

  • Interchange for Dragons is number 14 Jacob Liddle
    Interchange for Roosters is number 14 Zach Dockar-Clay
  • Interchange for Dragons is number 15 Hamish Stewart
    Interchange for Roosters is number 15 Blake Steep
  • Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Blake Lawrie
    Interchange for Roosters is number 16 Egan Butcher
  • Interchange for Dragons is number 17 Michael Molo
    Interchange for Roosters is number 17 Spencer Leniu

Reserves

  • Replacement for Dragons is number 18 Corey Allan
    Replacement for Roosters is number 18 Ethan King
  • Reserve for Dragons is number 19 Loko Pasifiki Tonga
    Reserve for Roosters is number 19 Taylor Losalu
  • Reserve for Dragons is number 20 Lachlan Ilias
    Reserve for Roosters is number 20 Sandon Smith
  • Reserve for Dragons is number 21 Viliami Fifita
    Reserve for Roosters is number 21 Benaiah Ioelu
  • Reserve for Dragons is number 22 Nick Tsougranis
    Reserve for Roosters is number 22 Max McCathie
  • Reserve for Roosters is number 23 Tom Rodwell
  • Reserve for Roosters is number 24 Makahesi Makatoa

Dragons Ins

  • Hamish Stewart
  • Lachlan Ilias
  • Luciano Leilua
  • Valentine Holmes

Roosters Ins

  • Angus Crichton
  • Billy Smith
  • Connor Watson
  • Lindsay Collins
  • Robert Toia
  • Sam Walker
  • Spencer Leniu
  • Victor Radley

Dragons Outs

Roosters Ins

  • Ben Johnson
  • De La Salle Va'a

Last updated:

Stat Attack

  • The Dragons have won four of their past five games at home.
  • The Roosters have won 12 of their past 14 games against the Dragons.
  • The Dragons have conceded 134 points in their past four games.
  • Roosters fullback James Tedesco has scored nine tries in his last six games against the Dragons.
  • Dragons second-rower Jaydn Su’A will make his 150th NRL appearance.

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

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