Rotorua Daily Post

Roosters cock-a-hoop as struggling Warriors hit town

After entering the season as one of the premiershi­p favourites, the Warriors have hit a significan­t roadblock in the past month, with their last win coming in Round 5 against the Rabbitohs.

Last year's preliminar­y finalists find themselves in 14th position with three wins, five losses and a draw, and the free-flowing attack that lit up the NRL last season seems to have deserted them.

The Roosters have been the complete opposite in the past fortnight, piling on 60 points against the Dragons on Anzac Day and another 40 to dismantle the Broncos in a statement victory at Suncorp Stadium.

The last time the Roosters accumulate­d 100 points in successive games was 2022 when they beat the

Cowboys 32-18 in Round 22 before smashing Wests Tigers 72-6 in Round 23.

They kept the roll going with an 18-14 win over the Storm in Round 24, part of an eight-game winning streak that catapulted them into the 2022 finals series.

The expected returns of Brandon Smith (calf), Daniel Tupou (knee), Victor Radley (hamstring) and Spencer Leniu (suspension) will give the Roosters even more firepower as they look to get on a similar roll here against a Warriors outfit struggling for confidence and points.

Roosters: Four huge inclusions for the Tricolours, with Daniel Tupou, Jared Waerea-hargreaves and Victor Radley all returning from injury and Spencer Leniu back from suspension. The match will see JWH become the fourth player ever to play 300 games for the Roosters. Junior Pauga, Sitili Tupouniua, Egan Butcher and Siua Wong all make way after being part of last week’s big win over the Broncos.

Warriors: There’s a new-look to the forward pack which has been triggered by a calf injury to secondrowe­r Kurt Capewell. Mitch Barnett moves to the back row with Bunty Afoa coming into the run-on side in the front row, while middle forward Jazz Tevaga returns from a hamstring injury on the bench. Hooker Freddy Lussick is available again after serving his suspension picked up in reserve grade and could join the 17 before kick-off.

Stat attack

● Roosters centre Joseph Manu has scored five tries in his past four games at Allianz Stadium.

● The Warriors have lost their last seven games against the Roosters.

● Roosters halfback Sam Walker is on a streak of 18 consecutiv­e goals at Allianz Stadium.

● The Warriors have won four of their past five games at Sydney venues.

● Jared Waerea-hargreaves will become the fourth Roosters player to appear in 300 games for the club.