Check out the match preview and prediction for the 2025 National Rugby League round 13 clash between the Sydney Roosters and the Canberra Raiders.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Sydney Roosters Vs Canberra Raiders
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Date: Sunday June 1, 6:15pm (AEST)
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Roosters: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Billy Smith 4. Robert Toia 5. Mark Nawaqanitawase 6. Sandon Smith 7. Hugo Savala 8. Lindsay Collins 9. Connor Watson 10. Spencer Leniu 11. Angus Crichton 12. Siua Wong 13. Victor Radley 14. Zach Dockar-Clay 15. Salesi Foketi 16. Blake Steep 17. Egan Butcher 18. Dominic Young 19. Taylor Losalu 20. Benaiah Ioelu 21. Makahesi Makatoa 22. Xavier Va’a 23. Ethan King 24. Chad Townsend
Raiders: 1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Savelio Tamale 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Corey Horsburgh 9. Owen Pattie 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Zac Hosking 13. Morgan Smithies 14. Danny Levi 15. Simi Sasagi 16. Josh Papali’i 17. Ata Mariota 18. Noah Martin 19. Trey Mooney 20. Jed Stuart 21. Pasami Saulo 22. Ethan Sanders
Referee: Ashley Klein
Bunker: Chris Butler
MATCHDAY PREVIEW
The round concludes with the Sydney Roosters taking on the Canberra Raiders in Sydney. The Roosters will be thankful they have the longest gap between State of Origin and their regular season game as they have a massive five players needing to back up from Wednesday’s game. The two players to drop out of the Roosters 17 for the Origin players are Dom Young and Benaiah Ioelu, while Egan Butcher and Salesi Foketi lose their starting spots but maintain a spot in the seventeen from the bench. If some players are unable to back up from the physical battle that is Origin, be sure to keep on the lookout for late team news. Canberra did have one Origin representative in Hudson Young, and he has been named to take his regular role at left edge second row, meaning Simi Sasagi gets moved back to a bench role and last week’s debutant Noah Martin drops back down to NSW Cup. Tom Starling got himself into some hot water at the back end of last week’s thrilling and gritty 16-10 win in New Zealand, resulting in a suspension for him. This means rookie Owen Pattie finds himself in the starting team for the first time in his career and Danny Levi gets another crack at first grade off the bench.
I’m sure when Raiders fans prepare for a Roosters away game they still think about the 2019 Grand Final controversy, but since then the Raiders have won their last four meetings in Sydney, most recently in round 26 last season winning 14-12 at this Sunday’s venue. Daniel Tupou got himself a double, while Xavier Savage and Simi Sasagi crossed for Canberra that day, and they will all be looking to add to their personal head-to-head tallies this weekend. The Roosters have had a poor start to their season at Allianz Stadium – only winning one of their last four games here, but a win could push them inside the top eight if other results go their way; while the Raiders have to win by five or more to obtain a better for-and-against than the top-of-the-table Bulldogs and set themselves up to go to first if the Dogs slip up in the coming weeks.
We all know how lethal the Roosters and Raiders backs can be when they’re in full rhythm. Mark Nawaquanitawase has already scored the try of the season, James Tedesco can swerve and bend the defensive line, Xavier Savage can find open space and shut the gate, Weekes can create something out of nothing for himself, but the real question mark I have going into this game is the forward pack battle. Four of the five Roosters Origin representatives came from their forward pack. Spencer Leniu, Angus Crichton, Connor Watson, and Lindsay Collins are all named to back up. Will they be physical tired? Will they be mentally ready for a club game having to come down from the ultimate build up and hype of an Origin game? They’re professionals, so I’m sure if they run onto the field they will be ready, but I think it does potentially give Canberra a slight edge going into the game. Still a very tough game to tip despite how high flying the Raiders have been. The Roosters prove year-in-year-out they will be competitive, proving this last week by ambushing Nicho Hynes’ Sharks 42-16 in Gosford, so get ready for another top-quality game of rugby league here.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Raiders by 4 points.
Check out our round 13 predictions here.
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