Check out the match preview and prediction for the 2025 National Rugby League round 3 clash between the Warriors and Roosters.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
New Zealand Warriors Vs Sydney Roosters
Venue: Go Media Stadium, Auckland
Date: Friday March 21, 6:00pm (AEDT)
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Warriors: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Taine Tuaupiki 3. Ali Leiataua 4. Adam Pompey 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Luke Metcalf 8. James Fisher-Harris 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Marata Niukore 13. Erin Clark 14. Dylan Walker 15. Jackson Ford 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Leka Halasima 18. Jacob Laban 20. Te Maire Martin 21. Freddy Lussick 22. Bunty Afoa 23. Rocco Berry
Roosters: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Mark Nawaqanitawase 4. Robert Toia 5. Dominic Young 6. Sandon Smith 7. Chad Townsend 8. Spencer Leniu 9. Connor Watson 10. Naufahu Whyte 11. Angus Crichton 12. Siua Wong 13. Victor Radley 14. Zach Dockar-Clay 15. Salesi Foketi 16. Blake Steep 17. Lindsay Collins 18. Hugo Savala 19. Taylor Losalu 20. Billy Smith 21. Makahesi Makatoa 22. Ethan Roberts
Referee: Ashley Klein
Bunker: Liam Kennedy
MATCHDAY PREVIEW
A week is a long time in footy, just ask the Warriors and Roosters. Two teams who were badly beaten in round 1 both pulled off stunning upsets against heavyweights in round 2 to get their seasons going.
Warriors coach Andrew Webster has once again kept the same 17 for this game: the third match in a row that he has named the same squad.
For the Roosters, Trent Robinson has called in the reinforcements, with Spencer Leniu (suspension) playing his first game for the season at prop, Victor Radley (head knock) returning at lock, and Lindsay Collins (illness) on the bench. Taylor Losalu, Hugo Savala, and Makahesi Makatoa are the three who have been dropped to the reserves; however with Salesi Foketi being unsuccessful in seeking a downgrade for a high tackle, he will be suspended, with Losalu the most likely to take his place on the bench.
When Tom Trbojevic scored after just three minutes at Go Media Stadium on Friday night, it looked as though the Warriors were in for another long night following their loss to Canberra in Las Vegas. They quickly turned it around, however, as Luke Metcalf and Wayde Egan tore the Sea Eagles apart, eventually going on to win 36-16. With their attacking flair back, they will look to exploit a Roosters side that has conceded 14 tries in two matches in 2024.
Fresh off what was described by both Robinson and James Tedesco as one of their greatest wins, the Roosters will be looking to build on their stunning upset of Penrith as they welcome back multiple big guns in the forwards. Although their pack was badly beaten in round 1, they stepped up in round 2, led by Naufahu Whyte. As a result, Sandon Smith and Chad Townsend were able to put up more attacking kicks and they experienced great success as a result.
Results have been split almost evenly between these two clubs historically, with the Roosters winning 24, the Warriors winning 22, and one match drawn from the 47 they’ve played. It’s been far more one-sided in recent years though, with the Roosters winning eight straight since 2018. That includes their only two meetings in Auckland in that time: 32-0 (2018) and 14-0 (2023).
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Warriors by 6 points.
Check out all the NRL Predictions here.
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