Schick Hydro Preview: Sydney Roosters v Newcastle Knights
Allianz Stadium
Saturday, 5.30pm
It's hard to imagine that these two sides played off in a preliminary final in 2013. Fast forward three years and Saturday evening's Round 9 Telstra Premiership showdown will be a battle to avoid bottom place on the ladder.
Much has been made of the Roosters' woes this year, but in a rare bit of good news, it appears they're returning to full strength with the triumvirate of Mitchell Pearce, Boyd Cordner and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves set to run out for the first time together in 2016.
With just one win from their opening eight matches, all hopes of a fourth straight minor premiership are long gone, but the 2013 premiers know that they are still a mathematical chance of making the top eight if they can win 11 of their next 16 games.
That will have to start against a Newcastle side that sits one point clear of the Tricolours in 15th place. The youthful Novocastrians have more than held their own in recent weeks (apart from the crushing loss against Brisbane) with tight losses to the Storm and Sea Eagles and a gutsy win over fellow strugglers the Wests Tigers.
There are enough changes amongst both sides this week to make your head spin. The Roosters finally welcome back Pearce and Waerea-Hargreaves, while Isaac Liu is back from suspension. Brendan Elliot and Mitchell Frei drop out of the 17 with Mitchell Aubusson shifting to the centres.
Allianz Stadium
Saturday, 5.30pm
It's hard to imagine that these two sides played off in a preliminary final in 2013. Fast forward three years and Saturday evening's Round 9 Telstra Premiership showdown will be a battle to avoid bottom place on the ladder.
Much has been made of the Roosters' woes this year, but in a rare bit of good news, it appears they're returning to full strength with the triumvirate of Mitchell Pearce, Boyd Cordner and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves set to run out for the first time together in 2016.
With just one win from their opening eight matches, all hopes of a fourth straight minor premiership are long gone, but the 2013 premiers know that they are still a mathematical chance of making the top eight if they can win 11 of their next 16 games.
That will have to start against a Newcastle side that sits one point clear of the Tricolours in 15th place. The youthful Novocastrians have more than held their own in recent weeks (apart from the crushing loss against Brisbane) with tight losses to the Storm and Sea Eagles and a gutsy win over fellow strugglers the Wests Tigers.
There are enough changes amongst both sides this week to make your head spin. The Roosters finally welcome back Pearce and Waerea-Hargreaves, while Isaac Liu is back from suspension. Brendan Elliot and Mitchell Frei drop out of the 17 with Mitchell Aubusson shifting to the centres.
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