Oracle of Delphi
ArnoldRound seven NRL preview – Roosters vs Dragons
April 25th 2007 00:43
VENUE and TIME: Aussie Stadium, Wednesday 3pm
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 16, Dragons 9, Roosters 6, 1 Draw
COVERAGE: Fox Sports, 2GB, ABC Radio
LAST 5 CLASHES:
Dragons 36-16, SCG 2006
Dragons 22-12, Aussie Stadium, 2006
Dragons 44-6, WIN Stadium, 2005
Dragons 26-24, Aussie Stadium, 2005
Roosters 18-14, Aussie Stadium, 2004
MEDICAL ROOM:
The Dragons have lost their forward enforcer Jason Ryles for today’s crucial encounter, with the towering prop succumbing to a shoulder injury sustained in the Round five loss to the Melbourne Storm. The injury curse has struck the joint venture club again this season, with Ryles joining Mark Gasnier (pectoral), Simon Woolford (ankle), Dean Young (knee) and Tom Hewitt (hamstring) in extended stints on the sidelines.
Things are looking up for Roosters supporters however, with the majority of their top squad injury free and available for selection. Only Chris Flannery (ankle) and Joel Monaghan (hamstring) are unavailable for selection.
FORM:
Having yet to win a game all season, the Roosters enter this ANZAC Day clash desperate to kick start their 2007 campaign against an equally struggling Dragons outfit. The Bondi based club have statistically the worst attack in the competition, but the signs were there in their last up loss to the Raiders, that combinations are starting to click. Halves Braith Anasta and Mitchell Pearce combined well with hooker Craig Wing in their last start effort, suggesting that the proud clubs 1000th first grade victory is not far away.
The annual injury curse has once again stalled a promising season for the Dragons, with coach Nathan Brown forced yet again to blood players form the lower grades. The loss of Ryles is a massive blow for today’s match, as his size and skill would have been handy against the slower, smaller Roosters pack. The joint venture team have only achieved one win all season, but are in better form than that record suggests.
KEY MATCH-UPS:
Braith Anasta vs Richie Williams
The clash of the aging warhorse versus the young buck will hold the key to both sides chances this afternoon, with both five-eights kicking games crucial to success. Anasta showed glimpses of the form that we all know he is capable of last start, and he must continue to steer his team-mates around the field, allowing rookie half Mitchell Pearce to ease his way into the top grade.
The precocious Williams continues to dazzle and disappoint in his limited time in first grade, with the talented five-eight combining moments of brilliance with the occasional shocking memory lapse. The rookie number six possess a massive long kicking game, and look for him to attempt to nail a few 40/20 kicks this afternoon.
Anthony Tupou vs Ben Creagh
The battle of the two gifted locks shall be one of the more intriguing battles of the match, with Tupou and Creagh in a head to head battle for a NSW bench spot later this season. Tupou looks to have the inside running with his Test selection for the Kangaroos last Friday, but Creagh has been the dragons best forward all season.
VERDICT:
The Dragons have had the wood on the Roosters in the last few ANZAC Day clashes, with the St George-Illawarra team usually possessing a load more strike power that their inner city rivals. Neither team has been in great form thus far this season, with both teams inability to score points costing them dearly.
With both teams enjoying last week off courtesy of the bye, today’s match is a real toss of the coin job. The Dragons have a few injury concerns at present, so the so far winless Roosters have been as installed as slight favourites.
Look to the Roosters to chalk up a grinding, low scoring victory at Aussie Stadium this afternoon, on the back of the improving Anasta / Pearce / Wing combination.
Roosters by 6.
Sydney Roosters Team
Anthony Minichiello, Amos Roberts, Sam Perrett, Sia Soliola, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Braith Anasta, Mitchell Pearce, Anthony Tupou, Craig Fitzgibbon ©, Shane Shackleton, Danny Nutley, Craig Wing, David Shillington
Bench: Lopini Paea, Chris Beattie, Frank Nu’uausala, Lelea Paea, Ashley Harrison
St George-Illawarra Dragons Team
Brett Morris, Josh Morris, Matt Cooper, Wes Naiqama Luke MacDougall, Richie Williams, Ben Hornby ©, Ben Creagh, Corey Payne, Ashton Sims, Danny Wicks, Tony Caine, Justin Poore
Bench: Adam Peek, Dan Hunt, Sam Isemonger, Adam Ellis, Chase Stanley
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 16, Dragons 9, Roosters 6, 1 Draw
COVERAGE: Fox Sports, 2GB, ABC Radio
LAST 5 CLASHES:
Dragons 36-16, SCG 2006
Dragons 22-12, Aussie Stadium, 2006
Dragons 44-6, WIN Stadium, 2005
Dragons 26-24, Aussie Stadium, 2005
Roosters 18-14, Aussie Stadium, 2004
MEDICAL ROOM:
The Dragons have lost their forward enforcer Jason Ryles for today’s crucial encounter, with the towering prop succumbing to a shoulder injury sustained in the Round five loss to the Melbourne Storm. The injury curse has struck the joint venture club again this season, with Ryles joining Mark Gasnier (pectoral), Simon Woolford (ankle), Dean Young (knee) and Tom Hewitt (hamstring) in extended stints on the sidelines.
Things are looking up for Roosters supporters however, with the majority of their top squad injury free and available for selection. Only Chris Flannery (ankle) and Joel Monaghan (hamstring) are unavailable for selection.
FORM:
Having yet to win a game all season, the Roosters enter this ANZAC Day clash desperate to kick start their 2007 campaign against an equally struggling Dragons outfit. The Bondi based club have statistically the worst attack in the competition, but the signs were there in their last up loss to the Raiders, that combinations are starting to click. Halves Braith Anasta and Mitchell Pearce combined well with hooker Craig Wing in their last start effort, suggesting that the proud clubs 1000th first grade victory is not far away.
The annual injury curse has once again stalled a promising season for the Dragons, with coach Nathan Brown forced yet again to blood players form the lower grades. The loss of Ryles is a massive blow for today’s match, as his size and skill would have been handy against the slower, smaller Roosters pack. The joint venture team have only achieved one win all season, but are in better form than that record suggests.
KEY MATCH-UPS:
Braith Anasta vs Richie Williams
The clash of the aging warhorse versus the young buck will hold the key to both sides chances this afternoon, with both five-eights kicking games crucial to success. Anasta showed glimpses of the form that we all know he is capable of last start, and he must continue to steer his team-mates around the field, allowing rookie half Mitchell Pearce to ease his way into the top grade.
The precocious Williams continues to dazzle and disappoint in his limited time in first grade, with the talented five-eight combining moments of brilliance with the occasional shocking memory lapse. The rookie number six possess a massive long kicking game, and look for him to attempt to nail a few 40/20 kicks this afternoon.
Anthony Tupou vs Ben Creagh
The battle of the two gifted locks shall be one of the more intriguing battles of the match, with Tupou and Creagh in a head to head battle for a NSW bench spot later this season. Tupou looks to have the inside running with his Test selection for the Kangaroos last Friday, but Creagh has been the dragons best forward all season.
VERDICT:
The Dragons have had the wood on the Roosters in the last few ANZAC Day clashes, with the St George-Illawarra team usually possessing a load more strike power that their inner city rivals. Neither team has been in great form thus far this season, with both teams inability to score points costing them dearly.
With both teams enjoying last week off courtesy of the bye, today’s match is a real toss of the coin job. The Dragons have a few injury concerns at present, so the so far winless Roosters have been as installed as slight favourites.
Look to the Roosters to chalk up a grinding, low scoring victory at Aussie Stadium this afternoon, on the back of the improving Anasta / Pearce / Wing combination.
Roosters by 6.
Sydney Roosters Team
Anthony Minichiello, Amos Roberts, Sam Perrett, Sia Soliola, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Braith Anasta, Mitchell Pearce, Anthony Tupou, Craig Fitzgibbon ©, Shane Shackleton, Danny Nutley, Craig Wing, David Shillington
Bench: Lopini Paea, Chris Beattie, Frank Nu’uausala, Lelea Paea, Ashley Harrison
St George-Illawarra Dragons Team
Brett Morris, Josh Morris, Matt Cooper, Wes Naiqama Luke MacDougall, Richie Williams, Ben Hornby ©, Ben Creagh, Corey Payne, Ashton Sims, Danny Wicks, Tony Caine, Justin Poore
Bench: Adam Peek, Dan Hunt, Sam Isemonger, Adam Ellis, Chase Stanley
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