Match Preview: NRL Round 20

Having lost four in a row heading into Friday’s match, Wests Tigers will look to produce arguably the upset of the season when they take on the Sydney Roosters.

Jason Taylor’s side sit bottom of the NRL ladder heading into their Round 20 clash against the Roosters — the Club which Taylor moved from as an Assistant Coach over the off-season — and no doubt desperate to end their recent run of form, which has seen them produce just one win from their last 10, albeit against the defending premiers.

The story could not be more different for the Sydney Roosters who, after an up-and-down start to the season, have begun to hit form at the right time of the season.

Last week’s 24-0 win over the New Zealand Warriors was the first time the Tricolours have kept an opponent scoreless in the past two years, and they’ll certainly be keen to pick up another two points and keep their charge for a top-four finish going.

When they met earlier in the season, it was a dominant attacking performance from then out-of-favour Origin halves Mitchell Pearce and James Maloney, who steered the home side to a 36-4 win and Pearce back into the Blues jersey. Winger Daniel Tupou also starred that night — scoring three tries to take his tally to 10 tries in five games against Wests Tigers — and he again looms as one of the key dangers on Friday night.

For Wests Tigers, the focus rests on the talented trio of James Tedesco, Mitchell Moses and Luke Brooks, who showed in patches against the Brisbane Broncos just how lethal they can be together. With captain Robbie Farah still sidelined for another week, look for wiry rake Manaia Cherrington to cause similar problems when he enters the field, with the 20-year-old no doubt looking to back up his try-scoring effort from last week.

On paper, it’s shaping as a tough ask for Wests Tigers against a red-hot Roosters outfit, but if Taylor’s men have proven anything this year, it’s that they’re not afraid to take down the big teams — having recorded wins over both 2014 Grand Finalists this season.

Can they take down another big gun this Friday night when they take on the Sydney Roosters at ANZ Stadium? Read on for a full match preview including all the latest team news, need-to-know information, match analysis, statistics and much, much more!

Be there to support the boys as they take on the Sydney Roosters on Friday, July 24!

Match Details

Date — Friday, July 24

Time — 7:35pm AEST

Venue — ANZ Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park

Match Officials

On-Field Referees — Jared Maxwell and Gavin Morris

Touch Judges — Russell Turner and Kasey Badger

Video Referees — Bernard Sutton and Ben Galea

TV, Live Stream and Radio Information

TV — Live via Channel 9 (NSW only, delayed QLD 9:30pm)

Live Stream — NRL Digital Pass (subscription required)

Radio — AM 702 ABC, AM 2GB 873 FM 104.9 Triple M (check local guides)

Confirmed Squads

2015 Recent Results

Wests Tigers

R13 — Gold Coast Titans 27 def. Wests Tigers 20

R14 — Wests Tigers 34 def. South Sydney Rabbitohs 6

R15 — Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 30 def. Wests Tigers 20

R16 — Penrith Panthers 35 def. Wests Tigers 12

R17 — Parramatta Eels 28 def. Wests Tigers 16

R19 — Brisbane Broncos 42 def. Wests Tigers 16

Sydney Roosters

R14 — Sydney Roosters 25 def. New Zealand Warriors 21

R15 — Sydney Roosters 19 def. St. George-Illawarra Dragons 14

R16 — Sydney Roosters 20 def. Gold Coast Titans 10

R18 — Sydney Roosters 24 def. Penrith Panthers 4

R19 — Sydney Roosters 24 def. New Zealand Warriors 0

Match History

·       Against the Roosters — Played 26, Won 8, Lost 18, Drawn 0

·       At ANZ Stadium — Played 4, Won 2, Lost 2

Numbers to Know

• 99 — Aaron Woods will play his 99th first grade game this weekend.
• 204 — The Roosters have conceded just 204 points this year (least in NRL)
• 20 — James Tedesco has directly scored or assisted 20 tries this season.
• 471 — The Roosters have had the fourth fewest completions this year with 471.
• 518 — The Roosters have broken 518 tackles this year (most in NRL).