Saturday second NRL Round 19 match is between Sydney Roosters and Cronulla Sharks with the opening kick to commence at 7:30pm local time. The game is to be played at Allianz Stadium which see’s home team Sydney Roosters hold favouritism in the market. View our NRL live scores, odds and results for the game between Sydney Roosters and Cronulla Sharks.

WHERE AND WHEN: Allianz Stadium, Saturday 20th July, 7:30pm

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Opening odds comparison:

Sydney Roosters	1.28	1.35	1.29	1.35	1.28	1.30
Cronulla Sharks	3.60	3.20	3.75	3.20	3.60	3.65

Preview:

The Sydney Roosters take on the Sharks this Saturday, Allianz Stadium at 7.30pm. The Roosters will be expected to win here, in what could by an exciting local Sydney
derby. The Sharks have a few injury concerns at the moment, with both Paul Gallen and Luke Lewis out for this match. While they have a couple of good players
standing in for these big names, it will be hard for the Sharks to find momentum against an in-form Roosters outfit. Having won four of their last five matches, the
Roosters should have the confidence and momentum to topple the Sharks in this one. With second playing fifth on the ladder, however, Sydney is set for a big game as
we get closer to the finals.

Teams:

Sydney Roosters:

Anthony Minichiello (capt), Daniel Tupou, Michael Jennings, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, James Maloney, Mitchell Pearce, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Jake Friend, Luke O’Donnell, Boyd Cordner, Sonny Bill Williams, Frank-Paul Nuuausala. Interchange: Daniel Mortimer, Mitchell Aubusson, Aidan Guerra, Sam Moa, Isaac Liu (one to be omitted).

Cronulla Sharks:

Michael Gordon, Sosaia Feki, Stewart Mills, Jonathan Wright, Nathan Stapleton, Todd Carney, Chad Townsend, Andrew Fifita, John Morris, Bryce Gibbs, Jayson Bukuya, Luke Lewis, Chris Heighington. Interchange: Isaac De Gois, Tyrone Peachey, Sam Tagataese, Ben Ross, Ben Pomeroy, Mark Taufua.

Referees: Matt Cecchin, Henry Perenara.

Roosters saved me from jail: Nuuausala

Frank-Paul Nuuausala has credited the Sydney Roosters with keeping him out of prison and said he owes his NRL career to former club captain and assistant coach Craig Fitzgibbon.

The Kiwi forward signed a new two-year contract with the club earlier this month, knocking back interest from three other teams to extend his love affair with the Roosters who host Cronulla at Allianz Stadium on Saturday.

A prodigious talent as a teenager, Nuuausala was tipped for a long career with the Warriors before falling on the wrong side of the tracks in south Auckland.

He was shown the door by former coach Ivan Cleary in 2005 before being handed a lifeline by then Roosters mentor Ricky Stuart in 2006.

“I came over as a kid because I had some troubles back at home,” Nuuausala told AAP.

“I had a bad attitude, a chip on my shoulder.

“I grew up in a tough neighbourhood. I was trying to be a gangster when I was a teenager.

“I was drinking, doing drugs and bludging off my parents. Just wasting my talent but the Roosters sorted me out.”

Although moving to Sydney took him away from the issues affecting him at home, Nuuausala found he was going nowhere fast at his new club and heading towards the exit door.

Fitzgibbon, who was preparing for his final season with the team before heading to Hull FC in England, could see the talent possessed by Nuuausala and decided to take him under his wing.

“I would be either in prison or working in a factory if it wasn’t for Fitzy,” he said.

“I’d been in the Warriors development squad until Ivan Cleary booted me out for having a bad attitude.

“That should have been a wake up call for me, but it wasn’t.

“Fitzy came along and took me under his wing. I learned how to train, eat properly and how to use my talent wisely.

“I just needed someone to put their arm around me and show me the ropes.

“I just used to follow him everywhere. Whatever he did, I did. He is a great man and I’m loving working with him once again.”