Friday only NRL Round 15 match is between Canterbury Bulldogs and Sydney Roosters. The game is to be played at ANZ Stadium with the opening kick set to commence at 7:45pm local time. Home team Canterbury Bulldogs hold favouritism in the market. View our NRL live scores, odds and results for the game between Canterbury Bulldogs and Sydney Roosters.
WHERE AND WHEN: ANZ Stadium, Friday, 21/06, 7:45PM
Preview:
Round 15 of the NRL is almost here, with only four games taking place this weekend and many teams lessened by the loss of State of Origin players. The Bulldogs take on the Roosters in the Friday night clash, kicking off at 7.45pm at ANZ Stadium. This will be a blockbuster event, with Sonny Bill Williams and the Roosters keen to take down Canterbury-Bankstown. While the Roosters are a premiership threat in 2013, however, they will have to fight this one without State of Origin trio Mitchell Pearce, James Maloney and Michael Jennings. The Bulldogs are gaining momentum at the moment, and will be far from easy-beats this weekend. Their 38-0 loss to the Roosters at the start of the season will certainly not be forgotten, and they will come out charging in what should be a great match.
Teams:
Canterbury Bulldogs:
Ben Barba, Mitch Brown, Timoteo Lafai, Krisnan Inu, Sam Perrett, Joel Romelo, Trent Hodkinson, Aiden Tolman, Michael Ennis, James Graham, Frank Pritchard, Josh Jackson, Greg Eastwood. Interchange: Sam Kasiano, Tony Williams, Dene Halatau, Dale Finucane.
Sydney Roosters:
Anthony Minichiello, Daniel Tupou, Aidan Guerra, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Mitchell Aubusson, Daniel Mortimer, Luke O’Donnell, Jake Friend, Martin Kennedy, Boyd Cordner, Sonny Bill Williams, Frank Paul Nuuausala. Interchange: Nafe Seluini, Dylan Napa, Sam Moa, Isaac Liu.
Referees: Matt Cecchin, Gavin Badger.
Sydney Roosters skipper Anthony Minichiello believes star back-rower Sonny Bill Williams has the ability to be an NRL playmaker.
But the Roosters won’t reveal whether Williams will take over the five-eighth role on Friday night, when he’ll face Canterbury at ANZ Stadium for the first time since walking out on the Bulldogs in 2008.
Williams has been named to start in the back-row, but is strongly tipped to replace Mitchell Aubusson in the halves where he would partner No.7 Daniel Mortimer.
The dual international sparked the sluggish Roosters to life shortly before halftime in Sunday’s 23-12 loss to the Warriors, getting the ball at first receiver.
The 108kg Williams had success running the ball and also with a deft short-passing game, which would be valuable for a team missing starting halves Mitchell Pearce and James Maloney to NSW State of Origin duties.
“Obviously he can ball-play, there’s no doubt about that,” Minichiello said before training on Thursday.
“When he plays at lock he plays a role as a bit of a ballplayer at stages.
“I don’t think his game will change too much.”
Minichiello admitted Williams had spent limited time at first receiver at training this week, but said it was no different to when he lines up at lock or the second-row.
“He’s going to be playing that lock for us and sometimes back-row, where we need to get us on the front foot,” he said.
“And then he can ball play when he sees fit. He’s pretty skilful.”
Minichiello said Williams, who scored a brace of tries against the Bulldogs at Allianz Stadium in the Roosters’ 38-0 rout earlier this year, had extra focus about facing his old club on their home turf.
“I’m not too sure (if he’s nervous). He’s definitely focused,” he said.
“He’s focused going into every game, but obviously there’s a bit more focus going into this one because it’s his past team.”
