Mt Smart Stadium will play host to Sunday's Round 9 NRL game between New Zealand Warriors and Sydney Roosters. The game kicks off at 2:00 pm with Sydney Roosters heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the New Zealand Warriors vs. Sydney Roosters game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Sunday April 30, 2023 at 2:00 pm

Where: Mt Smart Stadium

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New Zealand Warriors vs Sydney Roosters Odds

New Zealand Warriors vs Sydney Roosters Preview

A tough five-day turnaround from gruelling Anzac Day showdowns for both teams with the shorthanded Warriors hosting Sydney Roosters.

Despite a 30-22 loss to Melbourne, the Warriors again displayed their growth and resilience under Andrew Webster in a high-quality game – only put away in the dying minutes as an empty bench and some dubious calls finally bringing them undone.

Shaun Johnson was again magnificent and Addin Fonua-Blake was close to the best player on the field. But the upshot is the 5-3 Warriors will be without key trio Tohu Harris, Jazz Tevaga and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad through injury, and most likely Dylan Walker due to suspension.

Rookie fullback Taine Tuaupiki, the returning Wayde Egan and Viliame Vailea are the new faces, while Ronald Volkman shapes as the likely replacement for Walker.

The ninth-placed Roosters badly needed a bounce-back from back-to-back losses to the Storm and Sharks – and they nearly bottled it after throwing away a 14-point lead against the Dragons. But the heavyweights held their nerve down the stretch and Luke Keary kicked them to a nervy 27-26 win.

Anything like an 80-minute performance has proved elusive for the Tricolours in 2023. Nat Butcher returns this week for Naufahu Whyte, while Corey Allan comes onto the flank for the injured Daniel Tupou.

The Roosters are on a six-match winning streak against the Warriors, a streak that started with their last game in New Zealand back in 2018. The Warriors have won seven of their last 11 against the Tricolours on home soil.

The Warriors are $2.60 outsiders at home, with their absentees making a huge dent in their ability to match the Roosters in the yardage battle.

But this gutsy Auckland-based outfit is 7-1 against the line, while the Roosters are 5-2 – and that’s where the value lies in backs-to-the-wall showdown in front of a big Mt Smart Stadium crowd.

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