The Sydney Roosters are set for their biggest challenge of 2019 when they go head-to-head with the Canberra Raiders on the NRL's biggest stage on Sunday night at ANZ Stadium.
With two tight contests already this season, we're set for another blockbuster for the final NRL battle of 2019 and with the ultimate prize on the line.
Ahead of what's set to be a sold out and classic NRL Grand Final, let's take a look at some of the key numbers, match-ups and history between these two Clubs.
The Last Time We Met the Canberra Raiders was in the Nation's Capital on a Sunday afternoon in front a big and hostile crowd at GIO Stadium.
GAME INFO
NRL Grand Final
Sydney Roosters v Canberra Raiders
Sunday, October 6th
ANZ Stadium
Gates Open: 1.15pm
NRL Intrust Super State Grand Final: 1:35pm
NRLW Grand Final: 4:05pm
NRL Grand Final: 7:30pm
TELEVISED: Channel Nine
Two sleeps to go until the big one with the Sydney Roosters and the Canberra Raiders to do battle for the 2019 title on Sunday night.
After 25 regular season rounds and three weeks of pulsating finals action the grand final is finally here.
Fox League expert Billy Moore has revealed where the game will be won and lost and which players have to fire for their side to take the chocolates.
They have to stick to the formula that has worked for them in 2019. Their defence has been excellent and they are very confident especially on the inside shoulder that someone is going to be there. They don’t panic or do anything stupid and they work hard for each other. They have corrected their Achilles heel, which is their patience in attack. They are no longer guilty of chasing the big play and the miracle offload. They need to stay in the contest, lay the platform and wait for the right opportunity in attack or seize the momentum off a big defensive play.
Where the game will be lost: The first 30 minutes is going to be crucial because they have got so many players that haven’t been there and done it. There will be so much emotion. They are crowd favourites. The whole of Canberra is behind them and they have a wave of support behind them. But that counts for absolutely zero come kick-off. The Roosters start fast and they will want to tear the middle apart by playing fast and with their line speed in defence. It is very important in the first 30 minutes that the Raiders stay close because every minute after that the Roosters will struggle with the expectation factor to go back-to-back in Cooper Cronk’s last game. The Roosters have got the best bench in the competition and when you look at the Raiders’ bench it is a little bit green. The young guys have got to make sure when they come on that they do their bit and they match Siosiua Taukeiaho, Zane Tetevano and Angus Crichton.
Josh Papalii is the key up front. I know Josh Hodgson is one of the best players in the game, but Papalii is the one that is going to have to lead the forwards. He has got to stand up to Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and bend the line. The rest will follow, but if he doesn’t put a dint in the line and cause a little bit of damage they are really going to struggle.
It has to be Jack Wighton. He is a world class player now. His transition from fullback to five-eighth has been seamless. He has been brilliant on that left-hand side and there is absolutely no doubt that he will put some dints in the opposition and will be running at Cronk. He needs a lot of things to go well around him, but he is world class and this is the stage where those players come to the fore.
They have so many strike weapons, but where they are going to be lethal is Daniel Tupou in the air. He is underrated in that squad. You have the kicking prowess of Cooper Cronk and Luke Keary and it is almost a safe bet that Tupou will score a try at some point. He is up against Jordan Rapana, who is a good player, but he can’t outjump Tupou. His positioning and timing of his leap is lethal off the back of world class kicks, so he can really hurt the Raiders.
The pressure will be on the Roosters and the crowd will be against them, which they will overcome. But I think their left edge might be a little bit vulnerable in defence. If the Raiders are going to isolate something then that will be the side. John Bateman and Joey Leilua have to play well and have to offload because the opportunities will come off the back of that. If you can get one-on-one with Latrell Mitchell or Keary then that could be a dangerous situation for the Roosters.
Players List:
Roosters: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Latrell Mitchell 4. Joseph Manu 5. Brett Morris 6. Luke Keary 7. Cooper Cronk 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Sam Verrills 10. Isaac Liu 11. Boyd Cordner 12. Mitchell Aubusson 13. Victor Radley. Interchange: 14. Angus Crichton 15. Zane Tetevano 16. Nat Butcher 17. Siosiua Taukeiaho. Reserves: 18. Lindsay Collins 19. Drew Hutchison 20. Jake Friend 21. Ryan Hall
Raiders: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Nick Cotric 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Joseph Leilua 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Jack Wighton 7. Aidan Sezer 8. Josh Papalii 9. Josh Hodgson 10. Iosia Soliola 11. John Bateman 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Joseph Tapine. Interchange: 14. Bailey Simonsson 15. Emre Guler 16. Corey Horsburgh 17. Dunamis Lui. Reserves: 18. Sam Williams 19. Ryan Sutton 20. Siliva Havili 21. Sebastian Kris
With two tight contests already this season, we're set for another blockbuster for the final NRL battle of 2019 and with the ultimate prize on the line.
Ahead of what's set to be a sold out and classic NRL Grand Final, let's take a look at some of the key numbers, match-ups and history between these two Clubs.
The Last Time We Met the Canberra Raiders was in the Nation's Capital on a Sunday afternoon in front a big and hostile crowd at GIO Stadium.
GAME INFO
NRL Grand Final
Sydney Roosters v Canberra Raiders
Sunday, October 6th
ANZ Stadium
Gates Open: 1.15pm
NRL Intrust Super State Grand Final: 1:35pm
NRLW Grand Final: 4:05pm
NRL Grand Final: 7:30pm
TELEVISED: Channel Nine
Two sleeps to go until the big one with the Sydney Roosters and the Canberra Raiders to do battle for the 2019 title on Sunday night.
After 25 regular season rounds and three weeks of pulsating finals action the grand final is finally here.
Fox League expert Billy Moore has revealed where the game will be won and lost and which players have to fire for their side to take the chocolates.
They have to stick to the formula that has worked for them in 2019. Their defence has been excellent and they are very confident especially on the inside shoulder that someone is going to be there. They don’t panic or do anything stupid and they work hard for each other. They have corrected their Achilles heel, which is their patience in attack. They are no longer guilty of chasing the big play and the miracle offload. They need to stay in the contest, lay the platform and wait for the right opportunity in attack or seize the momentum off a big defensive play.
Where the game will be lost: The first 30 minutes is going to be crucial because they have got so many players that haven’t been there and done it. There will be so much emotion. They are crowd favourites. The whole of Canberra is behind them and they have a wave of support behind them. But that counts for absolutely zero come kick-off. The Roosters start fast and they will want to tear the middle apart by playing fast and with their line speed in defence. It is very important in the first 30 minutes that the Raiders stay close because every minute after that the Roosters will struggle with the expectation factor to go back-to-back in Cooper Cronk’s last game. The Roosters have got the best bench in the competition and when you look at the Raiders’ bench it is a little bit green. The young guys have got to make sure when they come on that they do their bit and they match Siosiua Taukeiaho, Zane Tetevano and Angus Crichton.
Josh Papalii is the key up front. I know Josh Hodgson is one of the best players in the game, but Papalii is the one that is going to have to lead the forwards. He has got to stand up to Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and bend the line. The rest will follow, but if he doesn’t put a dint in the line and cause a little bit of damage they are really going to struggle.
It has to be Jack Wighton. He is a world class player now. His transition from fullback to five-eighth has been seamless. He has been brilliant on that left-hand side and there is absolutely no doubt that he will put some dints in the opposition and will be running at Cronk. He needs a lot of things to go well around him, but he is world class and this is the stage where those players come to the fore.
They have so many strike weapons, but where they are going to be lethal is Daniel Tupou in the air. He is underrated in that squad. You have the kicking prowess of Cooper Cronk and Luke Keary and it is almost a safe bet that Tupou will score a try at some point. He is up against Jordan Rapana, who is a good player, but he can’t outjump Tupou. His positioning and timing of his leap is lethal off the back of world class kicks, so he can really hurt the Raiders.
The pressure will be on the Roosters and the crowd will be against them, which they will overcome. But I think their left edge might be a little bit vulnerable in defence. If the Raiders are going to isolate something then that will be the side. John Bateman and Joey Leilua have to play well and have to offload because the opportunities will come off the back of that. If you can get one-on-one with Latrell Mitchell or Keary then that could be a dangerous situation for the Roosters.
Players List:
Roosters: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Latrell Mitchell 4. Joseph Manu 5. Brett Morris 6. Luke Keary 7. Cooper Cronk 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Sam Verrills 10. Isaac Liu 11. Boyd Cordner 12. Mitchell Aubusson 13. Victor Radley. Interchange: 14. Angus Crichton 15. Zane Tetevano 16. Nat Butcher 17. Siosiua Taukeiaho. Reserves: 18. Lindsay Collins 19. Drew Hutchison 20. Jake Friend 21. Ryan Hall
Raiders: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Nick Cotric 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Joseph Leilua 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Jack Wighton 7. Aidan Sezer 8. Josh Papalii 9. Josh Hodgson 10. Iosia Soliola 11. John Bateman 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Joseph Tapine. Interchange: 14. Bailey Simonsson 15. Emre Guler 16. Corey Horsburgh 17. Dunamis Lui. Reserves: 18. Sam Williams 19. Ryan Sutton 20. Siliva Havili 21. Sebastian Kris
