19 Feb: WCS: St Helens v Sydney Roosters KO 8pm

[League Express]

Discuss the World Club Series game St Helens v Sydney Roosters here.

[C H Calthrop]

After last week I'll be viewing this from behind the settee. 

[Saint Toppy]

Sadly a bit of a tonking on the cards here I think with the Roosters winning by at least 3-4 scores.

 

They may have not won the GF in the last few years but they've been the most consistent top performing team over that period

[Davo5]

Roosters in a bit of transition,RTS,Maloney,Jennings gone,Pierce stood down,Cordner injured,I can see Saints competing but still think roosters by 6-8 points.

[RabbitRhinoovOZ]

I've changed my mind on this game & am now putting my money on St Helens to bounce back from last weekends flogging. Saints by 6

[MrFussy]

This game is going to be a big test of character for us. We need an admirable response and should be able to compete. If we take another whooping after last week then I fear for what it could do to our morale and confidence.

[Viking Warrior]

as roosters are my favourite aussie club and i have been to sydney to watch them, i will go for a roosters win by 20 points

[Gates1]

Looking forward to seeing LMS and Kyle Amor line up in the centres for saints.

[Exiled Wiganer]

Will smoking' Joe Burgess be playing? At least one Englishman will be happy...

As McNamara is coaching the Roosters we could have 2 props lining up against 2 second rows in the centres. That could be fascinating.

Was the young Widnesian badly injured last week? He's a major talent, however ruefully he must look at the league table just now.

[MrFussy]

Will smoking' Joe Burgess be playing? At least one Englishman will be happy...

As McNamara is coaching the Roosters we could have 2 props lining up against 2 second rows in the centres. That could be fascinating.

Was the young Widnesian badly injured last week? He's a major talent, however ruefully he must look at the league table just now.

Sadly yes. His injury is being reported as a ruptured medial ligament and he'll be out for several months. That's a big blow.

[Saintslass]

With Percival out for anything up to three months with a medial ligament tear, Roby still missing, and our new centre (or player playing at centre) Peyroux also missing, it will be interesting to see who Cunningham chooses to start in the centres at the weekend.  Where last year we got through endless fullbacks, this year has already started as the year of the centre crisis.  Although it could be said after Thursday's performance that we still have a fullback crisis as well!

 

I don't think we have much of a chance even to be competitive especially without Roby and Percy.  But you never know.  Hope springs eternal and all that.

[JimBronco]

I'm hoping Joe Burgess gets some game time. Think he'll have a brilliant debut season in the NRL. I can't see past Sydney here. They'll be too strong. 

[bobbruce]

Think Saints need to seriously up their game just to avoid being embarrassed. Everyone needs to be pulling in the same direction any players sulking or feeling sorry for themselves and this could be a long night.

[tuutaisrambo]

With all the changes at the Roosters and the wake up call Saints will have got after salford i reckon this will be the closest of the 3.

 

Still can't see a big enough turn around for Saints to win though but out of the 3 NRL sides i reckon the Roosters are the most likely to have a bad day.

[Aussie Bronco]

Roosters have lost a huge amount of talent but their depth is amazing. Their backline is still all quality. Ferguson, Tupou, Copley, SKD and Burgess. Hastings is a star, not sure who is playing 5/8th though. So that will be a weakness. Even without JWH, they still have an impressive Front Row rotation with Napa, Evans, Moa and Taukeiaho. Will be closer than the other two but i'm tipping the Roosters by 7. 

[DavidM]

Just reading a preview bit by Jon Wells on sky online , and he's going on about RTS being the roosters star ... And Jennings and JWH ???!!!

[Exiled Wiganer]

There used to be a Hastings who played for Easts way back when - is this boy his son?

[DavidM]

Son of Kevin

[scrumhalf]

Son of Kevin

ex barrow player

[Sco77]

I really hope the Roosters give Latrell Mitchell a game, he looks some prospect to say the least!!

[Futtocks]

Looks like Joe Burgess is expected to play.

[morley101]

The Roosters have names a 21 man squad.

 

Sydney Roosters: Aidan Guerra, Blake Ferguson, Brendan Elliot, Dale Copley, Daniel Tupou, Dylan Napa, Ian Henderson, Isaac Liu, Jackson Hastings, Jake Friend, Jayden Nikorima, Joe Burgess, Kane Evans, Latrell Mitchell, Mitchell Aubusson, Mitchell Frei, Sam Moa, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Siua Taukeiaho, Tyler Cornish, Vincent Leuluai.

[Harrigan]

That's about as weak a Roosters team I've seen in a while. If Saints can't compete with them there's no hope for SL

[Harrigan]

The final 17 will probably look something like this

1. Blake Ferguson

2. Daniel Tupou

3. Dale Copley

4. Shaun Kenny-Dowall

5. Joe Burgess

6. Jayden Nikorima

7. Jackson Hastings

8. Sam Moa

9. Jake Friend

10. Dylan Napa

11. Mitch Aubusson

12. Aidan Guerra

13. Sio Siua Taukeiaho

Interchange

14. Ian Henderson

15. Isaac Liu

16. Kane Evans

17. Mitchell Freind

18. Latrell Mitchell

19. Vincent Leuluai

[BroncoFan]

Still not a bad lineup and Saints missing Roby, Lomax & Percival.