Two of the competition heavyweights staged epic contests at Adelaide Oval in 2017 and 2018 so anticipation will be high in the City of Churches for another tense showdown.
In round 16 last year it was the Storm scraping home 9-8 courtesy of a Cameron Smith field goal. In 2017 it was a Mitchell Pearce field goal which got the Roosters home in Adelaide.
The Storm sit two games clear on top of the ladder and will be in no mood to let their arch-rivals take any ground off them.
The Roosters will be hoping Blues stars James Tedesco and Boyd Cordner return full of confidence after a sensational Origin win and can drag another five-star performance out of their weary bodies.
Match: Roosters v Storm
Round 15 -
home Team
Roosters
3rd Position
away Team
Storm
1st Position
Venue: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
The Rundown
Team news
Roosters: Changes galore for the Chooks, with Trent Robinson doing his best to keep Craig Bellamy guessing in the count-down to kick-off. Brett Morris makes his comeback in the centres, Latrell Mitchell moves to five-eighth, while Drew Hutchinson has been dropped. Isaac Liu shifts from lock to prop and Zane Tetevano drops to the bench, while Angus Crichton has made way for Mitch Aubusson in the back row. Nat Butcher gets a start at lock and Lachlan Lam has been promoted from the reserves to the bench. Ryan Hall has been replaced on the wing by Matt Ikuvalu, while Poasa Faamausili has taken the place of Sitili Tupouniua on the bench.
Storm: Jahrome Hughes is out with a back injury and Ryan Papenhuyzen starts at fullback, while Marion Seve has been replaced at centre by Joe Stimson. Tui Kamikamica and Justin Olam have been promoted to the bench. All the Storm's Origin and international players came through rep round unscathed and have been named to back up.
Match: Roosters v Storm
Round 15 -
home Team
Roosters
away Team
Storm
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Roosters is number 1 James TedescoFullback for Storm is number 17 Ryan Papenhuyzen
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Winger for Roosters is number 2 Daniel TupouWinger for Storm is number 2 Suliasi Vunivalu
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Centre for Roosters is number 4 Joseph ManuCentre for Storm is number 3 Will Chambers
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Centre for Roosters is number 21 Brett MorrisCentre for Storm is number 18 Justin Olam
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Winger for Roosters is number 19 Matt IkuvaluWinger for Storm is number 5 Josh Addo-Carr
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Five-Eighth for Roosters is number 3 Latrell MitchellFive-Eighth for Storm is number 6 Cameron Munster
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Halfback for Roosters is number 7 Cooper CronkHalfback for Storm is number 7 Brodie Croft
Forwards
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Prop for Roosters is number 10 Siosiua TaukeiahoProp for Storm is number 8 Jesse Bromwich
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Hooker for Roosters is number 9 Victor RadleyHooker for Storm is number 9 Cameron Smith
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Prop for Roosters is number 13 Isaac LiuProp for Storm is number 15 Christian Welch
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2nd Row for Roosters is number 11 Boyd Cordner2nd Row for Storm is number 11 Felise Kaufusi
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2nd Row for Roosters is number 17 Mitchell Aubusson2nd Row for Storm is number 12 Kenneath Bromwich
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Lock for Roosters is number 14 Nat ButcherLock for Storm is number 13 Dale Finucane
Interchange
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Interchange for Roosters is number 8 Zane TetevanoInterchange for Storm is number 10 Nelson Asofa-Solomona
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Interchange for Roosters is number 12 Angus CrichtonInterchange for Storm is number 14 Brandon Smith
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Interchange for Roosters is number 18 Poasa FaamausiliInterchange for Storm is number 16 Joe Stimson
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Interchange for Roosters is number 20 Lachlan LamInterchange for Storm is number 19 Tui Kamikamica
Match Officials
- Referee: Grant Atkins
- Referee: Peter Gough
- Touch Judge: Dave Munro
- Senior Review Official: Steve Chiddy
Last updated:
Key match-up
Felise Kaufusi will want to show up against his Origin counterpart Cordner, after the Roosters skipper tasted glory in Origin II. And after the disappointment of missing Origin, Latrell Mitchell is sure to be up for a big one as he renews his rivalry with Will Chambers.
For the Roosters to win
Work out a way to curb Cameron Smith's influence. Easier said than done, of course, but if the Roosters can limit the Storm champion's time and try to unsettle him with some heavy defence in tight then they might be able to get the upper hand. When Smith is given freedom out of dummy half and has time to sum up his options he comes up with the right play nine times out of 10.
For the Storm to win
Get Origin victor Josh Addo-Carr to give Origin vanquished Will Chambers a pat on the back and tell him all will be well with the world if they can chalk up a win together over the premiers. Chambers was out of sorts against Addo-Carr's Blues in Origin II and needs to get his head back in the game quickly if the Storm are to avenge their Good Friday loss at AAMI Park.
Brett Kimmorley says
They’ve had some great clashes there in the past. The Roosters will get Cronk back and Latrell Mitchell will have a point to prove after missing out on Origin. The Storm were amazing in their last outing against the Knights. They put out the warning that they are the benchmark in this competition. A fresh Cameron Smith is a huge boost. Storm by 4
Stat Attack
Latrell Mitchell is the competition's leading pointscorer (137), while Cameron Smith is equal-first in goals (50) with Jarrod Croker. James Tedesco is tops in line breaks (13) and tackle breaks (84). Melbourne rank as the best attacking team with 345 points and the best defensive team, conceding a league-low 157 points.
And another thing ...
What's with all the field goals when these two teams lock horns? In their past five clashes a field goal has been kicked and there's every chance the streak will stretch to six on Friday night at Adelaide Oval. The scores in those five games have been Roosters 21-20 (2019), Roosters 21-6 (2018 grand final), Storm 9-8 (2018), Storm 16-13 (2017) and Roosters 25-24 (2017).
