In this week's sportsbet.com.au Team Announcement we catch up with Craig Fitzgibbon to get the Assistant Coaches thoughts on the side named for the clash with the Knights this Friday, last week's win over the Panthers and what's required to make it back-to-back victories.
Newcastle Knights v Sydney Roosters
Hunter Stadium, Newcastle
Friday, 25 July at 7.40pm
Trent Robinson has named his side for this Friday night's trip to Newcastle to face the Knights in Round 20 of the 2014 NRL Premiership, with the Head Coach sticking with the line-up that last Saturday returned to the winners list with a 32-12 win over the Penrith Panthers.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has been named to start on the wing after a successful return from a hamstring injury last Saturday arvo, in which he showed little signs of any issues with the strain that left him training alone for a fortnight.
Tuivasa-Sheck's usual partner in crime down the left wing, Daniel Tupou, remains unavailable along with his left-edge partner Michael Jennings after the pair both suffered lat injuries in this year's State of Origin Series.
Tupou's spot will again be taken by PNG international Nene Macdonald, who last weekend started from the bench in a reshuffle by Robinson.
Macdonald will partner Mitchell Aubusson down the left edge in Tupou and Jennings' absence, with the backrow-turned-centre cleared to play after coming from the field in the dying stages last Saturday with a 'burner' to his shoulder.
Aidan Guerra, who started last week's match at centre, returns to the backrow alongside Sonny Bill Williams and two-try hero Boyd Cordner.
Guerra's return to the middle of the field sees Frank-Paul Nu'uausala return to the bench alongsideIsaac Liu, Dylan Napa and Remi Casty.
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The two sides last met in Round 14 of this year's NRL Premiership with the boys from Bondi proving too strong in the second-half of the clash with a 17-point, 29-12 victory at Allianz Stadium.
The sides also met on two occaisons in the 2013 season with the Roosters claiming the competition points in both meetings, including a Preliminary Final victory that saw them through the Grand Final.
Roosters: Anthony Minichiello (c), Nene Macdonald, Mitchell Aubusson, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, James Maloney, Mitchell Pearce (vc), Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (vc), Jake Friend (vc), Sam Moa, Boyd Cordner (vc), Sonny Bill Williams, Aidan Guerra
Bench (14-17): Frank-Paul Nu'uausala, Isaac Liu, Dylan Napa, Remi Casty
Our next Home Game is up against the Dragons in a Marvel-inspired battle of EPIC proportions as we transform into Captain America and the St George Illawarra side become Iron Man for Round 21 of the 2014 NRL Premiership.
For all the info you need, including Tickets, [CLICK HERE] now.
