With the Roosters set for a Thursday night battle tonight at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, let's run through the big talking points from the week.
Match: Cowboys v Roosters
Round 9 -
home Team
Cowboys
12th Position
away Team
Roosters
4th Position
Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
RYAN HALL EXTENDED OPPORTUNITY
Ryan Hall has been fit and firing since the resumption of the NRL season, though the form of Daniel Tupou and Brett Morris has seen his opportunities in the starting line-up limited.
Hall now has an opportunity to make his mark in the starting line-up, having only played two games so far in 2020.
Hall lined up on the right edge in his two matches this season, but will settle on the left outside Josh Morris in Round 9 as a replacement for Daniel Tupou.
Matt Ikuvalu has been named in the reserves for the first time since the competition resumption, after starting on the wing in Rounds 1 and 2.
ADAPTABLE AUBUSSON
Mitchell Aubusson returns to the right edge second row position for the first time since the competition's resumption.
Having spent a couple of weeks on the bench followed by a full 80 in the centres, Aubusson will line-up in what is arguably his preferred position.
Aubusson started the first two games of the season in the back row in the absense of Captain Boyd Cordner.
THE RETURN OF LACHLAN LAM
After receiving a handful of opportunities in 2019, Lachlan Lam has been named on the interchange bench for the first time this season.
A shining light for the North Sydney Bears and showing a glimpse of his skills in first grade last season, Lam is set for another shot on Thursday night.
"He's a footy player," Head Coach Trent Robinson said when asked about Lam.
"He's been sitting next to me in the box for six weeks, but I'm sure that's not where he wanted to be sitting for that period of time.
"He's been one of our best trainers over the last three months."
Captain's Run Media | Round 9
A MINUTE BETWEEN TRIPS
While this is our second trip to Queensland in as many weeks, it's been a while since the Sydney Roosters travelled to Townsville.
The Roosters haven't played an NRL match in Townsville since 2016, marking three full seasons without a taste of North Queensland.
"We're not too concerned with how far we've got to travel, we're just focused on playing well," Assistant Coach Craig Fitzgibbon said of his side's trip to Townville.
Team Talk with Craig Fitzgibbon | Round 9
