Coming off our record Round 1 victory, the Roosters head down to the south-west of Sydney to take on a hungry Wests Tigers side at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.
Recent History: Roosters vs Wests Tigers
Sunday's double header will be the 37th meeting between the Sydney Roosters and Wests Tigers since their inception in 2000, and just the seventh time the sides meet at Campbelltown.
The Tricolours have a superior record against their western Sydney based opponents, winning the last three matches including last year's Round 15 victory which saw both Brett and Josh Morris score doubles.
More importantly, the Roosters have won 18 of the last 20 matches against the Wests Tigers, and overall have won 28 of 37 clashes between the sides, a record they will be determined to extend come Sunday night.
How They Line Up
There are a number of changes for the Roosters' side since last week's match.
The most notable moves come as Nat Butcher and Freddy Lussick replace Angus Crichton (suspension) and Jake Friend (HIA), while the rest of the Roosters squad is retained, both in the forward pack and backline.
Wests Tigers welcome back Adam Doueihi from suspension, while the rest of their side generally stays in tact from their Round 1 match, with Moses Mbye filling in the utility role on the bench.
Key Matchup: Daniel Tupou vs David Nofoaluma
Two International wingers come together as Daniel Tupou and David Nofoaluma face off on Sunday afternoon.
While there is a distinct height difference, with Tupou eclipsing his opponent by a full 14cm, both wingers base their playing style on high a high work rate and power games in their own territory, racking up plenty of metres as evidenced by their respective metres ran in Round 1.
As a three-time Premiership winner, International and State of Origin representative, Tupou's credentials will put him in good stead against Nofoaluma, who is coming off what is regarded as his best season to date after being named Dally M Winger of the Year in 2020 with a personal best 17 tries.
With plenty of talent either side of the field, be sure to keep an eye out on Tupou and Nofoaluma's battle on the edge.
What Our Boys Said
“It’s always important we talk about our 30-man squad not being just about the top seventeen. It’s all about having that next-man-up mentality," Tupouniua said.
"I know whoever gets called up will be ready, and I’m confident in all of the boys. Every week I’m trying to have an impact on the team no matter who is in or who is out. I’m ready to go.
“They’ve got a good forward pack, but we’ll focus on ourselves this week and we’ll put our best foot forward."
Round 2 Media - Nat Butcher
“It’s not ideal to see in Round 2 but we’ve got a great depth in our squad and we’re looking forward to the Tigers this week," Butcher added.
“The Tigers are a great team and well-coached under Madge (Michael Maguire). Their forwards really get them going in (James) Tamou and (Joe) Ofahengaue but this week we’re focused on us, our ability and what we can do."
Your Verdict
The Wests Tigers will be aiming to get their first win of the season, but the Tricolours are crowing and will be primed to back up their Round 1 victory with another two competition points.
Be sure to travel with the boys to Campbelltown, get your tickets and cheer on the mighty Roosters!
