Round 15 Match Preview: Members Round Match-Up
The Sydney Roosters return home to Allianz Stadium for Red Rooster Members Round, to host the Penrith Panthers in our first Saturday night fixture of the 2023 season.
Recent History: Sydney Roosters vs Penrith Panthers
Easts will be looking to string together consecutive victories when they welcome the Panthers back to Allianz Stadium for the first time since 2018, in what is lining up to be another blockbuster.
Recent history favours the visitors, who have claimed the last seven matches between the two sides dating back to 2020. But the Roosters hold the overall ledger with 56 wins.
Embraced by Members and fans in the East, the Roosters have not dropped a game at home this season, recording wins against the Warriors, Rabbitohs, Eels and Dragons in the opening eight rounds.
Both teams enter Saturday’s match with areas to improve on, after close wins last week.
How They Line Up
Trent Robinson has made one change to the line-up heading into Round 15, calling on Daniel Tupou to make his return on the wing.
Junior Pauga and Sandon Smith retained their positions in the squad after making their debuts last week, while Zach Dockar-Clay features on the extended bench for the first time.
Smith: 'This Is The Best Day Of My Life'
James Tedesco leads the side from fullback, with Tupou, Pauga, Billy Smith and Corey Allan making up the rest of the back line as Joseph Manu and Luke Keary pair up in the halves.
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Jake Turpin and Lindsay Collins return to the front row, while Egan Butcher, Nat Butcher and Sitili Tupouniua round off the forward pack and the starting 13.
The Roosters’ interchange features Sandon Smith, Nathan Brown, Angus Crichton and Matt Lodge. Drew Hutchison, Dockar-Clay, Jaxson Paulo, Fletcher Baker and Naufahu Whute complete the line-up on the extended bench.
Match: Roosters v Panthers
Round 15 -
home Team
Roosters
away Team
Panthers
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Roosters is number 1 James TedescoFullback for Panthers is number 1 Dylan Edwards
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Winger for Roosters is number 2 Daniel TupouWinger for Panthers is number 2 Sunia Turuva
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Centre for Roosters is number 3 Corey AllanCentre for Panthers is number 3 Izack Tago
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Centre for Roosters is number 18 Drew HutchisonCentre for Panthers is number 4 Stephen Crichton
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Winger for Roosters is number 5 Fetalaiga PaugaWinger for Panthers is number 5 Brian To'o
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Five-Eighth for Roosters is number 6 Joseph ManuFive-Eighth for Panthers is number 6 Jarome Luai
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Halfback for Roosters is number 7 Luke KearyHalfback for Panthers is number 7 Jack Cogger
Forwards
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Prop for Roosters is number 8 Jared Waerea-HargreavesProp for Panthers is number 8 Moses Leota
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Hooker for Roosters is number 9 Jake TurpinHooker for Panthers is number 9 Mitch Kenny
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Prop for Roosters is number 10 Lindsay CollinsProp for Panthers is number 10 James Fisher-Harris
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2nd Row for Roosters is number 11 Egan Butcher2nd Row for Panthers is number 11 Scott Sorensen
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2nd Row for Roosters is number 12 Nat Butcher2nd Row for Panthers is number 14 Liam Martin
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Lock for Roosters is number 13 Sitili TupouniuaLock for Panthers is number 13 Isaah Yeo
Interchange
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Interchange for Roosters is number 14 Sandon SmithInterchange for Panthers is number 15 Lindsay Smith
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Interchange for Roosters is number 15 Nathan BrownInterchange for Panthers is number 16 Spencer Leniu
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Interchange for Roosters is number 16 Angus CrichtonInterchange for Panthers is number 17 Jaeman Salmon
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Interchange for Roosters is number 17 Matthew LodgeInterchange for Panthers is number 22 Soni Luke
Reserves
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Replacement for Roosters is number 19 Zach Dockar-ClayReplacement for Panthers is number 19 Luke Garner
Match Officials
- Referee: Adam Gee
- Touch Judge: Chris Sutton
- Touch Judge: Kasey Badger
- Senior Review Official: Gerard Sutton
Last updated:
Panthers coach Ivan Cleary has called on Jack Cogger to replace Captain Nathan Cleary at halfback, after the NSW representative suffered a hamstring injury last round. Jaeman Salmon joins the line-up on the interchange bench.
Key Match Up: James Tedesco vs Dylan Edwards
Two star-quality fullbacks face-off for the second time in four weeks when James Tedesco goes meets Dylan Edwards.
The Roosters Skipper enters the match after scoring back-to-back doubles for his team in recent weeks. So far in 2023, Tedesco has bagged five tries and assisted with another five, making seven linebreaks as well 61 tackle breaks across 11 appearances.
His opposite Dylan Edwards has been a consistent performer in the last three seasons, receiving the Clive Churchill Medal for his efforts in the 2022 Grand Final. In 12 games this year, Edwards has crossed the stripe seven times, making eight linebreaks and 85 tackle breaks.
With crucial competition points on the line and Origin II just around the corner, expect both of these fleet-footed fullbacks to lift for their team come 7:35pm on Saturday.
What They Said
"We’re looking to get another win this week." – Nat Butcher
Butcher: 'We Need To Start Well'
"We need to bring our game back to the footy we can play and we’re working towards it." – Matt Lodge
Final Verdict
The Roosters will be determined to rise to the occasion in front of their proud Members and supporters when they return to Allianz Stadium this Saturday.
Be sure to head in early to take advantage of all the pre-game activities on offer, including a Red Rooster Player Card Photo Booth, merchandise stands and flash prize giveaway for Members.
You can purchase your tickets for our Round 15 game here. If you can’t make it to the Allianz Stadium, be sure to attend Easts Bondi Junction, where you can enjoy a game day dinner at Artie’s or Olive & Oak. Easts are also running happy hour for two hours post-match.
It's not too late to Call yourself a Rooster in 2023! With six Sydney-based home games left of the season, sign up now to receive exclusive updates, offers, and access to events*.
