The Sydney Roosters will face off against last years runners up with a new-look squad on Friday night, with State of Origin seeing three of their stars unavailable for selection in Round 15.
Blues trio James Maloney, Mitchell Pearce and Michael Jennings have gone into camp for Game II of the 2013 series and in doing so forced coach Trent Robinson into a reshuffle of the side that last weekend went down to the Warriors at Allianz Stadium.
Aidan Guerra has been promoted from the bench into the centres, replacing Jennings, while Mitchell Aubusson has shifted from the backrow into the No.6 jersey to partner Dan Mortimer in the halves.
Aubusson made his Roosters debut as a five-eighth back in 2007, but has since gone on to cement his place in the Bondi clubs backrow over the last five seasons.
Mortimer will make his first start of the year, after playing off the bench for the opening half of the season as a replacement for hooker Jake Friend.
Mortimers return to the halves sees him back in the same role he occupied at former club Parramatta, when he led the Eels to the Grand Final in 2009.
Boyd Cordner will move from lock to the back row, in Aubusson's left edge spot, with Frank-Paul Nuuausala coming off the bench and into the starting side at lock after a stellar performance against the Kiwi side last Sunday night.
Nuuausala was voted the Players Player following the match after a dominant display off the bench in the middle of the field for Robinson.
With Nuuasaula, Guerra and Mortimer making room on the bench, Robinson has brought in Isaac Liu, Nafe Seluini and Dylan Napa as replacements.
Napa will make his NRL debut, if used off the bench this weekend, after starring throughout the off-season after gaining promotion to the NRL squad following a star-studded career in the NYC squad for the last two seasons.
Seluini will feature in his first match of the 2013 season and his 27th NRL match (8th for the Roosters), while Liu will feature in just his third match of NRL.
Canterbury present an interesting challenge for Robinson and his men on Friday night, as the Des Hasler coached Dogs chase their fifth win a row with their season back on track now following a slow start.
2012 Dally M medallist Ben Barba is beginning to show signs of the form that saw him claim the games biggest prize last season, while their Kiwi connection of Frank Pritchard and Sam Kasiano will be keen to flex their muscles against a young Roosters outfit short on experience.
Blues trio James Maloney, Mitchell Pearce and Michael Jennings have gone into camp for Game II of the 2013 series and in doing so forced coach Trent Robinson into a reshuffle of the side that last weekend went down to the Warriors at Allianz Stadium.
Aidan Guerra has been promoted from the bench into the centres, replacing Jennings, while Mitchell Aubusson has shifted from the backrow into the No.6 jersey to partner Dan Mortimer in the halves.
Aubusson made his Roosters debut as a five-eighth back in 2007, but has since gone on to cement his place in the Bondi clubs backrow over the last five seasons.
Mortimer will make his first start of the year, after playing off the bench for the opening half of the season as a replacement for hooker Jake Friend.
Mortimers return to the halves sees him back in the same role he occupied at former club Parramatta, when he led the Eels to the Grand Final in 2009.
Boyd Cordner will move from lock to the back row, in Aubusson's left edge spot, with Frank-Paul Nuuausala coming off the bench and into the starting side at lock after a stellar performance against the Kiwi side last Sunday night.
Nuuausala was voted the Players Player following the match after a dominant display off the bench in the middle of the field for Robinson.
With Nuuasaula, Guerra and Mortimer making room on the bench, Robinson has brought in Isaac Liu, Nafe Seluini and Dylan Napa as replacements.
Napa will make his NRL debut, if used off the bench this weekend, after starring throughout the off-season after gaining promotion to the NRL squad following a star-studded career in the NYC squad for the last two seasons.
Seluini will feature in his first match of the 2013 season and his 27th NRL match (8th for the Roosters), while Liu will feature in just his third match of NRL.
Canterbury present an interesting challenge for Robinson and his men on Friday night, as the Des Hasler coached Dogs chase their fifth win a row with their season back on track now following a slow start.
2012 Dally M medallist Ben Barba is beginning to show signs of the form that saw him claim the games biggest prize last season, while their Kiwi connection of Frank Pritchard and Sam Kasiano will be keen to flex their muscles against a young Roosters outfit short on experience.
