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"Photo: Paul Barkley / Melba Studios"

Trent Robinson has named three Club debutants in a 19-man Squad for this Saturday night's 2015 season-opener against the North Queensland Cowboys in Townsville.

Blake Ferguson, Matt McIlwrick and Siosiua Taukeiaho have all been included by Robinson in what will be the trio's first appearance in the famous Tricolours.

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has won the race to replace the now retired Anthony Minichiello at fullback with Shaun Kenny-Dowall shifting to his former spot on the wing to make way for Ferguson in the centres.

Down the left-edge is business as usual with the NSW pair of Daniel Tupou and Michael Jennings named outside the halves pairing of James Maloney and Mitchell Pearce.

Pearce will lead the side alone in the absence of injured fellow Co-Captain Jake Friend.

The usual Kiwi suspects of Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Sam Moa will start in the front-row with the second former Raider to make his Roosters debut, McIlwrick, to start at hooker.

McIlwrick beat out young-gun Jackson Hastings and utility Mitch Aubusson to start in the hotly-contested No.9 shirt.

It's an all-international backrow with the selection of Kangaroos pair Boyd Cornder and Aidan Guerra in front of lock Isaac Liu, who has taken the spot vacated by Frank-Paul Nuuausala over the Off-Season.

On the bench Robinson has named Aubusson alongside Dylan Napa, Kane Evans and Taukeiaho with Martin Kennedy and Nene Macdonald acting as 18th and 19th men respectively.


Roosters (1-13): 
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Daniel Tupou, Michael Jennings, Blake Ferguson, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, James Maloney, Mitchell Pearce (c), Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Matt McIlwrick, Sam Moa, Boyd Cordner, Aidan Guerra, Isaac Liu

Bench: Mitchell Aubusson, Dylan Napa, Kane Evans, Siosiua Taukeiaho, Marty Kennedy (18), Nene Macdonald (19)


Hear exclusively from Assistant Coach Steve McNamara on the side named, notable shifts in position and role from some well known faces, plus the challenge that is the Cowboys by CLICKING HERE now.

 

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Sydney Roosters respect and honour the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.