Let’s set the scene, it’s Anzac Day 2015, and it’s looking like a great game of footy awaits. The weather is outstanding, the crowd is near capacity and the spirit of the afternoon was just as sensational as the monumental occasion we were paying tribute to.
The game begins, both teams are fighting right from the word go, then things get interesting when the hail begins to fall. The worst news to come out of this day though, was that we didn’t come away with two competition points.
Seven weeks on, a near full line-up and coming off the back of a sensational win against the Warriors, the Roosters get a shot at redemption against the St George Illawarra Dragons on Monday night.
KEY MATCH UPS: INTERNATIONALS GALORE
In-Form Halves: A Kiwi, an Englishmen and a couple of New South Welshman sounds like a great way to start a joke, when in fact that’s just the origin of the halves combinations playing on Monday.
The Dragons will be boasting the international talent of former Kiwi Captain Benji Marshall and England half Gareth Widdop, while the Roosters halves have both put on the sky blue jersey in their career, with Mitchell Pearce backing up from Origin duty after playing an outstanding game last Wednesday night.
While Pearce was steering his Origin teammates around on Wednesday though, James Maloney was one of the leaders last weekend in the Roosters comeback win against the Warriors.
With a try to level the match, 4/5 conversions made and a field goal to put the Roosters in front, James Maloney was the complete package, and we’ll need both of our halves to back up great performances with more brilliance on Monday night.
The Patient Dummy-Half: Jake Friend seems the most likely replacement for Cameron Smith when retirement from Origin strikes in the future, whilst Dragons Hooker Mitch Rein looks the goods to be the successor to Robbie Farah for the Blues.
This makes for an intriguing battle, as this could very well be the star match up of the future.
Stars In The Back: Also hot off a big game for the Blues on Wednesday night, Josh Dugan is looking good to back up for the Dragons this weekend.
His opponent on this occasion though, is twinkle-toes, rocket, ramjet, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who as of late has been in great form.
Both are young, busy, high energy players that hunt for the ball and put their team on the front foot. Tuivasa-Sheck was the Fullback for the Kiwis in a side that beat Australia well this year, while Dugan played his first Test Match for the Kangaroos and is now the number one choice to play fullback for New South Wales
There is no doubt that both of these players are electrifying, while Roger might have a little more razzle dazzle, Josh Dugan will no doubt be looking to run hard and straight to get his team on the front foot.
THE VERDICT
The Roosters were unlucky to come away from Anzac Day without the win. The Dragons scored their second try right in the midst of the hail fall, and the game was lost by only two points in the end.
Prior to Anzac Day though, the Roosters had won their last 5 games against the Dragons. Both sides are in great form and boasting some big name talent.
The Roosters will need to bring the clinical brand of football they brought to Allianz against the Storm just a few weeks ago to pull out the two points in this one, and with a side that is playing with confidence, there is little doubt that it’s exactly what they’ll be working towards.
