Line Up for Round 16 vs Storm Announced

Author: Sydney Roosters
Timestamp: Tue 29 Jun 2021, 04:00 PM

19-man squad

The Roosters' side to take on the Melbourne Storm at McDonald Jones Stadium on Thursday night has been trimmed 24 hours prior to kick-off.

Adam Keighran and Freddy Lussick have been omitted from the side.

Ben Thomas has been promoted to the interchange bench in place of Keighran, while Drew Hutchison and Joseph Suaalii remain on the extended bench.

The final line up will be available one hour prior to kick-off at 6:50pm

Originally Published on 29th June 2021

The Sydney Roosters are proud to announce the Round 16 line up to take on the Melbourne Storm at 7:50pm on Thursday night at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle.

Following representative round, the Roosters will return to the field in their first rematch of season 2021 against the Storm, having previously met in Round 6.

Young back rower Sitili Tupouniua is set to play his 50th NRL match on Friday night, having played his entire first-grade career so far in the Red, White and Blue, while State of Origin representatives James Tedesco and Angus Crichton will back up following their series victory against the Maroons on Sunday night.

The Sydney Roosters will be wearing a specially embroidered jersey in honour of Club Legend Barry 'Bunny' Reilly, who sadly passed away in May. Reilly holds a special place at the Club, playing an integral role in the back-to-back Premierships of 1974 and 1975, and was inducted into both the Club's Team of the Century and 'The Centurions'.

Date:	Thursday July 1
Venue:	McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Gates Open:	6:50pm
Sydney Roosters vs Melbourne Storm kick-off:	7:50pm

Trent Robinson's side has a number of changes following their Round 15 clash.

Captain Tedesco once again lines up at fullback, joined alongside Daniel Tupou, Josh Morris, Joseph Manu and Matt Ikuvalu who make up the rest of the backline.

Lachlan Lam and the returning Sam Walker line up in the halves, while Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Sam Verrills and Siosiua Taukeiaho have been named to start in the front row.

Coach's Media - Round 16

Crichton and Tupouniua are joined by Isaac Liu to round off the forward pack in the back row and at lock respectively.

Adam Keighran, Egan Butcher, Daniel Suluka-Fifita and Fletcher Baker have been named on the interchange bench, while Drew Hutchison, Ben Thomas, Freddy Lussick and Joseph Suaalii round off the extended bench.

Easts and Melbourne meet for the 43rd time since the Storm's inception in 1998 - with the opposition holding a slender ledger with 24 wins to the Tricolours' 18, including the Round 6 match up down in the Victorian capital.

While the Storm have won the last three encounters, the Roosters have taken victory when the stakes have been at their highest, which of course includes the emphatic 21-6 Grand Final victory in 2018 and the 2019 Preliminary Final which saw the Tricolours advance to the Grand Final in a tense 14-6 win.

Melbourne currently sit at the top of the table thanks in part to a twelve-match winning streak, which includes their last round 66-16 victory over the Wests Tigers. The Tricolours, on the other hand, will be looking to bounce back from defeat against the Penrith Panthers with a victory over their modern-day rivals.

Honouring a Legend: The Sydney Roosters' jersey for this week will be specially embroidered in honour of Club Legend Barry 'Bunny' Reilly.

Due to recent covid-19 protocols made by the NSW government, only the western side of the venue open for spectators, while McDonald Jones Stadium’s capacity has also been significantly reduced.

The Sydney Roosters would like to reiterate that it is imperative that those who wish to purchase a ticket adhere to the NSW State Government guidelines in relation to non-essential travel.

Ticket data will be analysed to ensure ticket holders are not from the Greater Sydney area (including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour) are not included, and ID may be checked throughout the event.

As per current Health Order and venue guidelines, all spectators MUST wear a mask. The Club strongly advises all spectators to abide by the NSW State Health Orders, as well as COVID-19 conditions of entry at McDonald Jones Stadium.

Sydney Roosters Members can redeem their tickets here

Mmbers of the general public can purchase their tickets here.

The line up for this Thursday is as follows:

Round 16 - Round 16 - Thursday 1 Jul

Full Time

Roosters

Storm

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Roosters is number 1 James Tedesco

Fullback for Storm is number 1 Nicholas Hynes
Winger for Roosters is number 2 Daniel Tupou

Winger for Storm is number 2 George Jennings
Centre for Roosters is number 3 Josh Morris

Centre for Storm is number 3 Reimis Smith
Centre for Roosters is number 4 Joseph Manu

Centre for Storm is number 4 Justin Olam
Winger for Roosters is number 21 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii

Winger for Storm is number 5 Josh Addo-Carr
Five-Eighth for Roosters is number 6 Lachlan Lam

Five-Eighth for Storm is number 6 Cameron Munster
Halfback for Roosters is number 7 Sam Walker

Halfback for Storm is number 7 Jahrome Hughes

Forwards

Prop for Roosters is number 8 Jared Waerea-Hargreaves

Prop for Storm is number 8 Jesse Bromwich
Hooker for Roosters is number 9 Sam Verrills

Hooker for Storm is number 9 Brandon Smith
Prop for Roosters is number 10 Siosiua Taukeiaho

Prop for Storm is number 15 Tui Kamikamica
2nd Row for Roosters is number 11 Angus Crichton

2nd Row for Storm is number 11 Felise Kaufusi
2nd Row for Roosters is number 12 Sitili Tupouniua

2nd Row for Storm is number 12 Kenneath Bromwich
Lock for Roosters is number 13 Isaac Liu

Lock for Storm is number 13 Dale Finucane

Interchange

Interchange for Roosters is number 15 Egan Butcher

Interchange for Storm is number 10 Christian Welch
Interchange for Roosters is number 16 Daniel Suluka-Fifita

Interchange for Storm is number 14 Aaron Booth
Interchange for Roosters is number 17 Fletcher Baker

Interchange for Storm is number 16 Chris Lewis
Interchange for Roosters is number 18 Drew Hutchison

Interchange for Storm is number 17 Aaron Pene