Match Centre

Round 11: Warriors v Roosters preview

Departing Warriors look to go out with a bang

The Warriors will farewell a number of players on Saturday afternoon when they host the Sydney Roosters at Central Coast Stadium.

Set to part ways with David Fusitua, Ken Maumalo, Agnatius Paasi and King Vuniyayawa after COVID-19 restrictions denied their families entry into Australia, Saturday afternoon will be the final time the players take the field this season before returning home next week.

Producing their worst performance of the year in a 46-10 loss to the Sharks last Sunday, interim coach Todd Payten will be demanding a strong response from his players following 15 errors, 37 missed tackles and a 63 per cent completion rate.

Holding a solid record at Central Coast Stadium since taking up residency at the venue, the Warriors will be hoping to replicate the success of their only other meeting against the Tricolours in Gosford when a Roger Tuivasa-Sheck try in golden point saw the side prevail 32-28 in 2016.

Naming Adam Pompey in place of Patrick Herbert in the centres, Chanel Harris-Tavita and Lachlan Burr come onto the bench in place of Wayde Egan and Agnatius Paasi.

Suffering a narrow 24-20 loss to the Raiders in last Thursday's grand final rematch, the Sydney Roosters will be out to regain their place in the top four.

Holding a narrow advantage over the Warriors with six wins from 11 meetings during Trent Robinson's tenure as coach, the Tricolours will have a point to prove in defence after being exposed through the middle in recent weeks.

Returning to Gosford as an away team for the first time in two decades, the Roosters hold an uncharacteristically poor 33 per cent record at the venue with five wins from 15 appearances.

Losing NSW representative Angus Crichton with a knee injury, local junior Nat Butcher comes onto the bench after missing last week due to injured ribs.

Last meeting: Round 22 2019 - Roosters 42 Warriors 6

Who to watch: Condemning his side's performance against the Sharks as "soft" last Sunday, Warriors forward Tohu Harris will be determined to respond with a hard-edged showing against the premiers. Playing all bar nine minutes this season after missing much of 2019 through injury, the 28-year-old second rower has refused to let the current circumstances compromise his standards as one of the premier forwards in the league. Getting through a mountain of work each week with 176 metres and 44 tackles on average, expect Harris to lead the way with his on-field actions.

Coming through the grades as part of the Warriors' prestigious Under 20s system in the early 2010s, Sio Siua Taukieaho has gone on to become one of Trent Robinson's greatest accomplishments at the Roosters. Evolving from an edge back-rower into one of the premier front rowers in the world, the 28-year-old Tongan and New Zealand representative has produced a number of herculean efforts in recent weeks averaging 174 metres and 31 tackles. Forming a formidable front row partnership in tandem with Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, look for Taukieaho to revel against the club he debuted for seven years ago.

The favourite: Having scored 266 points since the season resumed, the Roosters are expected to overpower the Warriors in attack.

My tip: While the Warriors will play with plenty of emotion on Saturday afternoon, the class of the Roosters should be the decisive factor at the end of 80 minutes. Roosters by 16.