Match Centre

Round 16: Roosters v Cowboys preview

An intriguing contest awaits us on Sunday when the erratic Roosters take on the erratic Cowboys in a vitally important match for both sides top 8 aspirations.

The Roosters quite simply have not got themselves playing consistent football for very long at all this year - nothing encapsulates this erratic form moreso than their last 4 games.

In Round 11 they very nearly toppled the in-form competition leading Bulldogs, going down 24-20. The following week against top 5 side Cronulla, The Roosters went to town, romping home with a 42-16 win. Then they very nearly beat the second placed Raiders, losing 26-24.

Last week the Roosters struggled to overcome the woefully out of sorts Knights, eventually winning 12-8.

The Cowboys on the flip side started out solidly, winning 4 straight games, but after belting the Titans 50-18 something changed.

They lost 30-26 to the top-end-of-the-table Warriors; had a 30-all draw with defending Premiers Penrith; lost 24-6 to an inconsistent Manly side; barely overcame the Tigers 32-28 and then more recently, got soundly beaten by Melbourne 38-14 and the Dolphins last weekend 58-4.

Those 6 games has seen the Cowboys concede 208 points - almost 35 points per game. That's simply disgraceful.

The Cowboys attack will be very much focused on fast play through the middle of the ruck. Expect plenty of one outs and dummy half runs.

The Roosters attack is a bit riskier as it relies heavily on second phase play a lot more and throwing the ball around. Against a team that is as defensively weak as the Cowboys right now, this will play right into the hands of the Tricolours.

Last meeting: Round 13 2024 - Roosters 16 Cowboys 18

Who to watch: Roosters halfback Hugo Savala has shown plenty of guile and composure since becoming a regular starter in the Roosters halves this year. Like any talented young half, his form wavers week to week and within a game, but he's improving and gaining a consistent level of play very quickly.

He's formed a very good partnership with five-eighth Sandon Smith and both are building good combinations with their edge runners. Watch for both players to feature heavily, especially if the Cowboys defence lets them both run the ball.

Jaxon Purdue has come along rapidly as a five-eighth. He's kept his strong ball running game, but has developed a very good playmaking game to go with it.

The Cowboys middle forwards of Jordan McLean, Coen Hess and Reuben Cotter will be busy making inroads through the middle, while hooker Reece Robson will be keeping the momentum rolling forward.

Favourite: The Roosters will be the favourites here, given the home-ground advantage, form and the Origin impact which will hit the Cowboys harder than the Roosters.

My tip: The Cowboys defence is a shambles right now. The Roosters could put on a score here. Roosters by 26.