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Sydney Roosters v North Queensland Cowboys Sunday 4:00pm at Suncorp Stadium, Milton / Yuggera-Turrbal

Two sides struggling to live up to expectations meet at Magic Round 

The Sydney Roosters will ‘host' the North Queensland Cowboys at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadiumin the middle game of Magic Round's final day. Despite 11 spots differentiating the two teams onthe ladder, only two wins split the sides, so expect a closer tussle than you might initially think. 

The Roosters have been suffering from an underwhelming opening period to their 2023 season,but the past two weeks have shown that they might be on the brink of finding their form. A toughone point win on ANZAC Day against a determined Dragons team, followed by last weekend's14 point victory over the over-performing Warriors, have put them in a good position to make itthree on the trot this weekend. 

A big negative out of the Warriors victory for the Roosters though was a neck injury to their Kiwiinternational hooker Brandon Smith. Smith was hospitalised with a neck injury, however he hasbeen named at hooker yet again for Easts as he looks to continue his perfect streak of startingat number nine for all Roosters games in 2023 so far. 

Drew Hutchinson is back in the centres due to a shoulder injury sustained by Paul Momirovski.Jared Warea-Hargraeves returns to the 17, with Matt Lodge shifting to the bench and FletcherBaker to 18th man as a result. Jake Turpin is the final face making up the bench.The Cowboys are in a horrible position early in 2023. After last season saw the club pullthemselves out of the competition's bottom-half and into premiership contention, hopes werehigh that coach Todd Payten could lift the North Queensland side into the top four once again.But things have very much not gone to plan, with the Cowboys languishing down in 16th spotafter nine rounds, and they enter this game off the back of a humiliating effort against Cronullalast round. 

The club's large casualty ward is also almost certainly a factor in the Cowboys' early seasonstruggles. Tom Chester looks to be the new face facing an extended sideline stint after possiblydoing an ACL against the Sharks. Griffin Neama and Jason Taumalolo are still a while awayfrom returning, and a suspension to Jeremiah Nanai sees him ruled out for the coming month. 

Despite being under an injury cloud, halfback Chad Townsend has been named to face theRoosters on Sunday. Helium Luki slots back into the side following a hamstring injury, andKulikefu Finefeuiaki looks set to make his NRL debut off the bench for North Queensland. 

The Sydney Roosters have won their past five games against the Cowboys, including their onlyprevious clash at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium in 2021. Easts' engine room will be confident ofbeing able to run straight over the Cowboys' depleted forward pack, and lay a good platform fortheir halves pairing to put a large score on the Cowboys at Magic Round. 

Last meeting: Round 22 2022 - Roosters 32 Cowboys 18

Who to watch: Joseph Manu has had a successful past two rounds after being thrown into the halves.Roosters coach Trent Robinson made the decision to drop Sam Walker in favour of Manumoving to five-eighth from centre to partner Luke Keary. Manu has definitely shown Robinsonwhy that was the correct decision, but Walker will definitely be keeping Manu on his toes intraining. Another win to extend his halves winning streak in 2023 to 3 would be massive forManu and for his club. 

Experienced North Queensland winger Kyle Feldt has experienced the highs and lows of life asa Cowboy. After winning both his clubs' and his own first premiership in 2015 - something thatwould not have happened if not for his last second try to level the game - he has stuck with theCowboys for his decade-long career so far. Some troubled seasons following their 2017 grandfinal appearance were endured, before he bounced back with the club to finish 3rd in 2022. Thisseason has been tough for North Queensland, but Feldt has the experience to help his team getthrough it. 

Favourite: The Sydney Roosters are the strong favourites to trump the struggling Cowboys,and to do so fairly comfortably.

My tip: The Cowboys have looked nothing like their 2022 selves, but the Roosters have plentyof struggles of their own. That being said, I don't think the Cowboys will be up for this one. Roosters by 10.

1. James Tedesco 2. Corey Allan 3. Joseph Suaalii 21. Billy Smith 5. Jaxson Paulo 6. Joseph Manu 7. Luke Keary 17. Matthew Lodge 9. Brandon Smith 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Egan Butcher 12. Nat Butcher 13. Victor Radley 4. Drew Hutchison 15. Angus Crichton 16. Sitili Tupouniua 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 14. Jake Turpin

1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Peta Hiku 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Coen Hess 11. Heilum Luki 12. Jack Gosiewski 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Jake Granville 15. Mitchell Dunn 16. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 17. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 19. Ben Hampton

Referees: Ashley Klein; Sideline Officials: Kasey Badger, Drew Oultram; Video Referees: Grant Atkins;