Mt Smart Stadium will play host to Sunday's Round 9 NRL game between New Zealand Warriors and Sydney Roosters. The game kicks off at 2:00 pm with Sydney Roosters heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the New Zealand Warriors vs. Sydney Roosters game and give you our free tips and bets.
When: Sunday April 30, 2023 at 2:00 pm
Where: Mt Smart Stadium
Bet: Bet On This Match HERE
New Zealand Warriors vs Sydney Roosters Odds
New Zealand Warriors vs Sydney Roosters Preview
A tough five-day turnaround from gruelling Anzac Day showdowns for both teams with the shorthanded Warriors hosting Sydney Roosters.
Despite a 30-22 loss to Melbourne, the Warriors again displayed their growth and resilience under Andrew Webster in a high-quality game – only put away in the dying minutes as an empty bench and some dubious calls finally bringing them undone.
Shaun Johnson was again magnificent and Addin Fonua-Blake was close to the best player on the field. But the upshot is the 5-3 Warriors will be without key trio Tohu Harris, Jazz Tevaga and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad through injury, and most likely Dylan Walker due to suspension.
Rookie fullback Taine Tuaupiki, the returning Wayde Egan and Viliame Vailea are the new faces, while Ronald Volkman shapes as the likely replacement for Walker.
The ninth-placed Roosters badly needed a bounce-back from back-to-back losses to the Storm and Sharks – and they nearly bottled it after throwing away a 14-point lead against the Dragons. But the heavyweights held their nerve down the stretch and Luke Keary kicked them to a nervy 27-26 win.
Anything like an 80-minute performance has proved elusive for the Tricolours in 2023. Nat Butcher returns this week for Naufahu Whyte, while Corey Allan comes onto the flank for the injured Daniel Tupou.
The Roosters are on a six-match winning streak against the Warriors, a streak that started with their last game in New Zealand back in 2018. The Warriors have won seven of their last 11 against the Tricolours on home soil.
The Warriors are $2.60 outsiders at home, with their absentees making a huge dent in their ability to match the Roosters in the yardage battle.
But this gutsy Auckland-based outfit is 7-1 against the line, while the Roosters are 5-2 – and that’s where the value lies in backs-to-the-wall showdown in front of a big Mt Smart Stadium crowd.
Content provided by Ladbrokes
Head To Head Bet
We're tipping Sydney Roosters to win at $1.50 odds.
First Try Scorer
First Try Scorer: James Tedesco at $11.50.
New Zealand Warriors vs Sydney Roosters Teams
Warriors team: 1. Taine Tuaupiki 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Marcelo Montoya 4. Adam Pompey 5. Edward Kosi 6. Dylan Walker 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Bunty Afoa 11. Jackson Ford 12. Marata Niukore 13. Josh Curran 14. Freddy Lussick 15. Bayley Sironen 16. Tom Ale 17. Viliami Vailea 18. Demitric Sifakula 20. Ronald Volkman 21. Ali Leiataua 22. Kalani Going 23. Zyon Maiu’u
Roosters team: 1. James Tedesco 2. Corey Allan 3. Joseph Suaalii 4. Paul Momirovski 5. Jaxson Paulo 6. Joseph Manu 7. Luke Keary 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Brandon Smith 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Egan Butcher 12. Nat Butcher 13. Victor Radley 14. Drew Hutchison 15. Angus Crichton 16. Sitili Tupouniua 17. Matthew Lodge 18. Fletcher Baker 19. Sam Walker 20. Naufahu Whyte 21. Jake Turpin 22. Nathan Brown