HOW THE ROOSTERS SHAPE UP
Fullback – James Tedesco
Age: 26
NRL games: 138
Considered the NRL’s best player. The strike weapon will be in the Raiders’ sights, especially after reneging on a 2015 Canberra deal.
Winger – Daniel Tupou
Age: 28
NRL games: 159
Lanky Tongan international rarely outjumped by an opponent under the high ball. Looking for a third title with the Roosters.
Centre – Latrell Mitchell
Age: 22
NRL games: 95
The Roosters’ points-scoring machine has had a turbulent season, overcoming everything from his NSW Origin dumping to contract speculation to social media trolls to be back to his best.
Centre – Joseph Manu
Age: 23
NRL games: 69
An aggressive defender, the Kiwi international picked up where he left off from a breakout 2018 and forms an ominous combination with Cooper Cronk and James Tedesco in attack.
Winger – Brett Morris
Age: 33
NRL games: 251
The wily veteran adds plenty of experience and nous since lobbing this season. Ex-Test and NSW centre is hoping to end a long wait for his second premiership ring after 2010 success at St George Illawarra.
Five-eighth – Luke Keary
Age: 27
NRL games: 133
A classic big-game player. Test pivot is nursing an ankle complaint but will play after escaping suspension for a high shot on Melbourne’s Felise Kaufusi.
Halfback – Cooper Cronk
Age: 35
NRL games: 371
Been there, done that. Hard act to follow after famously overcoming a broken shoulder blade in 2018 season decider but will be out to end his stellar career with a third straight title in his ninth grand final.
Prop – Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
Age: 30
NRL games: 218
The Roosters’ enforcer. The fiery Kiwi is back from a one-week tripping ban after terrorising South Sydney in their qualifying final and will be out to stop Raiders wrecking ball Josh Papalii.
Hooker – Sam Verrills
Age: 20
NRL games: 13
Rookie youngster has stood tall while filling in for long-injured Jake Friend. But speculation won’t go away that co-skipper Friend may yet share hooker duties.
Prop – Isaac Liu
Age: 28
NRL games: 157
The Kiwi brute is full of confidence after stepping up in the absence of banned Waerea-Hargreaves and Siosiua Taukeiaho’s early sin-binning in preliminary final.
Second-row – Boyd Cordner (captain)
Age: 27
NRL games: 167
The Roosters’ heart and soul. The NSW and Test skipper will again look to lead by example as he attempts to inspire the tri-colours to rare back to back titles.
Second-row – Mitchell Aubusson
Age: 32
NRL games: 288
The Roosters’ Mr Reliable. The utility has ability to impress in both the forwards and backline. Overcame concussion doubts to vie for third premiership.
Lock – Victor Radley
Age: 21
NRL games: 54
A versatile forward who can also pitch in at hooker, Radley hasn’t looked out of place holding down the middle of the field for the Roosters after a breakout 2018.
Interchange:
Angus Crichton – Former NSW and South Sydney forward was back to his best in their preliminary final win. Dangerous in broken play.
Zane Tetevano – Cook Islands international who has overcome past off-field controversy to become a premiership-winning bench weapon.
Nat Butcher – One of the Roosters’ big improvers after missing the 2018 grand final cut in his rookie season
Siosiua Taukeiaho – Back on the bench after copping an early sin binning for dust up with Nelson Asofa-Solomona while stepping up for Waerea-Hargreaves last week.
