Roosters Hard To Recognise With Seven Stars Away On Special Assignment
Sydney Morning Herald
Wednesday June 4, 2003
SYDNEY ROOSTERS
With seven players involved in Origin I, the Roosters named a barely recognisable side for Friday night's Bulldogs game. Into the starting side come former Newtown winger Steve Skinnon , ex-Eel Eric Grothe, rookie Lelea Paea , utility Michael Crocker, prop Todd Payten and ex-Penrith forwards Ned Catic and Fred Petersen .
WARRIORS
New Zealand Test five-eighth Lance Hohaia headed a trio of players dropped last night by the out-of-form Warriors. Experienced centre John Carlaw and promising prop Evarn Tuimavave also felt coach Daniel Anderson's axe ahead of Saturday night's home game against Cronulla. Senior players have called a crisis meeting to discuss their worrying slump, which has seen the Warriors win just one game in six weeks. Monty Betham replaces Queensland rake PJ Marsh at nine, Vince Mellars is the new centre, Sione Faumuina gets a start at lock, Motu Tony is pivot and Richard Villasanti makes his first appearance of the season off the bench. Centre Vinnie Anderson yesterday re-signed with the club, which will trial a new playing strip this weekend.
BULLDOGS
Five-eighth Johnathan Thurston has been dropped to premier league for Friday night's matches against the Roosters, with Travis Norton returning from a hamstring injury at lock and Braith Anasta going back to pivot. Willie Mason replaces Origin selection Steve Price in the front row, with Glen Hughes coming into the pack. Anasta deputises as captain.
CANBERRA
Michael Hodgson and Troy Thompson return from injury on a five-man bench for Saturday night's game against Parramatta. Adam Mogg (ankle) will be another week.
CRONULLA
With prop Jason Stevens injured and centre Phil Bailey in the NSW squad, Chris Anderson has chosen a youthful side for Saturday's trip to Ericsson Stadium in Auckland. Jarrad Anderson, 23, replaces Bailey but the experienced Danny Nutley will take the place of Stevens. Matt Hilder is the new five-eighth, supplanting the benched Jye Mullane .MANLYPeter Sharp has included former rugby union player Sam Harris on a five-man bench for Sunday's encounter with Wests Tigers.
MELBOURNE
Ned Kelly lookalike Kirk Reynoldson has been moved to the Storm's front row for NSW Origin call-up Robbie Kearns ahead of Sunday's appointment with South Sydney. Dallas Johnson and Ryan Hoffman join the squad at the expense of Robert Tanielu .
NORTH QUEENSLAND
Neil Sweeney and Chris Muckert come into the Cowboys backline to replace Origin recruits Paul Bowman and Matt Sing. Kevin Campion takes over as skipper against Penrith on Saturday night and John Buttigieg starts in place of prop Jaiman Lowe . Young front-rower Dean Limpus last night re-signed.
PARRAMATTA
Willie Tonga has been called up for NSW centre Jamie Lyon in the Eels team which takes on Canberra on Saturday night.
PENRITH
The promising Steve Turner has been added to the bench for Saturday night's match in Townsville. The Panthers started their winning run against Souths in round six and hope to stretch it to eight games this weekend.
SOUTH SYDNEY
Shane Walker is the latest Rabbitohs halfback with Willie Peters and Brett Kearney both out injured for Sunday's game against Melbourne. Jason Death takes Walker's place at hooker and Jamie Fitzgerald comes into the squad for Justin Smith (knee). Last Saturday's late withdrawals, Wise Kativerata and Paul Stringer, are back.
WESTS TIGERS
Coach Tim Sheens has made a couple of changes despite Saturday night's rousing success against the Bulldogs. Prop Corey Pearson is out of Sunday's encounter with Manly due to a knee injury and Chris Paterson is back from a calf problem to take his place. Willie Manu returns from suspension, replacing Chris Heighnington.
© 2003 Sydney Morning Herald