NRL Match Preview: Raiders v Roosters

The Green Machine come into this match-up with confidence following their dominant 26-12 victory over North Queensland. Meanwhile, the Roosters are off the back of two losses to the Storm and the Cowboys, as uncertainty surrounds they look to hold their position in the top four.

Daine Laurie’s versatility has prompted Ricky Stuart to move him from lock to centre to cover for Sebastian Kris, who is out due to a concussion. Jayden Brailey will make his return from a concussion, moving back into lock to line up against Origin forward Victory Radley.

The Roosters have named an unchanged squad following their loss to the Storm. Reece Robson will make his 150th NRL appearance, which will give the Roosters the boost they need to salvage their past two performances.

Talking Points:

• The Raiders have won four of their last five games against the Roosters.
• The Roosters have lost their last two games and scored only 16 points across them both.
• Raiders Winger Xavier Savage has scored eight tries in his last 10 games at GIO Stadium.
• Roosters hooker Reece Robson will make his 150th NRL appearance.
• The Roosters have held onto third place despite their last two losses.

Last time they met

The Raiders defeated the Roosters 26-24 at Allianz Stadium in Sydney for Round 13 of the 2025 season.

Key Matchup: Hudson Young v Angus Crichton

This matchup highlights a clash between two high‑impact forwards, as Hudson Young and Angus Crichton square off in a battle loaded with State of Origin history.

Last year, both Young and Crichton wore the sky-blue, with Crichton starting in the No.12 jersey and Young coming off the bench. Fast‑forward to 2026, Crichton has missed out on the Blues selection, which will no doubt sharpen his performance heading into this matchup.

Meanwhile, Young has stepped up into the No.11 jersey for this year’s State of Origin. He delivered a standout performance in game one of the series, completing the most NSW tackles and crossing the line for the Blues’ first try.

Both forwards bring a consistent defensive edge to the field. Angus Crichton’s defence has been solid with a 90.8% tackle efficiency across his 11 appearances. His powerful strength is always on show, with two tries adding to his stats for the season. Hudson Young sits just behind at 89.6% tackle efficiency but sits just ahead in try‑scoring with three four‑pointers in only nine games.

Both players bring an attacking and defensive edge to their squads that will be back with aggression and skill in Friday night’s clash. Young and Crichton will play with something to prove, revealing their star qualities in this matchup against each other.