LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
The Sydney Roosters face a daunting challenge as they prepare to take on the Melbourne Storm in a crucial match on Friday.
This game is a must-win for the Roosters if they want to keep their hopes of advancing in the competition alive.
According to the official website of the Roosters, this will be the third meeting between the two teams this season.
Unfortunately for the Roosters, Melbourne has come out on top in both previous encounters, earning the two competition points.
In fact, the Storm has had the upper hand in their overall head-to-head record.
Since the Roosters joined the competition in 1998, Melbourne has claimed 28 victories compared to the Roosters' 19.
Despite these statistics, the Roosters will be highly motivated to reverse their fortunes in this match.
They come into this game on the back of a six-game winning streak, including a hard-fought one-point victory over the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.
On the other hand, Melbourne suffered a heavy defeat in their last outing, losing 26-0 to the Brisbane Broncos in the first week of the finals.
This loss will surely add fuel to the fire for the Storm, who will be eager to bounce back and prove their dominance.
To bolster their lineup, Roosters coach Trent Robinson has made several changes to the back-line.
Jaxson Paulo, Corey Allan, and Paul Momirovski have been called upon to fill the void left by the absences of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Joseph Manu, and Billy Smith.
These changes will test the cohesion and adaptability of the Roosters' playing unit.