LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
The Sharks, comfortably positioned within the top eight after defeating their rivals Melbourne, aim to solidify their status this week against the Roosters, who are notably missing five Origin stars.
According to nrl.com.au, the Roosters will have to cope without Maroons players Lindsay Collins and Robert Toia, along with Blues representatives Angus Crichton, Spencer Leniu, and Connor Watson.
This absence puts the Roosters' depth to the test as they seek to bounce back from a narrow loss to the Bulldogs.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson has introduced Benaiah Ioelu for his first NRL appearance this week, along with Taylor Losalu, who will be making just his fourth game.
The Roosters have already given opportunities to four debutants in 2025, including Toia in Round 1.
In their previous encounter, the Sharks triumphed over the Roosters with a score of 38-30 during Magic Round 2024, where Nicho Hynes delivered an exemplary performance, securing his position as the Blues halfback for the Origin series' Game One.