Sydney Roosters vs Canterbury Bulldogs Verdict
The Bulldogs are in the top eight and have won six of their last seven but they have a task on their hand holding off the Roosters. Sydney are flying and should be up to covering a -9.5 line and continue their own winning run.
- Sydney have averaged 33 points across their 6 game winning streak, and last week they piled on 82 points with 14 tries and a 90% completion rate.
- The Bulldogs have won six of their last seven, but their 3 recent wins in this matchup were all by 4 pts while the last two Roosters wins came by 20 and 18.
- The Roosters defence has allowed 20 points only twice in its last 11 games, which keeps the 35-55 range live even if Sydney control the scoreboard.
- Billy Smith has scored in 5 straight games and Mark Nawaqanitawase just put on a hat-trick, giving the Roosters two genuine edge threats against an inconsistent Bulldogs side.
Head to Head Stats
These teams have traded wins across the last six meetings, but the margins tell a better story than the raw record.
Canterbury's three wins were all by four points, while the Roosters have won by 20, 18 and 1 across their three victories.
The Roosters won the most recent meeting 32-12 and have the stronger defensive profile heading into this one.
Sydney Roosters Form - Points Flowing
The Roosters produced one of the wildest attacking performances in modern NRL history last week, beating North Queensland 82-12 in Townsville.
They led 48-6 at halftime, scored 14 tries, completed at 90%, ran for 2,275 metres and had almost double the Cowboys' yardage.
Sam Walker scored a hat-trick and kicked 12 goals, James Tedesco had two first-half tries, and Nawaqanitawase scored three times.
The Roosters have averaged 34.2 points across their last five and are playing with the confidence of a side that expects to turn every good-ball set into points.
Canterbury Bulldogs Form - Dogs In Form
Canterbury's form is much better than it was a month ago. They beat Melbourne 36-22 last week, have won six of their last seven, and the Crichton move to five-eighth has given them a more direct running threat next to Lachlan Galvin.
The Storm win had plenty of substance too. Crichton scored twice, Jaeman Salmon bagged a double, Viliame Kikau was devastating on the edge, and Jethro Rinakama ran for 190 metres with six tackle breaks.
The concern is that this Roosters side brings more pace, cleaner execution and far better defensive consistency than the teams Canterbury have been beating.