Pearce returns from Injury

Author: bulldogs.com.au
Timestamp: Tue 28 Jun 2016, 05:15 PM

Roosters Head Coach Trent Robinson has named an 18-man side to face the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at Allianz Stadium on Thursday night.

The Roosters head into the Round 17 fixture fresh off a bye and will be looking to make a statement in the back end of the season.

The tri-colours currently sit in 15th position and if their to play finals footy this year, they need to win almost every game.

Halfback Mitchell Pearce returns to the side this week and his inclusion at a crucial stage of the season is a much needed one.

“He’s experience and the confidence he will in still in the boys will be a real boost,” said injured back rower Boyd Cordner.

“You can see the difference around training when he is back and he has probably been our most influential player through his time here at the Roosters.

“It’s a big inclusion because he is our halfback and his presence on the field will add so much to our team.”

With Pearce returning in the number seven, Jackson Hastings will shift to the five eighth position and Ryan Matterson named as 18th man.

With Blake Ferguson and Aidan Guerra returning from Origin, Sam Moa drops back to the bench and Chris Smith and Joseph Manu drop out of the side that went down to the Warriors in Round 15.

ROOSTERS TEAM:

1. Latrell Mitchell

2. Daniel Tupou

3. Blake Ferguson

4. Dale Copley

5. Shaun Kenny-Dowall

6. Jackson Hastings

7. Mitchell Pearce

8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves

9. Jake Friend (c)

10. Dylan Napa

11. Aidan Guerra