Sydney Roosters

With both teams fielding 29 players, the score meant little but the band of rookies Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler called on in the second half were almost as impressive as the big name stars who played the opening 40 minutes.

A Tom Trbojevic-inspired try just before halftime put Manly ahead 12-4 at the interval and both clubs took off their big names.

Tigers coach Michael Maguire would have been pleased with the resolve shown by his side in the first half against a 2021 top four finishing team, but the Sea Eagles young guns dominated the second term.

The Raiders had to overcome the late withdrawal of halfback Sam Williams after he failed a COVID test before the match and hooker Matt Frawley was ruled out as he was deemed a close contact.

Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad was thrust into the playmaking role, while rookie Adrian Trevilyan got his chance to start at hooker and showed the class that made him a schoolboy star.

After suffering a horrific facial injury at the back end of last season, the tearaway centre is ready to get back to his best in the Tricolours in his seventh season in the top grade.

With the likes of experienced campaigner Kevin Naiqama and fellow under 20s Premiership-winner Paul Momirovski arriving at the Club, the 25-year-old has been thriving on the training and is looking forward to featuring in a backline that boasts a number of strike weapons.

“They’re quality players,” Manu said of his new teammates. 

After spending the last three seasons in the north of England helping St Helens to a treble of championships, the opportunity to Australia to spend quality time with family - and take in some of the sun's rays - was Naiqama's priority.

“Really good, I’ve missed it a lot,” he admitted.

“Me and my wife have been in England for the last couple of years and I guess our situation was heightened with wanting to come back, and we haven’t been able to for the last two years.

Naiqama exited the competition at the end of 2018 after stints with the Wests Tigers, Panthers and Knights. He joined Super League team, St Helens, whom he won three grand finals with.

He returns to the NRL after his two-try performance in the 2021 Super League grand final saw him claim the Harry Sunderland Medal as man of the match.

The Fijian international adds experience and depth to the Roosters’ outside backs after Brett and Josh Morris retired.

A woman of Vietnamese descent brought a complaint to the NRL last month, alleging Tedesco made a reference to South Korean Netflix series Squid Game as he passed her sister on the street.

The NRL integrity unit subsequently announced plans to investigate Tedesco and handed down its findings on Friday, proposing the 28-year-old pay a $10,000 fine and undergo education and training programs.

The league’s breach notice did not mention the alleged racist remark, instead claiming Tedesco “behaved in a drunken and disorderly manner and also brought the game into disrepute”.

Manu, who comes off-contract at the end of 2022, was being chased hard by the Warriors.

The club was prepared to table him a $1 million-per year offer — around a $250,000 increase on his current Roosters salary.

However, according to Channel 9’s Danny Weidler, Manu has informed the Roosters he won’t be testing his value on the open market, effectively turning down a mega payday to stay loyal to the club he’s won two premierships with.

As the teams prepare to meet in Friday night's sudden-death semi-final, Telstra Tracker data has provided some key statistical insights.

While none of the Roosters back five have been clocked at more than 33.8km/h this season (with centre Adam Keighran the quickest of the lot), the star Sea Eagles trio have routinely surpassed 35km/h.

In Saab's case, that's merely a cruising speed given the 20-year-old winger has reached a personal best of 38km/h in 2021. Only Melbourne Storm flyer Josh Addo-Carr (38.1km/h) has gone quicker.

Taukeiaho lasted just two minutes in last Saturday night’s 25-24 elimination final defeat of Gold Coast before hobbling to the sideline. He underwent scans on Monday and has not been named in the 21-man squad to play the Sea Eagles.

Forward Nat Butcher returns from a knee injury and will replace Taukeiaho on the interchange, where he will start alongside halfback Sam Walker, who kicked the match-winning field goal in a nine-minute cameo against the Titans.

Manly will be keen to re-establish their finals credentials after an embarrassing 40-12 hiding at the hands of Melbourne. It will be a long week for the Sea Eagles to prove they are not a side that will wilt for a second time in row. 

One thing is certain. Manly will want more ball than the 39% possession they had against the Storm - or 10 sets fewer than the 39 Melbourne enjoyed.

The weight of possession against Des Hasler's men could be seen by the fact Kenny Bromwich (28) was the Storm's highest tackler, while Manly's best Jake Trbojevic had to work a lot harder (48).