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The Sydney Roosters will be without star forward Willie Mason for Saturday night's NRL clash with North Queensland in Townsville.
Roosters coach Brad Fittler says Mason will be absent because of a knee injury that saw him miss last week's clash with the Gold Coast.
Fittler says full-back Sam Perrett will play after recovering from a flu which stopped him from travelling to Townsville early to prepare with his team-mates.
The Roosters are on a five-game losing streak but are ready to end it against the Cowboys, who will be without star half-back Johnathan Thurston, forward Luke O'Donnell and centre Wille Tonga (all Origin duty) and full-back Matt Bowen (broken ribs).
Fittler said he is confident of a good performance despite having to field a depleted team himself.
"You lose Mark O'Meley with a broken hand, Anthony Minichello, Willie Mason, we've got a few out," he said.
"But the good thing about our side is it is going to be around for a while, as in the youth we've got is tied up for a few years, so I'm really happy with the team, they are really playing for each other."
Grant Rovelli will wear the number seven jersey for the Cowboys for the first time while former Manly winger Michael Bani will make his debut.
"Obviously its difficult for Michael changing clubs and getting use to our style of play," Cowboys assistant coach Mick Crawley said.
"It's only suttle changes but changes he has to get use to pretty quickly.
"But in saying that he's been very good at training and he's sharp, his talk's very good and he's fitting in very well."
so whos gonna replace mason?
Roosters coach Brad Fittler says Mason will be absent because of a knee injury that saw him miss last week's clash with the Gold Coast.
Fittler says full-back Sam Perrett will play after recovering from a flu which stopped him from travelling to Townsville early to prepare with his team-mates.
The Roosters are on a five-game losing streak but are ready to end it against the Cowboys, who will be without star half-back Johnathan Thurston, forward Luke O'Donnell and centre Wille Tonga (all Origin duty) and full-back Matt Bowen (broken ribs).
Fittler said he is confident of a good performance despite having to field a depleted team himself.
"You lose Mark O'Meley with a broken hand, Anthony Minichello, Willie Mason, we've got a few out," he said.
"But the good thing about our side is it is going to be around for a while, as in the youth we've got is tied up for a few years, so I'm really happy with the team, they are really playing for each other."
Grant Rovelli will wear the number seven jersey for the Cowboys for the first time while former Manly winger Michael Bani will make his debut.
"Obviously its difficult for Michael changing clubs and getting use to our style of play," Cowboys assistant coach Mick Crawley said.
"It's only suttle changes but changes he has to get use to pretty quickly.
"But in saying that he's been very good at training and he's sharp, his talk's very good and he's fitting in very well."
so whos gonna replace mason?
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