Sydney Roosters set for boost with Collins & Butcher return

The Sydney Roosters are poised to receive a much-needed boost ahead of Friday night’s home clash with the Gold Coast Titans, with both Lindsay Collins and Nat Butcher a chance to return from illness-related absences.

The top NRL betting sites currently have the injury-prone Roosters priced as the $1.55 favourites and will likely shorten after team lists are announced.

Representative hooker Connor Watson has been ruled out after failing a head injury assessment in last week’s loss to the Warriors, with Zach Dockar-Clay expected to start at dummy half.

But the potential returns of Collins and Butcher would go a long way in steadying a side that’s had a horror run with injuries to start the rugby league season.

Collins has missed the past two rounds through illness, while Butcher—set to play his 150th NRL game—has been recovering from a mystery infection that hospitalised him in the lead-up to Round 1.

“There’s no pressure on those guys,” said veteran forward Angus Crichton to news.com.au.

“You’ve just got to take it step by step and not push yourself. It’d be great to have any of those boys come back, but only when they’re fully healthy.”

Butcher was back at Moore Park training on Monday, and teammate Siua Wong said his return alongside Collins would be “a huge impact for us.”

Spencer Leniu is also expected to play after remarkably continuing last week’s game despite dislocating a finger during the match. “That’s just Spencer,” Crichton said.

“He’s a fireball of energy every time he touches the ball.”

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Meanwhile, Sam Walker has urged the club to keep Brandon Smith at Bondi for the rest of 2025, despite the Kiwi hooker signing with South Sydney from next season.

Currently the Sydney Roosters are priced as a $26 chance with the top online bookmakers to win the 2025 NRL Premiership after only winning one game from three rounds.

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