Live updates: New Zealand Warriors v Sydney Roosters

LIVE COMMENTARY (Please refresh for latest updates)

Warriors – 6       Roosters - 42

FULLTIME - Check out a full wrap here.

79 mins - TRY ROOSTERS - Aubusson with a lovely ball under duress to Tupou on the outside, who streaks 40m clear to score in the corner and drive a nail into the NZ coffin. 

78 mins - Another NZ set draws to a harmless conclusion, Manu runs it out of danger.

77 mins - Manu trapped in his in-goal by Maumalo. Chance now for NZ to break their 74-minute points drought.

75 mins - Tevaga back into the game after serving his 10 in the bin. 

70 mins - TRY ROOSTERS - Keary the creator again, takes it to the line and puts Aubusson clear, easy inside ball to a supporting Mitchell who runs it behind the posts. Cricket score approaching at the SCG.

68 mins - No dice for NZ, Roosters defend with ease.

66 mins - NZ nab a penalty and they'll have a rare attacking opportunity. Maumalo in space, Cronk all over him in the play of the ball and they'll get a fresh set of six.

64 mins - TRY ROOSTERS - Great individual effort from Mitchell Aubusson, ducking and diving and powering his way to the chalk through some weak NZ defense.

63 mins - Cronk levelled by Tevaga in a nasty late shot, leading with his shoulder. Off to the bin he goes, and we probably won't see him next week.

61 mins - Powerful set from the restart by Sydney. Green clears on the return from deep, Roosters to the NZ 40m.

58 mins - TRY ROOSTERS - RTS can't pull the bomb in, it rebounds off the competing Cronk's head and into the path of the attacking Roosters players out wide. Simple draw and pass puts Josh Morris over. Tough one to cop for NZ. Mitchell can't convert.

56 mins - TRY ROOSTERS - Simple as you like from the tap restart, Waerea-Hargreaves at first receiver pops a perfect short ball to Tedesco bolting into a huge hole to go over untouched. Mitchell converts and it's now a long way back for the Kiwis.

55 mins - Paasi offload picked up by the Roosters, they work their way towards the 50m. Another penalty to the Roosters puts NZ right back on their line again.

52 mins - Keary weighs the kick perfectly, Pompey has to bat it dead. Fresh set coming. 

51 mins - RTS to the right edge, looks to link with Pompey but his pass goes to ground. Tupou impeded on the chase and the Roosters earn a penalty to go back on the offensive.

50 mins - Penalty NZ, they'll go from halfway.

48 mins - Hiku stands up Mitchell, breaks down field but pulled down 20m out. Last tackle option is poor and the Roosters come up with the pill.

46 mins - TRY ROOSTERS - Lovely work from Keary to spark the break, links with Mitchell on the wing who returns the ball to the number six to finish next to the upright. 

45 mins - Tedesco under the bomb, superb return to his own 40m.

43 mins - NZ survive but a big Roosters set on defense sees the hosts get the ball back inside the NZ half. Short ball fumbled, RTS on hand to scoop it up.

40 mins - Immediate penalty to Sydney for a high shot. Manu takes tackle three 30m from the NZ line.

Second half underway...

HALFTIME

38 mins - RTS fumbles the high ball and Blair follows with a high shot. Mitchell looks to the posts for a penalty shot from 20m out on a slight angle...over it sails on the stroke of haltime.

36 mins - RTS elusive. Hiku goes close. Green grubber almost finds a streaking Nikorima but he can't reel it in. Roosters survive.

35 mins - Penalty NZ, they'll take tackle one inside the Roosters half.

33 mins - RTS beats one inside his own 20m, links with Maumalo who puts Harris-Tavita in space. 

32 mins - Maumalo with good metres out of dummy half as NZ work their way over out of their own half.

28 mins - TRY ROOSTERS - Tedesco with a half break, pulled down just short by Harris-Tavita but Joseph Manu is on hand to burst out of dummy half and barrel over the line with ease. Mitchell converts.

27 mins - NZ unable to crack the line, last tackle grubber falls safely to Tupou. Piggyback penalty and the Roosters will go from their own 30m.

25 mins - Green bombs on the last, Tedesco spills it and NZ win a penalty for an impeded chaser. 20m out from the Roosters line...

23 mins - RTS on the kick return, jinks past two and takes the first tackle at the NZ 30m.

20 mins - Roosters penalty, they'll launch again from 20m out...Keary handling error lets the Warriors off the hook.

17 mins - TRY ROOSTERS - Latrell Mitchell cuts inside to crash over in a two-on-one out wide following a Keary break. Conversion slides right.

16 mins - Cronk puts Keary into a big hole, great last ditch tackle pulls him down short and the stray offload is reeled in by Ah Mau.

15 mins - NZ knock on and they're back under the pump immediately.

13 mins - Tupou breaks down the left edge. Manu gets close. Cronk with his trademark wipers kick, bounces into touch. NZ survive.

12 mins - Ah Mau runs an obstruction and the Roosters are gifted a penalty, danger averted for the hosts.

11 mins - Penalty NZ, Hiku taps quickly and steals 20m. NZ 25m out now...

9 mins - Harris-Tavita moves to centre and Nikorima comes on in the halves. Tevaga throws a loose offload, Roosters emerge with the ball.

8 mins - Lengthy injury delay here while Gerard Beale is carted off the field. Looks like it could be neck-related. 

7 mins - Just 15 metres gained on the NZ set, Harris-Tavita clears. Knock on early in the count by Sydney, another chance here for NZ to attack.

5 mins - Mistake from the restart as Harris-Tavita sends it dead on the full. Seven tackle set for the Roosters.

3 mins - TRY WARRIORS - Blake Green's grubber hits the base of the upright and Tuivasa-Sheck is on hand to pounce and dot down. Fantastic start for the visitors.

2 mins - Harris-Tavita with the one-on-one strip, that's fast-becoming his trademark. NZ now just 20m out...

1 min - Roosters get things started and the Warriors work through their opneing set.

We're underway...

3:55pm - It'll be an intriguing battle between the game's two best fullbacks in James Tedesco and Warrior Roger Tuivasa-Sheck at the SCG this afternoon. 

Kia ora and welcome to live updates as the Warriors look to stun the Roosters in their own backyard.

We bring you live streaming written commentary, video highlights (be sure to refresh your browser) and all the action. Video highlights will be available as soon as the final whistle goes.

Commentary will start from around 4pm (NZT). In the meantime check out the video above for a preview of tonight's game.

Betting odds

Warriors - $5.35 Roosters - $1.14

Live updates: New Zealand Warriors v Sydney Roosters

Pre-match banter:

Nikorima lined up for bench hooker role

Kodi Nikorima will be a back-up hooker option at best when the Warriors' NRL season goes on the line against the Sydney Roosters, continuing the giddy rise of playmaker Chanel Harris-Tavita.

Coach Stephen Kearney has retained rookie Harris-Tavita as his starting five-eighth for Sunday's match at the Sydney Cricket Ground and that won't change, even if Nikorima is passed fit.

Kiwis international hooker Nikorima missed last Friday's upset of Manly in Auckland with an ankle injury and might have been expected to slot back this week outside halfback Blake Green if cleared.

However, the inspirational form of 20-year-old Harris-Tavita can't be denied, leaving Kearney to line up big mid-season signing Nikorima for an unfamiliar role.

"At this stage I'll look at him coming off the bench for us. That's the plan," Kearney said.

"I anticipate that he'll be coming on at dummy half but we'll just see how the game plays out."

Luke's form will be closely monitored by Kiwis coach Michael Maguire, who couldn't take his former South Sydney premiership-winning rake on last year's tour of England, because of off-season surgery.

Brandon Smith owned the New Zealand number-nine jersey on that tour, but has once again had to settle for a bench role at the Storm this season.

It adds a fascinating subplot to the Mt Smart Stadium clash, with both hookers on show vying for a test berth against Tonga - a match that will be staged at the same venue two weeks later.

Veteran Warriors forward Adam Blair - another dumped to reserve grade for a spell, because of modest form - will start in his 299th NRL appearance.

Prop Agnatius Paasi returns after suspension, bringing mana in the middle third that Kearney valued early in the campaign, while Blair struggled and the Warriors came to grips with the absence of retired club great Simon Mannering. 

AAP