League: Warriors get help from the judiciary

The NRL judiciary has done the Warriors a favour by taking Michael Crocker out of the game against the Roosters at Aussie Stadium on Saturday night.

Raiders captain Simon Woolford will also miss the contest at Ericsson Stadium the following Sunday.

But that's the only favour the Warriors can expect in either match as the scrap for playoff spots fires up their opposition.

Both the Roosters and Raiders have 20 points but points differential puts Sydney just inside the top eight in seventh, while the Raiders are just outside in 10th.

The Warriors are 12th on 16 points but have two easy points coming from a bye in round 26. The Roosters have had their two byes.

The Roosters have been boosted this week with the signings of Souths captain Ashley Harrison and Bulldogs star Braith Anasta for 2006.

Harrison signed for three years at A$280,000 ($308,000) when Souths had offered more, citing the Rabbitohs' inability to secure other big names.

Anasta also agreed terms for three years yesterday, rejecting an offer of A$500,000 a year from Souths and signing for close to that.

The Warriors will look to the return of captain Steve Price to lift them at Ericsson but without him in Sydney this weekend they face a formidable task, consecutive games against the 2004 grand finalists after their loss to the Dogs last weekend.

The Roosters lost Crocker for two games after he pleaded guilty to a dangerous throw on Storm fullback Billy Slater.

They had already lost centre Ryan Cross and prop Adrian Morley to suspension but still have four Origin players - Anthony Minichiello, Craig Wing and Chris Flannery and second rower Craig Fitzgibbon.

The Warriors yesterday named the same team beaten by two points by the Bulldogs. "We know these players have the ability to go on with it," said coach Tony Kemp. "We saw that when they beat Brisbane and we have confidence in them matching that performance again."

Raiders captain Woolford admitted a dangerous throw but was to contest the grading tonight in a bid to reduce a prospective eight-week ban.

In other movements, Melbourne centre Steve Bell has signed with Manly, Penrith prop Ben Ross is likely to head to Melbourne and Canberra five-eighth Jason Smith has re-signed for one year.

Warriors prop Karl Temata's agent Chris Orr is making noises about offers from Bradford.

* Aussie Stadium, 7.30pm Saturday

Roosters

Anthony Minichiello
Amos Roberts
Iosia Soliola
Joel Monaghan
Chris Walker
Craig Wing
Brett Finch
Jason Cayless
Heath L'Estrange
Anthony Tupou
Chris Flannery
Craig Fitzgibbon
Luke Ricketson (c)

Warriors

Brent Webb
Todd Byrne
Clinton Toopi
Jerome Ropati
Francis Meli
Nathan Fien
Stacey Jones (c)
Ruben Wiki
Lance Hohaia
Richard Villasanti
Sione Faumuina
Wairangi Koopu
Monty Betham

Interchange:

Roosters: Richard Fa'aoso, Mickey Paea, Stuart Webb, Jamie Soward, Ned Catic, Mickey Paea (one to be omitted).

Warriors: Karl Temata, Iafeta Paleaaesina, Awen Guttenbeil, Simon Mannering.