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Wests Tigers v Dragons: Roberts in, Joey out; Beale gets a start

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Both these sides let a win slip from their grasp last weekend and will be keen to make sure that doesn't happen again this round.

The Wests Tigers were in the lead at the 62-minute mark (20-18) before two late tries to the Warriors sealed their fate. St George Illawarra matched Cronulla with two tries but lost in golden-point extra time to a Chad Townsend field goal.

The Dragons are still without key personnel so the Wests Tigers might be sniffing some success this week. Their desperation to make a run for the top eight is as strong as the Dragons trying to keep their place in it - winning only one of their past five matches isn't helping.

Don't forget these two met only four weeks ago at WIN Stadium with Michael Maguire's men upsetting the Wollongong crowd with a 16-8 win.

Anthony Griffin's men must be keen to return the favour and knock over the Wests Tigers in front of their Bankwest Stadium home crowd on Friday night.

The rundown

Team news

Wests Tigers: They'll start 1-17 with Kiah Cooper the 18th man. James Roberts is back after four weeks on the sideline with a pectoral injury. He comes onto the wing with Tommy Talau moving into centre and Joey Leilua dropping out of the squad.

Last week's late inclusion, dummy-half Jake Simpkin, drops off the interchange with Tom Amone taking his place.

Simpkin and Stefano Utoikamanu were omitted from the extended bench 24 hours before kick-off.

Dragons: In a late positional change, Poasa Faamausili will start at prop with Paul Vaughan moving back to the bench. Apart from that, the Dragons are 1-17 with Kaide Ellis the 18th man.

Forward Josh Kerr (shoulder charge) misses a week after entering an early guilty plea and is replaced by Tariq Sims, who returns after serving a one-game ban.

Fullback Cody Ramsey, interchange forward Jaiyden Hunt and winger Max Feagai all failed HIAs during the loss to the Sharks with the first two named this week and Feagai replaced by the returning Brayden Wiliame (calf).

Late call-up Talatau Amone drops back to the interchange with recently signed veteran Gerard Beale earning the first start of his Dragons return in the centres.

Jayden Sullivan and Billy Brittain dropped off the extended bench on Thursday.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Daine Laurie
    Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Cody Ramsey
  • Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 David Nofoaluma
    Winger for Dragons is number 2 Brayden Wiliame
  • Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Adam Doueihi
    Centre for Dragons is number 3 Jack Bird
  • Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Tommy Talau
    Centre for Dragons is number 4 Gerard Beale
  • Winger for Wests Tigers is number 5 James Roberts
    Winger for Dragons is number 5 Jordan Pereira
  • Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Moses Mbye
    Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Corey Norman
  • Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Luke Brooks
    Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Ben Hunt

Forwards

  • Prop for Wests Tigers is number 8 James Tamou
    Prop for Dragons is number 8 Blake Lawrie
  • Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Jacob Liddle
    Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Andrew  McCullough
  • Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 Alex Twal
    Prop for Dragons is number 15 Poasa Faamausili
  • 2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Luke Garner
    2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Billy Burns
  • 2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Luciano Leilua
    2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Tariq Sims
  • Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Joe Ofahengaue
    Lock for Dragons is number 13 Jackson Ford

Interchange

  • Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Tom Amone
    Interchange for Dragons is number 10 Paul Vaughan
  • Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Shawn Blore
    Interchange for Dragons is number 14 Talatau Amone
  • Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Alex Seyfarth
    Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Daniel Alvaro
  • Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Thomas Mikaele
    Interchange for Dragons is number 17 Jaiyden Hunt

Reserves

  • Reserve for Wests Tigers is number 21 Kiah Cooper
    Reserve for Dragons is number 18 Kaide Ellis

Match Officials

  • Referee: Adam Gee
  • Touch Judge: Peter Gough
  • Touch Judge: Drew Oultram
  • Senior Review Official: Henry Perenara

Last updated:

Key match-up

Adam Doueihi v Jack Bird: Going toe-to-toe in the centres should provide plenty of appeal as both players have a great fend to match their aggression. Bird has busted out of 38 tackles and offered five try assists to Doueihi's 22 tackle breaks and seven try assists, proving these these two are evenly matched. 

Stat attack

The Wests Tigers are out in front for support play, with Luke Brooks in the NRL top four for engaging the line, and David Nofoaluma there too for offloads. Against all that potential to crack open a defence, the Dragons are the worst in the NRL for missed tackles. 

 

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