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Wests Tigers v Raiders: Api to come from bench; Kris drops out

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pan66.com
Timestamp

The Wests Tigers are coming off a record win in Round 12 and a bye in Round 13 ahead of taking on the red-hot Raiders at home.

The joint venture may have breathed a sigh of relief when Raiders coach Ricky Stuart decided to rest veteran Jarrod Croker, with the Green Machine guaranteed to have put it all on the field for their favourite son in what would have been his 300th game.

How in-form young guns Junior Tupou, Jahream Bula and Starford To'a rise to the occasion at Campbelltown Stadium on Friday will determine if the Wests Tigers can claim their fourth win of the season and continue their rise up the ladder.

Meanwhile, the Raiders are hot on the back of a Round 13 win against the Rabbitohs with Corey Horsburgh laying the platform in the absence of forwards Elliot Whitehead (suspended) and Hudson Young (Origin). 

Sitting seventh on the ladder, only two points behind the four tied at the top, the Raiders will be hoping to cement their place in the eight before they face the Warriors at home ahead of a Round 16 bye.

Team News

Wests Tigers: A late switch an hour before kick-off with Jake Simpkin to start the game at hooker and Blues No.9 Api Koroisau to come off the bench. The veteran hooker's role will be reduced after he played the full 80 minutes for NSW, which included making a team-high 41 tackles. Daine Laurie, Aitasi James and Justin Matamua have dropped out of the squad on Thursday and Brent Naden is the 18th Man.

Raiders: No further changes on game day after Seb Kris withdrew from the squad on Thursday due to a knee injury he suffered in the Round 13 win over Souths. Harley Smith-Shields comes into the side at fullback for his first game since Round 5 in a backline that was reshuffled to cover for the absence of skipper Jarrod Croker (rested). Hudson Young is set to back up after playing 30 minutes in his Origin debut on Wednesday night.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Jahream Bula
    Fullback for Raiders is number 20 Harley  Smith-Shields
  • Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 David Nofoaluma
    Winger for Raiders is number 2 Nick Cotric
  • Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Starford To'a
    Centre for Raiders is number 3 Albert Hopoate
  • Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Tommy Talau
    Centre for Raiders is number 4 Matthew Timoko
  • Winger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Junior Tupou
    Winger for Raiders is number 5 Jordan Rapana
  • Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Brandon Wakeham
    Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Jack Wighton
  • Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Luke Brooks
    Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Jamal Fogarty

Forwards

  • Prop for Wests Tigers is number 8 Stefano Utoikamanu
    Prop for Raiders is number 8 Josh Papalii
  • Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 14 Jake Simpkin
    Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Zac Woolford
  • Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 David Klemmer
    Prop for Raiders is number 10 Pasami Saulo
  • 2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Isaiah Papali'i
    2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Hudson Young
  • 2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 John Bateman
    2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Corey Horsburgh
  • Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Fonua Pole
    Lock for Raiders is number 13 Joseph Tapine

Interchange

  • Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 9 Apisai Koroisau
    Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Tom Starling
  • Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Alex Seyfarth
    Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Emre Guler
  • Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Alex Twal
    Interchange for Raiders is number 16 Matt Frawley
  • Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Asu Kepaoa
    Interchange for Raiders is number 17 Ata Mariota

Reserves

  • Replacement for Wests Tigers is number 18 Brent Naden
    Replacement for Raiders is number 22 Peter Hola

Match Officials

  • Referee: Gerard Sutton
  • Touch Judge: Kasey Badger
  • Touch Judge: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
  • Senior Review Official: Adam Gee

Last updated:

Stat Attack

  • The Raiders have scored 100 points in their past three games against Wests Tigers.
  • Wests Tigers have not defeated the Raiders at Campbelltown since 2014.
  • The Raiders have won nine of their past 10 games against Wests Tigers.
  • Tigers winger David Nofoaluma requires one try for a century of tries for Wests Tigers.
  • Raiders winger Jordan Rapana requires one try for a century of tries in the NRL.
  • Wests Tigers have lost their past six games at Campbelltown Stadium

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the 

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Acknowledgement of Country

National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.