St George Illawarra and Wests Tigers kick off Round 21 in Thursday night footy with both sides desperate to get away from the bottom of the ladder after disappointing campaigns.
The Dragons are fresh off their final bye of the year and host a Wests Tigers outfit who showed some good signs against the Knights in attack but were ultimately outplayed defensively, particularly on their edges.
With four points between the Bulldogs, who also have another bye up their sleeve, the winner of this match will go a long way towards avoiding the dreaded wooden spoon.
Both sides met each other earlier this year in Magic Round with Wests Tigers coming out on top to secure their first victory of the season despite a last-ditch effort by the Red V in the final minute.
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Team news
Dragons: The Dragons are 1-17 with no late changes. Fullback Tyrell Sloan (calf) and hooker Jacob Liddle (head knock) return after picking up injuries prior to the bye while skipper Ben Hunt is back at the helm after missing Round 19 on Origin duty. Jack Bird returns from a knee complaint after two successful hit-outs in NSW Cup and Dan Russell will start in the back row in place of Ben Murdoch-Masila (knee).
Wests Tigers: A late change just prior to kick-off with Shawn Blore dropping out after suffering a quad strain in the warm-up and Fonua Pole moving from 18th Man to the starting side in jersey No.15. Asu Kepaoa is the new 18th Man. Aitasi James was added to the bench on Wednesday. David Nofoaluma is back on the wing having recovered from a shoulder injury and Daine Laurie is back in the No.6 jersey, pushing Will Smith out of the side. Tallyn de Silva gets another opportunity on the bench with Jake Simpkin making way. Luke Brooks (hamstring) is at least another week away as he closes in on the final stages of his career at the joint venture.
Match: Dragons v Wests Tigers
Round 21 -
home Team
Dragons
away Team
Wests Tigers
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Tyrell SloanFullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Jahream Bula
-
Winger for Dragons is number 2 Mathew FeagaiWinger for Wests Tigers is number 2 David Nofoaluma
-
Centre for Dragons is number 3 Mosese SuliCentre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Starford To'a
-
Centre for Dragons is number 4 Zac LomaxCentre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Tommy Talau
-
Winger for Dragons is number 5 Mikaele RavalawaWinger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Junior Tupou
-
Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Talatau AmoneFive-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Daine Laurie
-
Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Ben HuntHalfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Brandon Wakeham
Forwards
-
Prop for Dragons is number 8 Francis MoloProp for Wests Tigers is number 8 Stefano Utoikamanu
-
Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Jacob LiddleHooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Apisai Koroisau
-
Prop for Dragons is number 10 Blake LawrieProp for Wests Tigers is number 10 David Klemmer
-
2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Billy Burns2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Isaiah Papali'i
-
2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Dan Russell2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 John Bateman
-
Lock for Dragons is number 13 Jack De BelinLock for Wests Tigers is number 15 Fonua Pole
Interchange
-
Interchange for Dragons is number 14 Moses MbyeInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Tallyn Da Silva
-
Interchange for Dragons is number 15 Michael MoloInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Alex Seyfarth
-
Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Toby CouchmanInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Alex Twal
-
Interchange for Dragons is number 17 Jack BirdInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 18 Aitasi James
Reserves
-
Replacement for Dragons is number 18 Zane MusgroveReplacement for Wests Tigers is number 21 Asu Kepaoa
Match Officials
- Referee: Ben Cummins
- Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
- Senior Review Official: Kasey Badger
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Dragons have won five of their past seven games against Wests Tigers.
- Wests Tigers have been outscored 144-30 in their past three games.
- Dragons winger Mikaele Ravalawa has scored seven tries in his past five games.
- Wests Tigers halfback Brandon Wakeham has landed his last 18 attempts at goal.
- The Dragons have conceded 102 points in three consecutive losses at WIN Stadium.
- The Dragons have scored 64 tries this season compared to Wests Tigers tally of 46.
- All four of the Dragons' wins have come on home soil this season (three at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium and one at WIN Stadium).
Match: Dragons v Wests Tigers
Round 21 -
home Team
Dragons
16th Position
away Team
Wests Tigers
17th Position
Venue: WIN Stadium, Wollongong
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the
