After taking their match to New Zealand last round as a thank you gesture to the Warriors, Wests Tigers return home to CommBank Stadium hopeful of adding another victory to their season tally against the Dolphins, who have also found wins hard to come by this season.
Despite the Tigers sitting in 17th spot and the Dolphins just above them in 14th, both sides have shown plenty of heart and effort without being able to hang on and convert that into wins.
The Dolphins started the season with a bang, but their results have fallen away in recent weeks as injuries and suspensions have bitten them hard, while the Tigers have shown plenty of spirit and are one of only a handful of clubs to get the better of defending premiers the Panthers this season.
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Team News
Wests Tigers: A late change with David Klemmer moving to the bench and Alex Twal to start up front. Halfback Luke Brooks won't play after assistant coach Benji Marshall ruled the playmaker out with a calf injury earlier in the week. Api Koroisau will push into the halves alongside Daine Laurie with Jake Simpkin to start at hooker. Starford To'a is out, replaced in the centres by NRL debutant Triston Reilly while Justin Matamua joins the interchange. Josh Feledy will be 18th man.
Dolphins: There are no further late changes for Wayne Bennett's side after he confirmed that Trai Fuller will make his NRL debut and will come off the bench with Kodi Nikorima remaining at fullback. Anthony Milford drops off the bench. Centre Euan Aitken is back from a knee injury and Harrison Graham is the new hooker with Jeremy Marshall-King (shoulder) gone for the season. JJ Collins will play just his second game of the season, joining the bench in place of Ray Stone who copped an injury and a suspension in the Roosters game. Veteran Felise Kaufusi (hamstring) will play.
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Stat Attack
- Wests Tigers winger David Nofoaluma has scored 15 tries in his last 17 games at CommBank Stadium.
- Dolphins winger Jamayne Isaako continues his pointscoring form in season 2023 and added 10 more last week with a try, two conversions and a penalty goal to extend his tally so far to 209 points to top the ladder.
- The Dolphins are 4-7 in away matches this season while Wests Tigers have lost their past four matches at CommBank Stadium.
- The Dolphins have lost both games they have played in Sydney.
- Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens has won only two of his past 10 games against Wayne Bennett-coached teams.
- Wests Tigers have won only two of their past eight games at CommBank Stadium.
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Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the .