After a big week off the field, Wests Tigers will head into their ANZAC Round clash against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs keen to focus on the football ahead.
Ivan Cleary’s side looked destined for two wins in as many weeks under the new Coach, before a 20-minute spell to end the match against the Parramatta Eels saw their 22-10 lead slip away as the Eels snuck home with a determined 26-22 victory in the end.
The signs of improvement were definitely still there for Wests Tigers after the arrival of Cleary a fortnight ago, but they’ll know they can ill-afford to give up leads like they did on Easter Monday again in 2017 if they plan to turn their slow start to the year around.
That must start on Sunday for Wests Tigers as they come up against the Bulldogs side flying high after a run of three consecutive wins since losing 36-0 to the Sea Eagles.
A contract extension for Coach Des Hasler has similarly brought about an improvement in form for the blue and whites, who will welcome back Australian international forward David Klemmer into the team this week after missing out last week with an ankle sprain.
The Bulldogs remain without Will Hopoate and Chase Stanley, while Wests Tigers could welcome back Luke Brooks into the fold this week after being named in the reserves.
The signing of Brooks and in-form winger David Nofoaluma on contract extensions during the week will no doubt give Wests Tigers an added boost heading into the contest.
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MATCH DETAILS
Date — Sunday, April 23, 2017
Time — 4:00pm AEST
Venue — ANZ Stadium
TV, LIVE STREAM AND RADIO INFORMATION
TV — Channel 9 and Fox Sports League (Ch. 502, subscription required)
Radio — AM 702 ABC Grandstand, AM 2GB 873, FM 104.9 Triple M Sydney
Live Stream —NRL Digital Pass and Foxtel Go (subscription required)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referees — Gerard Sutton and Peter Gough
Touch Judges — Kasey Badger and Rohan Best
Review Officials — Luke Patten and Bernard Sutton
CONFIRMED SQUADS
Wests Tigers
1. James Tedesco 2. David Nofoaluma 3. Michael Chee Kam 4. Moses Suli 5. Kevin Naiqama 6. Mitchell Moses 7. Jack Littlejohn 8. Aaron Woods 9. Matt McIlwrick 10. Ava Seumanufagai 11. Josh Aloiai 12. Chris Lawrence 13. Elijah Taylor (Interchange: 14. Tim Grant 15. Sauaso Sue 16. Joel Edwards 17. Jacob Liddle 20. Justin Hunt 21. Luke Brooks).
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
1. Brett Morris 2. Kerrod Holland 3. Josh Morris 4. Brenko Lee 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Josh Reynolds 7. Moses Mbye 8. Aiden Tolman 9. Michael Lichaa 10. James Graham 11. Josh Jackson 12. Greg Eastwood 13. David Klemmer (Interchange: 14. Sam Kasiano 15. Danny Fualalo 16. Adam Elliott 17. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 20. Matt Frawley 23. Reimis Smith).
Wests Tigers and the Bulldogs have already omitted two players from each initial 21-man squad with a further two players to be omitted one hour before kickoff (3:00pm, Sunday).
RECENT RESULTS
Wests Tigers
Round 3 — Canberra Raiders 46 def. Wests Tigers 6
Round 4 — Melbourne Storm 22 def. Wests Tigers 14
Round 5 — St. George-Illawarra Dragons 28 def. Wests Tigers 6
Round 6 — Wests Tigers 26 def. North Queensland Cowboys 16
Round 7 — Parramatta Eels 26 def. Wests Tigers 22
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Round 3 — Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 24 def. New Zealand Warriors 12
Round 4 — Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 36 def. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 0
Round 5 — Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs10 def. Brisbane Broncos 7
Round 6 — Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 22 def. Newcastle Knights 12
Round 7 — Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 24 def. South Sydney Rabbitohs 9
THE HISTORY
· Head-to-Head — Played 31, Bulldogs 20, Wests Tigers 11
· At ANZ Stadium — Played 19, Bulldogs 12, Wests Tigers 7
· Last Time They Met — Bulldogs 32 def. Wests Tigers 22 (Rd.18, 2016)
TEAM MATCHUP
|
Wests Tigers |
Bulldogs |
Position |
14th (4 points) |
7th (8th points) |
Home Form |
Won 0, Lost 3 |
Won 3, Lost 1 |
Away Form |
Won 2, Lost 2 |
Won 1, Lost 2 |
Points Scored |
110 points (14th) |
110 points (15th) |
Points Conceded |
192 points (15th) |
116 points (6th) |
THREE FINAL FACTS
· Wests Tigers forward Joel Edwards will play his 100th NRL game this week
· James Tedesco has scored five tries in his last three games against the Bulldogs
· The Bulldogs have won 16 of their last 20 games played at ANZ Stadium