Wests Tigers will need to push through the pain barrier and show their mental toughness when they play their third NSW Cup within a week at Newcastle this Sunday, May 12.
Coach Paul Fletcher's men take on Newcastle Knights at Newcastle No 2 Sports Ground at 3pm following victories over North Sydney last Sunday and Illawarra Cutters last night.
Wests Tigers sit in fourth place on 12 points, equal with Newcastle, but on a better for and against.
MATCH DETAILS
Newcastle Knights Vs Wests Tigers
Newcastle No.2 Sports Ground, Sunday, May 12
Kick-off: 3pm
Referee: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
FOLLOW THE SCOREBOARD UPDATES HERE
Wests Tigers team to play Newcastle
1 Sean Meaney (c), 2 Taqele Naiyaravoro, 3 Josh Davis, 4 Rory Brien, 5 Asipeli Fine, 6 Luke Brooks, 7 Jacob Miller, 8 Ava Seumanufagai, 9 Masada Iosefa, 10 Matt Groat, 11 Sitaleki Akauola, 12 Jarrod Farlow, 13 Joel Luani; Interchange: 14 Michael Bullock, 15 Soni Passi, 16 David Harris, 17 Adrian Haangana, 18 Inno Inosesio, 19 Seffa Silafau, 20 Jy Hitchcox, 21 Jack Madden.
NSWRL PREVIEW
By Jamie Anderson/Brad Preston
The Knights come up against a battered and bruised Wests Tigers outfit here who will no doubt be thankful they have an extra day off to recover from their 38-24 win over the Illawarra Cutters last night.
The Knights had been playing some indifferent football of late but they looked to have turned a corner in the first half of last weekends Fox Sports match. The Matautia brothers are firing and the backline, which has been a work in progress, is starting to come together. Probably the highlight of this battle is the matchup between two up and coming forward packs lead by some monstrous front-rowers.
Mitchell Frei has been impressing all and sundry in VB NSW Cup circles and he will have a big challenge ahead of him when he and front-row partner Toka Likiliki square off against Ava Seumanufagai and Matt Groat, who both have NRL experience.
Teenage prodigy Luke Brooks has been named to start at five-eighth for the Tigers after being rested for their mid-week clash last night. Brooks looked sharp in their win over the Bears last weekend and NRL Coach Mick Potter will certainly get a good look at him against some NRL experienced players.
Talking Point: Biggest man alive Ok so thats taking it a step too far perhaps, but Toka Likiliki is one of the biggest humans running around in our competition, or any competition for that matter, and over recent weeks his impact for the Knights is getting better and better. Cut somewhat from the George Rose cloth, Toka doesnt appear to be the fittest athlete playing Rugby League, but when you watch him play, you can never doubt his ability to have a positive effect on a match. Heaven help the opposition if this guy ever gets fit enough to play 60-80 minutes a game.
Prediction: An extremely tough one to tip to finish the round. Knights by 4.
Coach Paul Fletcher's men take on Newcastle Knights at Newcastle No 2 Sports Ground at 3pm following victories over North Sydney last Sunday and Illawarra Cutters last night.
Wests Tigers sit in fourth place on 12 points, equal with Newcastle, but on a better for and against.
MATCH DETAILS
Newcastle Knights Vs Wests Tigers
Newcastle No.2 Sports Ground, Sunday, May 12
Kick-off: 3pm
Referee: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
FOLLOW THE SCOREBOARD UPDATES HERE
Wests Tigers team to play Newcastle
1 Sean Meaney (c), 2 Taqele Naiyaravoro, 3 Josh Davis, 4 Rory Brien, 5 Asipeli Fine, 6 Luke Brooks, 7 Jacob Miller, 8 Ava Seumanufagai, 9 Masada Iosefa, 10 Matt Groat, 11 Sitaleki Akauola, 12 Jarrod Farlow, 13 Joel Luani; Interchange: 14 Michael Bullock, 15 Soni Passi, 16 David Harris, 17 Adrian Haangana, 18 Inno Inosesio, 19 Seffa Silafau, 20 Jy Hitchcox, 21 Jack Madden.
NSWRL PREVIEW
By Jamie Anderson/Brad Preston
The Knights come up against a battered and bruised Wests Tigers outfit here who will no doubt be thankful they have an extra day off to recover from their 38-24 win over the Illawarra Cutters last night.
The Knights had been playing some indifferent football of late but they looked to have turned a corner in the first half of last weekends Fox Sports match. The Matautia brothers are firing and the backline, which has been a work in progress, is starting to come together. Probably the highlight of this battle is the matchup between two up and coming forward packs lead by some monstrous front-rowers.
Mitchell Frei has been impressing all and sundry in VB NSW Cup circles and he will have a big challenge ahead of him when he and front-row partner Toka Likiliki square off against Ava Seumanufagai and Matt Groat, who both have NRL experience.
Teenage prodigy Luke Brooks has been named to start at five-eighth for the Tigers after being rested for their mid-week clash last night. Brooks looked sharp in their win over the Bears last weekend and NRL Coach Mick Potter will certainly get a good look at him against some NRL experienced players.
Talking Point: Biggest man alive Ok so thats taking it a step too far perhaps, but Toka Likiliki is one of the biggest humans running around in our competition, or any competition for that matter, and over recent weeks his impact for the Knights is getting better and better. Cut somewhat from the George Rose cloth, Toka doesnt appear to be the fittest athlete playing Rugby League, but when you watch him play, you can never doubt his ability to have a positive effect on a match. Heaven help the opposition if this guy ever gets fit enough to play 60-80 minutes a game.
Prediction: An extremely tough one to tip to finish the round. Knights by 4.
