Match Preview: NSW Cup Round 12

Wests Tigers’ NSW Cup squad will look to extend their winning streak when they take on Wentworthville Magpies in their top-of-the-table clash this weekend.

Buoyed by wins over the Cronulla Sharks and Newcastle Knights, the hosts will certainly fancy their chances at a Magpies side not quite showing the same form that they were to begin the season, with the departure of players like Chris Sandow and Ken Sio to NRL hindering their attack somewhat. It’s still been an impressive run for Wentworthville, though, and with a strong back-line and forward pack, the Magpies will certainly be a tough test this weekend for Wests Tigers and will no doubt provide a great matchup.

Read on for a full match preview including all the key match details, radio live stream, team lists, match analysis and more ahead of this Round 12 clash.

Wests Tigers members can gain free entry to the ground on Saturday, with kick-off from 3:00pm AEST at Campbelltown Stadium.

NSW Cup Round 12 — Wests Tigers vs. Wentworthville Magpies

Date: Saturday, May 31, 2014

Time: Kickoff at 3:00pm AEST

Venue: Campbelltown Sports Stadium, Rose Payten Drive, Leumeah

Radio: Live coverage via 893fm.com.au

Confirmed Squads

Wests Tigers

1. Jy Hitchcox 2. Marika Koroibete 3. Asipeli Fine 4. Sitaleki Akauola 5. Setefano Taukafa 6. Mitchell Moses 7. Michael Stevens 8. Nathan Brown 9. Dayne Craig 10. Jack Buchanan 11. Curtis Sironen 12. Jarred Farlow 13. Kyle Lovett (Interchange: 14. Michael Bullock 15. Andy Fiagatusa 16. Brenden Santi 17. Dene Halatau 18. Inno Inosesio 19. Corey Brown 20. Sam Hollis).

Wentworthville Magpies

1. Justin Hunt 2. Fabian Goodall 3. John Folau 4. Vai Toutai 5. Bureta Faraimo 6. Ryan Matterson 7. Luke Kelly 26. Taniela Lasalo 9. Kaysa Pritchard 10. Fuifui Moimoi 11. Joseph Ualesi 12. Kenny Edwards 13. Ben Smith (Interchange: 14. Api Pewhairaingi 15. Isaac Maliota 16. Daniel Alvaro 17. Lorenzo Ma’afu 23. Ben Jones)

Last Five Matches

Wests Tigers

R7 — Wests Tigers 40 def. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 6

R8b — Mounties RLFC 24 def. Wests Tigers 14

R9 — Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 28 def. Wests Tigers 22

R10 — Wests Tigers 30 def. Cronulla Sharks 28

R11 — Wests Tigers 26 def. Newcastle Knights 22

Wentworthville Magpies

R7 — Wentworthville Magpies 54 def. Mounties RLFC 24

R8 — Wentworthville Magpies 20 def. North Sydney Bears 16

R8b — Wentworthville Magpies 50 def. Newcastle Knights 32

R9 — Wentworthville Magpies 30 def. Cronulla Sharks 28

R10 — Wentworthville Magpies 36 def. Illawarra Cutters 30

Key Players to Watch For

Marika Koroibete, Wests Tigers

Having endured an up and down start to the year between NSW Cup and NRL, Marika Koroibete is certainly back in form, and looms as a huge threat on the left wing this weekend. The flying Fijian has collected seven tries and 10 linebreaks in his past three games, with his breathtaking display against the Knights last weekend almost single-handedly getting his team over the line. With a strong defender inside him in Asipeli Fine, Koroibete’s defensive problems should be relatively sound this weekend — leaving him free to dominate in attack and to utilize his speed to full potential down the left touchline.

Bureta Faraimo, Wentworthville Magpies

Playing opposite Koroibete on the day will be Bureta Faraimo, who currently leads all Magpie players this year with 11 tries in as many rounds.

The New Zealand-born winger is a physically dominant opponent — tipping the scales at over 110kg — and will certainly be a big test for the hosts, especially with a good ball-provided in Vai Toutai playing inside him on the right wing.

Curtis Sironen, Wests Tigers

Curtis Sironen might not have played for Wests Tigers all season after injuring his foot in the Auckland Nines at the start of the year, but his return from injury last weekend against Newcastle was simply superb. Coming off the bench, Sironen scored with his first touch of the footy and set up two more tries in the second half as he played close to 60 minutes on the day. The powerful second-rower is bigger than he’s ever been before, and earns the starting spot this weekend in a potentially explosive Wests Tigers forward pack. 

Team Stats