Match Preview: NSW Cup Round 22

Wests Tigers will look to bounce back from a tough loss to the Newtown Jets when they take on the New Zealand Warriors in their Round 22 NSW Cup clash.

Despite the successful return of playmaker Tim Moltzen from a long-term injury, the visitors were unable to get the points on an emotional day at Henson Park in Round 21. They will no doubt be desperate to bounce back in to the winners circle this weekend in order to keep their hopes at a top-four finish alive, with just a few regular season games remaining.

When these two teams met earlier in the year, it went right down to the wire as Wests Tigers scored three times in the final nine minutes to win the match.

Will it be more of the same this time around? Read on for a full preview of the match including all the key details, team news, analysis and more.

Click here to get your tickets to Round 23 and cheer on the boys as they battle the Sydney Roosters at Leichhardt Oval on August 16.

Match Details

Date — Saturday, August 9

Time — 3:00pm AEST

Venue — Kirkham Oval, Elderslie

Radio — Live coverage courtesy of 2GLF FM 89.3 (listen via 893fm.com.au)

Twitter — Follow Wests Tigers on Twitter for all live scores and commentary

Tickets — Tickets are just $2 at the gate, so get along and cheer on the boys!

Confirmed Squads

Wests Tigers

1. Kurtis Rowe 2. Corey Brown 3. Kyle Lovett 4. Jy Hitchcox 5. Setefano Taukafa 6. Tim Moltzen 7. Michael Stevens 8. Jack Buchanan 9. Joel Luani 10. Michael Bullock 11. Brenden Santi 12. Jarred Farlow 13. Inno Inosesio (Interchange: 14. Nathan Brown 15. Andy Fiagatusa 16. Sam Hollis 17. Daniel Abou-Sleiman 18. Sonny Bristow)

New Zealand Warriors

1. Steve Waetford 2. Solomone Kata 3. Ken Maumalo 4. Dominque Peyroux 5. David Fusitu’a 6. Carlos Tuimavave 7. Sam Cook 8. Agnatius Pasi 9. Siliva Havili 10. Charlie-Paul Gubb 11. Michael Sio 12. Abraham Papalii 13. John Palavi (Interchange: 14. David Bhana 15. Upu Poching 16. Jarrod Tua 17. Sam Lisone 18. Raymond Faitala-Mariner)

Last Five Matches

Wests Tigers

R17 — Penrith Panthers 40 def. Wests Tigers 20

R18 — Wests Tigers 42 def. North Sydney Bears 24

R19 — Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 28 def. Wests Tigers 18

R20 — Wests Tigers 30 def. North Sydney Bears 22

R21 — Newtown Jets 30 def. Wests Tigers 14

New Zealand Warriors

R16 — Penrith Panthers 20 def. New Zealand Warriors 14

R18 — New Zealand Warriors 30 def. Wentworthville Magpies 6

R19 — New Zealand Warriors 6 def. Wyong Roos 4

R20 — New Zealand Warriors 32 def. Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 18

R20 — Mounties RLFC 42 def. New Zealand Warriors 4

Player to Watch — David Fusitu’a, New Zealand Warriors

A name seen throughout first-grade several times in his career, David Fusitu’a drops to NSW Cup this week, and he’ll be keen to make his mark against a strong defensive unit. He’ll be lining up against one of the more unexpected defensive combinations in the competition — Corey Brown and Kyle Lovett — with both players moved around due to a growing injury list. The Warriors winger has plenty of speed and vision to get on the outside of his man, and definitely knows his way to the try line — making him a big danger to watch out for on the day. If Wests Tigers can limit the ball and space that the powerful winger has to work with, they’ll definitely go a long way to getting the result on the day.

Team Stats