Wests Tigers will look to book a spot in the final four of the NYC Holden Cup finals when they take on the Brisbane Broncos this Friday night in their semifinal.
Andrew Webster’s side booked their clash with the baby Broncos with a gutsy 28-24 victory over the South Sydney Rabbitohs in their elimination final, while the Broncos suffered a 32-26 loss to the Parramatta Eels to send them into this do-or-die match.
The two sides have already met once this year, with Wests Tigers recording a commanding 42-10 victory over the visitors in Round 11 — a performance they’ll be keen to replicate on Friday night against Craig Hodges’ side at Allianz Stadium.
Who will keep their premiership hopes alive with a win this Friday night?
Read on for a full match preview including all the need-to-know match day information, TV and live stream details, team news, match analysis and more.
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Match Details
Date — Friday, September 19, 2014
Time — 5:15pm AEST
Venue — Allianz Stadium (Moore Park, Sydney)
TV and Live Stream Details
TV — Fox Sports 1 (check local guides)
Live Stream — Foxtel Go (subscription required)
Twitter — Click here to follow Wests Tigers on Twitter for live scores and commentary
Match Officials
Referees — Chris Butler and Jon Stone
Touch Judges — Lawrence McDonnell and Kasey Badger
Video Referees — Steve Clark and Henry Perenara
Confirmed Squads
Both teams are set to welcome back big stars for this week’s semifinal clash. Captain and Holden Cup Hooker of the Year Manaia Cherrington returns from a three week injury to take his place in the starting team for Wests Tigers, while dynamic playmaker Jayden Nikorima returns on the interchange bench for Brisbane. Jeremy Marshall-King has been ruled out for Wests Tigers with a shoulder injury in the only other change to last week’s team, while Jordan Drew has been named for the first time in six weeks for Brisbane.
Wests Tigers |
|
Brisbane Broncos |
Mason Farrell |
1 |
Kodi Nikorima |
John Tohi |
2 |
Paul Byrnes |
Watson Heleta |
3 |
Tom Opacic |
Delouise Hoeter |
4 |
Jordan Drew |
John Ogden |
5 |
Jack Tuttle |
Te Maire Martin |
6 |
Duncan Paia’aua |
Eli Levido |
7 |
Ashley Taylor |
Dallas Graham |
8 |
Aaron Rockley |
Manaia Cherrington (capt.) |
9 |
Jayden Berell |
Jordan Grant |
10 |
Joe Ofahengaue |
Salesi Funaki |
11 |
Brett Greinke |
Lamar Liolevave |
12 |
Brendon McBryde |
Andrew Kazzi |
13 |
Jai Arrow |
Hala Masila |
14 |
Jayden Nikorima |
Peter Ta’auso |
15 |
George Fai |
Sione Alofi |
16 |
Ajuma Adams |
Matthew Lodge |
19/17 |
Alex Barr |
Daniel Rakvin |
24/18 |
Kalolo Saitaua |
Last Five Matches
Wests Tigers
R23 — Wests Tigers 28 drew Sydney Roosters 28
R24 — Wests Tigers 24 def. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 22
R25 — Canberra Raiders 28 def. Wests Tigers 24
R26 — Wests Tigers 30 def. Cronulla Sharks 10
EF1 — Wests tigers 28 def. South Sydney Rabbitohs 24
Brisbane Broncos
R23 — Brisbane Broncos 36 def. South Sydney Rabbitohs 32
R24 — Brisbane Broncos 36 def. Newcastle Knights 16
R25 — St. George-Illawarra Dragons 58 def. Brisbane Broncos 18
R26 — Brisbane Broncos 32 def. Melbourne Storm 0
QF1 — Parramatta Eels 32 def. Brisbane Broncos 26
