Wests Tigers will head to Southern Cross Group Stadium for the first time since 2015 to take on the defending premiers Cronulla Sharks this Saturday night.
Remarkably, Wests Tigers hold an impressive head-to-head record against the men from the Shire at the former Shark Park — winning seven of their last nine games at the venue.
Combine that with Shane Flanagan’s side less-than-impressive record at home this year (winning three of seven) and there’s certainly plenty of reason for optimism amongst Wests Tigers fans this week despite their contrasting ladder positions.
Despite missing their Origin players in James Tedesco and Aaron Woods, Wests Tigers will receive a timely boost this week with the return of Luke Brooks from a hamstring injury.
The star halfback has not featured for the team in over a month, and will certainly be a welcome addition in the halves alongside new five-eighth Tuimoala Lolohea, with the pair set to combine for the first time this Saturday night.
Cronulla too will see a new halves combination in Fa’amanu Brown and Chad Townsend, with James Maloney away on Origin duties. He joins one of five Sharks to be omitted from the side with representative commitments, with Valentine Holmes, Jack Bird, Wade Graham and Andrew Fifita also missing from the squad — leaving Coach Flanagan with plenty of holes to fill and plenty of new combinations to come together on the night.
Having said that, in their last outing without their Origin stars, it was the experience of Paul Gallen who got the Sharks home against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, and the former Origin captain will certainly be looking to lead from the front once again.
Wests Tigers will have two special occasions to celebrate on the night, with the debut game for Matt Eisenhuth as well as the 100th first-grade game for Ava Seumanufagai.
Be there at Campbelltown Stadium when we take on the Titans for Friday Night Football!
MATCH DETAILS
Date — Saturday, June 17, 2017
Time — 7:30pm AEST
Venue — Southern Cross Group Stadium
TV, LIVE STREAM AND RADIO INFORMATION
TV — Live via Fox League (Ch.502, subscription required)
Radio — Live via AM 702 ABC Grandstand, AM 2GB 87
Live Stream — Live via Foxtel Go, NRL Digital Pass (subscription required)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referees — Henry Perenara and Dave Munro
Touch Judges — Michael Wise and Jarrod Cole
Review Officials — Bryan Norrie and Ashley Klein
LATEST CROWNBET ODDS
Head-to-Head — Cronulla ($1.28), Wests Tigers ($3.80)
Line — Cronulla (-10.5) $1.92, Wests Tigers (+10.5) $1.92
Latest odds via Crownbet.com.au (18+ only, gamble responsibly).
Odds correct as of Thursday, June 15 at 12:00pm AEST
CONFIRMED SQUADS
Cronulla Sharks
1. Gerard Beale 2. Sosaia Feki 3. Kurt Capewell 4. Ricky Leutele 5. Edrick Lee 6. Fa'amanu Brown 7. Chad Townsend 8. Sam Tagataese 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Matt Prior 11. Luke Lewis 12. Jayson Bukuya 13. Paul Gallen (Interchange: 14. Daniel Mortimer 15. Chris Heighington 16. Jeremy Latimore 17. Joseph Paulo, Reserves: 18. Kurt Dillon 19. Jesse Ramien 20. Jack Willams 21. Billy Magoulias) — Coach: Shane Flanagan
Wests Tigers
1. Kevin Naiqama 2. David Nofoaluma 3. Michael Chee Kam 4. Moses Suli 5. Malaki Watene-Zelezniak 6. Tuimoala Lolohea 7. Luke Brooks 8. Tim Grant 9. Matt McIlwrick 10. Ava Seumanufagai 11. Sauaso Sue 12. Kyle Lovett 13. Elijah Taylor (Interchange: 14. Matt Eisenhuth 15. JJ Felise 16. Esan Marsters 17. Jacob Liddle, Reserves: 18. Joel Edwards 19. Jack Littlejohn 20. Watson Heleta 21. Junior Tatola) — Coach: Ivan Cleary
Team Lists Update
4:00pm, Tuesday — 21-man squads named
7:30pm, Friday— 19-man squads named (two players omitted)
6:30pm, Saturday— Final 17-man teams named (further two players omitted)
RECENT RESULTS
Wests Tigers
Round 9 — Cronulla Sharks 22 def. Wests Tigers 16
Round 10 — South Sydney Rabbitohs 28 def. Wests Tigers 8
Round 11 — Brisbane Broncos 36 def. Wests Tigers 0
Round 13 — St. George-Illawarra Dragons 16 def. Wests Tigers 12
Round 14 — Sydney Roosters 40 def. Wests Tigers 18
Cronulla Sharks
Round 9 — Cronulla Sharks 22 def. Wests Tigers 16
Round 10 — Cronulla Sharks 18 def. St. George-Illawarra Dragons 14
Round 11 — Cronulla Sharks 18 def. North Queensland Cowboys 14
Round 12 — Cronulla Sharks 9 def. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 8
Round 14 — Melbourne Storm 18 def. Cronulla Sharks 13
THE HISTORY
· Head-to-Head — Played 28, Wests Tigers 17, Cronulla 10, Drawn 1
· At Southern Cross Group Stadium — Played 13, Wests Tigers 8, Cronulla 4, Drawn 1
· Last Time They Met — Cronulla Sharks 22 def. Wests Tigers 16 (Rd.9, 2017)
TEAM MATCHUP
|
Cronulla Sharks |
Wests Tigers |
Position |
3rd (20 points) |
15th (8 points) |
Home Form |
Played 7, Won 3, Lost 4 |
Played 7, Won 1, Lost 6 |
Away Form |
Played 6, Won 6, Lost 0 |
Played 6, Won 2, Lost 4 |
Points Scored |
240 points (12th) |
182 points (16th) |
Points Conceded |
172 points (1st) |
346 points (14th) |