After a last start win over the Newcastle Knights prior to the Round 18 bye, Wests Tigers return to action this Sunday when they take on the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles.
Not since 2003 have Wests Tigers recorded a victory over the Silvertails at Brookvale (now Lottoland), and they'll certainly need to be at their best this week in order to end that run.
Ivan Cleary's side finally delivered the performance they had been threatening to produce over the past six weeks with a convincing 33-12 win over the Knights in Newcastle, with halves Luke Brooks and Tuimoala Lolohea combining for their best game together in the victory.
They'll welcome back James Tedesco (and captain Aaron Woods) from Origin duties this Sunday, with Tedesco, Brooks and Lolohea combining for the first time in their careers.
Individually, they've all shown to be more than capable of breaking a game wide open; how they fare collectively will be key for Wests Tigers' chances at causing an upset this week.
Having said that, there's no denying the game will be won and lost in the middle this week — an area in which Trent Barrett's side have dominated all year. Led by key forwards Martin Taupau (who plays his 100th game this week), Jake Trbojevic and Brenton Lawrence, in-form halves Daly Cherry-Evans and Blake Green have had a tremendous platform to work off all season, and they'll again be looking to find that platform this weekend.
Wests Tigers have shown the ability to dominate any pack on their day (with wins over big packs in South Sydney, North Queensland and Canterbury-Bankstown this season), and they'll need to be at their very best in order to claim another scalp this Sunday in the Sea Eagles.
Chris Lawrence's return to the second row will certainly help Wests Tigers' claims in this department, while Woods has shown already an ability to back up from Origin in fine fashion — playing 60 minutes straight back in Round 16 just 48 hours after Game II in Sydney.
Their inclusions will certainly give Wests Tigers plenty of confidence for Sunday's game.
Be there at ANZ Stadium on Sunday, July 23 when we take on the Parramatta Eels!
MATCH DETAILS
Date — Sunday, July 16, 2017
Time — 2:00pm AEST
Venue — Lottoland
TV, LIVE STREAM AND RADIO INFORMATION
TV — Fox League (Ch.502, subscription required)
Radio — Live via AM 702 ABC Grandstand and AM 2GB 873
Live Stream — Foxtel Go, NRL Digital Pass (subscription required)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referees — Gerard Sutton and Tim Roby
Touch Judges — Jason Walsh and Kasey Badger
Review Officials — Ben Galea and Bernard Sutton
LATEST CROWNBET ODDS
Head to Head — Sea Eagles ($1.17), Wests Tigers ($5.25)
Line — Sea Eagles -14.5 ($1.92), Wests Tigers +14.5 ($1.92)
Latest odds via Crownbet.com.au (18+ only, gamble responsibly).
(Odds correct as of Wednesday, June 21 at 1:00pm AEST)
UPDATED 19-MAN SQUADS
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Matthew Wright 3. Dylan Walker 4. Brian Kelly 5. Akuila Uate 6. Blake Green 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Brenton Lawrence 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Martin Taupau 11. Frank Winterstein 12. Shaun Lane 13. Jake Trbojevic (Interchange: 14. Cameron Cullen 15. Lloyd Perrett 16. Darcy Lussick 17. Addin Fonua-Blake 18. Jarrad Kennedy 20. Brad Parker)
Wests Tigers
1. James Tedesco 2. David Nofoaluma 3. Esan Marsters 4. Moses Suli 5. Kevin Naiqama 6. Tuimoala Lolohea 7. Luke Brooks 8. Aaron Woods 9. Jacob Liddle 10. Ava Seumanufagai 11. Chris Lawrence 12. Sauaso Sue 13. Elijah Taylor (Interchange: 14. Matt Eisenhuth 15. Joel Edwards 16. Michael Chee Kam 17. Matt McIlwrick 18. Malakai Watene-Zelezniak 21. Alex Twal)
Team Lists Update
1:00pm, Sunday — Final 17-man team lists confirmed
RECENT RESULTS
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Round 14 — Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 18 def. Newcastle Knights 14
Round 15 — BYE
Round 16 — Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 35 def. Cronulla Sharks 18
Round 17 — Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 26 def. New Zealand Warriors 22
Round 18 — Penrith Panthers 16 def. Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 8
Wests Tigers
Round 14 — Sydney Roosters 40 def. Wests Tigers 18
Round 15 — Cronulla Sharks 24 def. Wests Tigers 22
Round 16 — Gold Coast Titans 26 def. Wests Tigers 14
Round 17 — Wests Tigers 33 def. Newcastle Knights 12
Round 18 — BYE
THE HISTORY
· Head-to-Head — Played 23, Sea Eagles 14, Wests Tigers 9
· At Lottoland — Played 8, Sea Eagles 7, Wests Tigers 1
· Last Time They Met — Wests Tigers 36 def. Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 22 (Rd. 2, 2016)
TEAM MATCHUP
|
Manly Sea Eagles |
Wests Tigers |
Position |
4th (24 points) |
15th (12 points) |
Home Form |
Won 4, Lost 5 |
Won 1, Lost 7 |
Away Form |
Won 6, Lost 1 |
Won 3, Lost 5 |
Points Scored |
368 points (2nd) |
251 points (15th) |
Points Conceded |
293 points (6th) |
408 points (15th) |
