Wests Tigers will look to end the 2017 season on a winning note when they take on the New Zealand Warriors on a rare Sunday evening game at Leichhardt Oval.
It was another strong performance from Ivan Cleary’s side in Round 25 against the Cowboys but again, it was a disappointing end to the match with the visitors running in three tries in the final 13 minutes to emerge with a come-from-behind 22-14 victory.
The feeling was all too familiar for Wests Tigers over the past two months having led or trailed by less than one try with 10 minutes to go in every game since Round 17.
There’s no doubting the improved attitude and resilience Cleary’s men have shown to end the year, and they’ll be desperate to cap that off with a strong performance this Sunday.
After a relatively good with injuries throughout the year, Wests Tigers will again lineup without a number of key players — heading in to the contest without three hookers and a number of outside backs and edge forwards — but they will welcome back some key names with Luke Brooks (hamstring), Elijah Taylor (shoulder) and Kevin Naiqama (ribs) all named to return.
They’ll face the New Zealand Warriors remarkably for the first time this season and will be keen to extend their recent dominance over the visitors, having won the last three games between the two and averaging 40 points scored per game in the process.
For Stephen Kearney, the end of the year seemingly can’t come quick enough after their losing streak was extended to eight games in a row last weekend — this time in remarkable fashion as the Sea Eagles stole an unlikely 22-21 victory in Golden Point.
With Shaun Johnson, Kieran Foran, Isaac Luke and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck all together there’s no doubting the abilities of the Warriors to cause teams headaches in defence, however, and Wests Tigers will need to be on their toes for the visitors’ attack.
One thing that is in their favour, however, is the away form of the Warriors, who have won just once out of New Zealand all year — a 34-14 win over the 14th-placed Titans.
Wests Tigers, on the other hand, were winners in their last time out at Leichhardt Oval, and hold a slender 3-2 advantage between the two in games played at the venue.
Be there for our final home game of season 2017 and help farewell our departing players!
MATCH DETAILS
Date — Sunday, September 3, 2017
Time — 6:30pm AEST
Venue — Leichhardt Oval
TV, LIVE STREAM AND RADIO INFORMATION
TV — Live via Fox League (Ch.502)
Radio — AM 702 ABC Grandstand and ABC 2GB 873
Live Stream — Live via Foxtel Go, NRL Digital Pass (subscription required)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referees — Adam Gee and Peter Gough
Touch Judges — Dave Ryan and Phil Henderson
Video Referees — Luke Patten and Steve Chiddy
LATEST CROWNBET ODDS
Head-to-Head — Wests Tigers ($1.55), NZ Warriors ($2.50)
Line — Wests Tigers -5.5 ($1.92), NZ Warriors +5.5 ($1.92)
Latest odds via CrownBet.com.au (18+ only, gamble responsibly)
Odds correct as of Wednesday, August 30 at 8:00pm
TEAM NEWS
Wests Tigers
Plenty of changes for the final game of the season with Taylor returning from a shoulder injury to replace Matt McIlwrick (suspended) at hooker, while Naiqama (ribs) also returns to replace Michael Chee Kam (suspended) in the centres. Brooks is back from a hamstring injury, and he takes his spot in the halves in place of Jack Littlejohn, who drops back to the interchange bench alongside last week’s debutant Bayley Sironen, who retains his spot in the 17. Ava Seumanufagai drops to the reserves, alongside Jeremy Marshall-King and Watson Heleta.
NZ Warriors
No changes for Stephen Kearney’s side this week, with Shaun Johnson (knee) and Isaac Luke (concussion) both named to take their spot in the starting side once again.
Team Lists Update
4:00pm, Tuesday — 21-man squads announced — Click here!
6:30pm, Saturday — 19-man squads announced — TBC
5:30pm, Friday — 17-man team lists announced — TBC
RECENT RESULTS
Wests Tigers
Round 21 — Wests Tigers 26 def. Gold Coast Titans 4
Round 22 — Penrith Panthers 28 def. Wests Tigers 14
Round 23 — Wests Tigers 30 def. Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 26
Round 24 — Sydney Roosters 22 def. Wests Tigers 18
Round 25 — North Queensland Cowboys 22 def. Wests Tigers 14
New Zealand Warriors
Round 21 — Cronulla Sharks 26 def. NZ Warriors 12
Round 22 — Newcastle Knights 26 def. NZ Warriors 10
Round 23 — Canberra Raiders 36 def. NZ Warriors 16
Round 24 — South Sydney Rabbitohs 36 def. NZ Warriors 18
Round 25 — Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 22 def. NZ Warriors 21
THE HISTORY
· Head-to-Head — Played 28, Won 14, Lost 13, Drawn 1
· At Campbelltown Stadium — Played 5, Won 3, Lost 2
· Last Time They Met — Wests Tigers 36 def. NZ Warriors 24 (Rd.25, 2016)
TEAM MATCHUP
|
Wests Tigers |
NZ Warriors |
Position |
15th (16 points) |
13th (18 points) |
Home Form |
Won 2, Lost 9 |
Won 6, Lost 6 |
Away Form |
Won 4, Lost 8 |
Won 1, Lost 10 |
Points Scored |
385 points (15th) |
428 points (13th) |
Points Conceded |
555 points (14th) |
547 points (13th) |
