Cleary names strong side for pivotal Bulldogs clash

Author: Dan Talintyre
Timestamp: Tue 24 Jul 2018, 03:59 PM

Wests Tigers Head Coach Ivan Cleary has named his 21-man squad to take on the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs for their Round 20 clash this Friday night.

Kickoff for the match is at 7:50pm AEST as Wests Tigers look to build on their recent upset wins over the Dragons and Rabbitohs and keep their finals hopes alive with a third straight win.

Heading in to Round 20, Wests Tigers currently sit in ninth spot — four points behind the Penrith Panthers, Brisbane Broncos and New Zealand Warriors, who all sit level inside the top eight on 24 points.

Cleary has named a relatively unchanged side from the one that stunned the ladder-leading Rabbitohs last Saturday at ANZ Stadium with the only change that of Josh Aloiai, who has been ruled out with injury.

Aloiai is replaced in the run-on side by Luke Garner, who earns the first start of his career just two games after making his first-grade debut, while Robbie Rochow returns to the squad on the interchange bench.

Jacob Liddle, Chris McQueen, Pita Godinet and Malakai Watene-Zelezniak have been named as reserves.

After failing to return from their concussion tests last Saturday, Robbie Farah, David Nofoaluma and Garner have all been named to play and will undergo the appropriate concussion protocols this week.

Friday's game will feature as a milestone match for Nofoaluma, who plays his 100th NRL game, and also Taylor, who plays his 50th game for Wests Tigers having previously played for the Warriors and Panthers.

Bulldogs Coach Dean Pay has also named a relatively unchanged lineup for Friday's game with Ofahiki Ogden replacing Clay Priest (suspension) on the bench in the only change for the side.

Chris Smith, Matt Frawley, Francis Tualau and John Olive have been named as reserves.

Wests Tigers were 14-10 winners over the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs when they met in Round 12 earlier this year at ANZ Stadium — a venue they have won four of their five games at this season.

TEAM LISTS

Round 20 - Round 20 - Friday 27 Jul

Full Time

Bulldogs

Wests Tigers

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Bulldogs is number 1 Will Hopoate

Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Moses Mbye
Winger for Bulldogs is number 2 Brett Morris

Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 David Nofoaluma
Centre for Bulldogs is number 3 Josh Morris

Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Esan Marsters
Centre for Bulldogs is number 4 Kerrod Holland

Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Kevin Naiqama
Winger for Bulldogs is number 5 Reimis Smith

Winger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Corey Thompson
Five-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Lachlan Lewis

Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Benji Marshall
Halfback for Bulldogs is number 7 Jeremy Marshall-King

Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Luke Brooks

Forwards

Prop for Bulldogs is number 8 Aiden Tolman

Prop for Wests Tigers is number 8 Russell Packer
Hooker for Bulldogs is number 9 Michael Lichaa

Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Robbie Farah
Prop for Bulldogs is number 10 David Klemmer

Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 Ben Matulino
2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 11 Josh Jackson

2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Michael Chee Kam
2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 12 Rhyse Martin

2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Luke Garner
Lock for Bulldogs is number 13 Adam Elliott

Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Elijah Taylor

Interchange

Interchange for Bulldogs is number 14 Fa'amanu Brown

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Alex Twal
Interchange for Bulldogs is number 15 Greg Eastwood

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Sauaso Sue
Interchange for Bulldogs is number 16 Ofahiki Ogden

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Matthew Eisenhuth
Interchange for Bulldogs is number 17 Danny Fualalo

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 19 Chris McQueen