NRL Team Update: Round 23

Author: Dan Talintyre
Timestamp: Fri 23 Aug 2019, 05:28 PM

Wests Tigers Head Coach Michael Maguire has updated his 19-man squad ahead of tomorrow's must-win clash against the Newcastle Knights at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.

Kickoff for the match is at 5:30pm AEST as Wests Tigers look to bounce back from two tough defeats in a row and keep their top eight hopes alive.

Maguire has confirmed an unchanged squad from the team named during the week with Sam McIntyre dropping out of the side. Tommy Talau and Chris McQueen remain as reserves with final team lists to be confirmed one hour prior to kickoff.

Reynolds has been named to start at hooker following injuries to Robbie Farah (tibia) and Jacob Liddle (knee) in what will be his 148th career appearance, but his first game in the number nine jersey since the end of the 2011 season.

In addition to Farah and Liddle, Wests Tigers will also be without captain Moses Mbye for another week with the 26-year-old still sidelined with a hip flexor injury.

#ThrowbackThursday: Taking on the Knights!

After a strong performance for the club's Canterbury Cup side last weekend, Robert Jennings returns on the wing for his first NRL game since Round 17 — pushing Paul Momirovski in to the centres and last week's debutant Talau to the reserves.

Following his one-game suspension last week, Luke Garner has been named to return in the back row with Chris Lawrence also retaining his starting spot.

With Ryan Matterson named at lock, Michael Chee Kam shifts back to the bench.

NRL.com preview Knights clash

Thomas Mikaele also returns to the run-on side after a late switch with Matt Eisenhuth last weekend, with the Goodna Eagles junior to start at prop.

Benji Marshall will captain the side once again with Mbye sidelined as Wests Tigers look to bounce back from consecutive defeats and keep their finals hopes alive.

For the Knights, Coach Nathan Brown has confirmed that Bradman Best will make his first-grade debut — replacing Tautau Moga (hamstring) in the centres.

Tim Glasby (concussion) also returns on the bench in place of Kurt Mann, with Danny Levi likely to play big minutes at hooker with Connor Watson out.

Jamie Buhrer and Chris Randall remain in the squad as reserves.

Final team lists for both sides will be confirmed at 4:30pm AEST on Saturday.

Round 23 - Round 23 - Saturday 24 Aug

Full Time

Wests Tigers

Knights

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Corey Thompson

Fullback for Knights is number 1 Kalyn Ponga
Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 Robert Jennings

Winger for Knights is number 2 Hymel Hunt
Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Paul Momirovski

Centre for Knights is number 3 Sione Mata'utia
Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Esan Marsters

Centre for Knights is number 20 Bradman Best
Winger for Wests Tigers is number 5 David Nofoaluma

Winger for Knights is number 5 Shaun Kenny-Dowall
Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Benji Marshall

Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Mason Lino
Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Luke Brooks

Halfback for Knights is number 7 Mitchell Pearce

Forwards

Prop for Wests Tigers is number 8 Thomas Mikaele

Prop for Knights is number 8 David Klemmer
Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 13 Ryan Matterson

Hooker for Knights is number 9 Danny Levi
Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 Oliver Clark

Prop for Knights is number 10 Daniel Saifiti
2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Luke Garner

2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Lachlan Fitzgibbon
2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Chris Lawrence

2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Mitchell Barnett
Lock for Wests Tigers is number 14 Matthew Eisenhuth

Lock for Knights is number 21 Tim Glasby

Interchange

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 9 Josh Reynolds

Interchange for Knights is number 13 Josh King
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Elijah Taylor

Interchange for Knights is number 15 Herman Ese'ese
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Alex Twal

Interchange for Knights is number 16 Jacob Saifiti
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Michael Chee Kam

Interchange for Knights is number 17 Aidan Guerra