Early team news for Round 2!

Author: Dan Talintyre
Timestamp: Mon 16 Mar 2020, 05:39 PM

Wests Tigers co-captain Moses Mbye could make a return from injury as early as this weekend but is unlikely to be fit in time to Sunday's Round 2 game against the Newcastle Knights at Leichhardt Oval.

With halfback Luke Brooks sidelined with a calf injury sustained in the final session before Round 1, Mbye's return could have provided some much needed leadership to the side after their win over the Dragons in Wollongong.

Maguire indicated in the lead-up to Round 1 that the Queensland Origin star wasn't too far away from returning from his own knee injury and could be back this week.

"We're hoping for next week but it's probably two weeks away," Maguire said.

"He's out of the brace and moving around now — sometimes you can get through that preparation of where you want to be really quickly."

Benji produces the magic for Nofoaluma try

Where Mbye will return to the side still remains to be seen after a quality team effort saw Wests Tigers home against the Dragons on Sunday night.

Adam Doueihi and Joey Leilua were both strong at centre in their first game for the club, while Billy Walters and Josh Reynolds both adjusted well to their new roles with bigger minutes forced upon them by Brooks' late withdrawal.

Both players appear set for similar roles in Round 2 with Reynolds set to partner Man of the Match Benji Marshall in the halves. Wests Tigers pulled through their season opener relatively unscathed in terms of injury, and could well name the same side for this week's game — including the reserves after Matt Eisenhuth, Oliver Clark and Tommy Talau all performed strongly in Canterbury Cup.

Post-Match: Tommy Talau

The Newcastle Knights also appear set for a relatively similar side in Round 2 after making light work of the New Zealand Warriors in Round 1.

Mason Lino and Tautau Moga both produced strong efforts in the Knights' Canterbury Cup win over the Warriors and will be keeping the pressure on the top squad, while the likes of Bradman Best (foot) and Sione Mata'utia (knee) both appear unlikely to return from their injuries this weekend.

Both sides will name their 21-man squads for Sunday's game at 4:00pm AEDT on Tuesday before updating the sides to 19 players at 4:00pm on Saturday.

Final team lists will be confirmed one hour prior to kickoff (3:00pm, Sunday).

Round 2 - Round 2 - Sunday 22 Mar

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 David Nofoaluma

Winger for Knights is number 2 Edrick Lee
Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Joseph Leilua

Centre for Knights is number 3 Enari Tuala
Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Adam Doueihi

Centre for Knights is number 4 Gehamat Shibasaki
Winger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Robert Jennings

Winger for Knights is number 5 Hymel Hunt
Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Benji Marshall

Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Kurt Mann
Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Josh Reynolds

Halfback for Knights is number 7 Mitchell Pearce

Forwards

Prop for Wests Tigers is number 8 Josh Aloiai

Prop for Knights is number 8 David Klemmer
Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Billy Walters

Hooker for Knights is number 9 Jayden Brailey
Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 Alex Twal

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 Luciano Leilua

2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Mitchell Barnett
Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Elijah Taylor

Lock for Knights is number 13 Herman Ese'ese

Interchange

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Thomas Mikaele

Interchange for Knights is number 14 Connor Watson
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Zane Musgrove

Interchange for Knights is number 15 Jacob Saifiti
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Chris Lawrence

Interchange for Knights is number 16 Tim Glasby
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 18 Michael Chee Kam

Interchange for Knights is number 17 Aidan Guerra