Neds Match Preview: Round 7
Wests Tigers will be looking to make it back-to-back wins for the first time this season when they take on the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the final game of the round this Sunday night.
After a strong last start win over the North Queensland Cowboys, Michael Maguire's side will head in to Sunday night's game with plenty of confidence and determined to end a run off three straight defeats against the Bulldogs.
It was a fast start from Wests Tigers in Round 6 that paved the way for victory — 34 unanswered points blew the Cowboys away and seemingly handed Maguire's men the two competition points on a platter. However, while the result might not have been in doubt, a sluggish second half performance that saw the Cowboys fight back to reduce the final score to 36-20 left somewhat of a sour taste in the mouth post-match for Wests Tigers and will have them primed for a better effort this weekend.
Their opponents in the Bulldogs head in to the contest after consecutive defeats, albeit with much different performances in their past two outings.
Maguire gives final word ahead of Bulldogs clash
Dean Pay's side were simply no match for the defending premiers in the Sydney Roosters a fortnight ago and while they were much more competitive last week against the Sharks, still walked away without the chocolates in a 20-18 defeat.
Currently sitting in 15th position on the ladder, the Bulldogs will be desperate to bounce back in to the winner's circle and a gritty, tough encounter is almost certainly on the cards for Sunday night.
Match: Bulldogs v Wests Tigers
Round 7 -
Home Team
Bulldogs
Away Team
Wests Tigers
Venue: Bankwest Stadium, Sydney
MATCH DETAILS
Date — Sunday, June 28
Time — 6:30pm AEST
Venue — Bankwest Stadium, Sydney
TV, RADIO AND LIVE STREAM INFORMATION
TV — Live via FOX League (Ch.502)
Radio —AM 702 ABC Grandstand, FM 104.9 Triple M
Live Stream — Foxtel Go, KAYO, NRL Digital Pass and Watch NRL (int.)
LATEST TEAM NEWS
Bulldogs — Christian Crichton's suspension sees Kerrod Holland included in the side with Reimis Smith shifting to the wing. Aiden Tolman is expected to be available for selection following his COVID-19 enforced break after being named on the reserves, with Coach Dean Pay to make a final call late in the week.
Wests Tigers — Robert Jennings (hamstring), Zane Musgrove (foot) and Alex Twal (knee) are all out after picking up injuries last week. Tommy Talau (hamstring) returns on the wing while Oliver Clark and Elijah Taylor also join the side. No changes are expected from the side named mid-week.
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Bulldogs is number 1 Will HopoateFullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Adam Doueihi
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Winger for Bulldogs is number 2 Reimis SmithWinger for Wests Tigers is number 2 David Nofoaluma
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Centre for Bulldogs is number 3 Kerrod HollandCentre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Joseph Leilua
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Centre for Bulldogs is number 4 Jake AverilloCentre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Moses Mbye
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Winger for Bulldogs is number 5 Dallin Watene-ZelezniakWinger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Tommy Talau
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Five-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Kieran ForanFive-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Josh Reynolds
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Halfback for Bulldogs is number 7 Brandon WakehamHalfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Luke Brooks
Forwards
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Prop for Bulldogs is number 10 Dylan NapaProp for Wests Tigers is number 8 Josh Aloiai
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Hooker for Bulldogs is number 9 Jeremy Marshall-KingHooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Harry Grant
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Prop for Bulldogs is number 21 Aiden TolmanProp for Wests Tigers is number 10 Oliver Clark
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2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 11 Josh Jackson2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Luke Garner
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2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 12 Raymond Faitala-Mariner2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Luciano Leilua
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Lock for Bulldogs is number 13 Adam ElliottLock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Matthew Eisenhuth
Interchange
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Interchange for Bulldogs is number 8 Renouf To'omagaInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Elijah Taylor
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Interchange for Bulldogs is number 14 Jack CoggerInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Thomas Mikaele
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Interchange for Bulldogs is number 15 Dean BrittInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Sam McIntyre
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Interchange for Bulldogs is number 16 Sauaso SueInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Michael Chee-Kam
LATEST NEDS ODDS
Head to Head — Wests Tigers ($1.50), Canterbury Bulldogs ($2.70)
Line — Wests Tigers -4.5 ($2.00), Canterbury Bulldogs +4.5 ($2.00)
Odds correct as of 12:00pm, Saturday June 27. 18+ only. Gamble responsibly.
HISTORY
Head to Head — Played 37, Bulldogs 23, Wests Tigers 13
At Bankwest Stadium — Yet to meet at Bankwest Stadium
Last Time They Met — Bulldogs 18 def. Wests Tigers 16 (Rd. 21, 2019)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee — Henry Perenara
Touch Judges — Kasey Badger and Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
Review Officials — Bryan Norrie and Steve Chiddy
