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Wests Tigers will look to keep their finals hopes alive this week when they take on the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Bankwest Stadium.

After fighting from 14 points down late on to secure a thrilling win over the Sea Eagles last weekend, Michael Maguire's side will head in to Thursday's game full of confidence and still in the hunt for a top eight finish, but knowing that they need to secure the two points on offer this weekend to stay in the playoff picture.

Level on points with the New Zealand Warriors, Wests Tigers enter Round 18 four points outside the top eight following Cronulla's heavy defeat to Newcastle. 

With Wests Tigers playing in the first game of the round, that gap can be cut to just two with a win on Thursday with the Sharks set to face the Warriors on Sunday.

Wests Tigers will head in to the contest with two late changes after Moses Mbye and Joey Leilua were both ruled out. Chris Lawrence and Tommy Talau both return to the side, with Adam Doueihi shifting back to fullback.

South Sydney are set to welcome back Origin representative Dane Gagai from a hamstring injury. Having scored a hat-trick when the two sides met earlier in the year, Gagai's inclusion is a key one for the Rabbitohs with the 29-year-old set to take the place of Jaxson Paulo on the wing.

Despite their defeat earlier in the year, Wests Tigers still maintain a good overall record against Souths, having scored more points per game against the Rabbitohs than any other club in history. Interestingly, Wests Tigers also haven't lost twice in the same season to South Sydney since 2013. 

MATCH DETAILS

Date — Thursday, September 8, 2020

Time — 7:50pm AEST

Venue — Bankwest Stadium

TV, RADIO AND LIVE STREAM INFORMATION

TV — Live via Channel 9 and Fox Sports (Ch.502)

Radio — AM 702 ABC Grandstand, AM 873 2GB, FM 104.9 Triple M

Live Stream — 9NOW, FoxtelGo KAYO, NRL Digital Pass and Watch NRL (int.)

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 4 Adam Doueihi
    Fullback for Rabbitohs is number 1 Corey Allan
  • Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 David Nofoaluma
    Winger for Rabbitohs is number 2 Alex Johnston
  • Centre for Wests Tigers is number 18 Chris Lawrence
    Centre for Rabbitohs is number 3 Campbell Graham
  • Centre for Wests Tigers is number 19 Tommy Talau
    Centre for Rabbitohs is number 4 Steven Marsters
  • Winger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Asu Kepaoa
    Winger for Rabbitohs is number 5 Dane Gagai
  • Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Benji Marshall
    Five-Eighth for Rabbitohs is number 6 Cody Walker
  • Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Luke Brooks
    Halfback for Rabbitohs is number 7 Adam Reynolds

Forwards

  • Prop for Wests Tigers is number 8 Josh Aloiai
    Prop for Rabbitohs is number 8 Liam Knight
  • Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Harry Grant
    Hooker for Rabbitohs is number 9 Damien Cook
  • Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 Thomas Mikaele
    Prop for Rabbitohs is number 10 Thomas Burgess
  • 2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Luke Garner
    2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 11 Jaydn Su'a
  • 2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Luciano Leilua
    2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 12 Bayley Sironen
  • Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Alex Twal
    Lock for Rabbitohs is number 13 Cameron Murray

Interchange

  • Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Matthew Eisenhuth
    Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 14 Mark Nicholls
  • Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Elijah Taylor
    Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 15 Jed Cartwright
  • Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Jacob Liddle
    Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 16 Patrick Mago
  • Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Sam McIntyre
    Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 17 Keaon Koloamatangi

Match Officials

  • Referee: Ben Cummins
  • Touch Judge: Todd Smith
  • Touch Judge: Chris Sutton
  • Senior Review Official: Henry Perenara

Last updated:

LATEST TEAM NEWS

Wests Tigers — Joey Leilua and Moses Mbye are both late omissions, with Chris Lawrence and Tommy Talau joining the side and Adam Doueihi going to fullback. 

Rabbitohs — Dane Gagai returns from a hamstring strain on the wing in place of Jaxson Paulo. Junior Tatola is out with Liam Knight starting at prop and Jed Cartwright onto the bench.

LATEST NEDS ODDS

H2H — Wests Tigers ($3.15), South Sydney Rabbitohs ($1.36)

Line — Wests Tigers (+7.5) $2.00, South Sydney Rabbitohs (-7.5) $2.00

Odds correct as of 3:00pm, September 8. 18+ only. Gamble responsibly.

HISTORY

Head-to-Head — Played 35, South Sydney Rabbitohs 19, Wests Tigers 16

At Bankwest Stadium — Played 2, South Sydney Rabbitohs 1, Wests Tigers 1

Last Time They Met — South Sydney 18 def. Wests Tigers 10 (Rd.9, 2020)

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee — Ben Cummins

Touch Judges — Todd Smith and Chris Sutton

Review — Bryan Norrie and Henry Perenara

Acknowledgement of Country

Wests Tigers respect and honour the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.

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