All the Round 8 team news!

Author: Dan Talintyre
Timestamp: Fri 30 Apr 2021, 10:44 AM

Wests Tigers Coach Michael Maguire has made several changes to his 21-man squad ahead of Sunday’s Round 8 clash against the St. George-Illawarra Dragons.

After a disappointing ANZAC Day result against the Sea Eagles, Maguire will welcome back Joey Leilua to the side after the Samoan international’s strong performance in the Knock-On Effect NSW Cup competition in Round 7.

Leilua last played in Round 5 before suffering a head knock against the Cowboys that saw him sidelined for the following week, but will return to the team this week in place of Michael Chee Kam.

Luke Garner also returns to the starting side after coming off the bench in the past fortnight. His inclusion in the back row sees Joe Ofahengaue shift to lock and Alex Twal to the front row, with young forward Stefano Utoikamanu dropping back to the bench alongside Moses Mbye, Alex Seyfarth and Thomas Mikaele.

Mikaele’s inclusion comes after his strong performance for reserve-grade on Sunday, where he scored the opening try and ran for 171 metres.

Chee Kam, Zane Musgrove, Tom Amone and Jacob Liddle are the four players included amongst the reserves with an updated 19-man squad to be provided at 4:05pm on Saturday.

Sunday’s clash will mark the second time in as many years that Wests Tigers have faced the Dragons at WIN Stadium, having claimed a 24-14 win when they last met in Round 1 of the 2020 season.

Round 8 - Round 8 - Sunday 2 May

Full Time

Dragons

Wests Tigers

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Matt Dufty

Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Daine Laurie
Winger for Dragons is number 2 Cody Ramsey

Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 David Nofoaluma
Centre for Dragons is number 3 Jack Bird

Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Joseph Leilua
Centre for Dragons is number 4 Zac Lomax

Centre for Wests Tigers is number 5 Tommy Talau
Winger for Dragons is number 5 Max Feagai

Winger for Wests Tigers is number 24 Zac Cini
Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Corey Norman

Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Adam Doueihi
Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Ben Hunt

Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Luke Brooks

Forwards

Prop for Dragons is number 8 Blake Lawrie

Prop for Wests Tigers is number 8 James Tamou
Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Andrew McCullough

Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Jake Simpkin
Prop for Dragons is number 10 Paul Vaughan

Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 Alex Twal
2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Josh Kerr

2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Luke Garner
2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Tariq Sims

2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Luciano Leilua
Lock for Dragons is number 15 Josh McGuire

Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Joe Ofahengaue

Interchange

Interchange for Dragons is number 13 Tyrell Fuimaono

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Moses Mbye
Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Daniel Alvaro

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Stefano Utoikamanu
Interchange for Dragons is number 17 Billy Burns

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Alex Seyfarth
Interchange for Dragons is number 18 Kaide Ellis

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Thomas Mikaele