Match Preview: NRL Round 18 vs Roosters
A blockbuster clash against the Roosters at Allianz Stadium awaits Wests Tigers in Round 18.
Match: Roosters v Wests Tigers
Round 18 -
home Team
Roosters
6th Position
away Team
Wests Tigers
14th Position
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
With both sides fielding reshuffled line-ups due to injuries and State of Origin duties, the match presents a real opportunity for the Tigers to score their sixth win of the season.
Benji Marshall has made several changes to the side that took on Manly last week, including two new faces in the squad and a positional shift at the back:
- Charlie Staines returns to the starting side on the wing, while Sunia Turuva shifts into the fullback role.
- Tristan Hope will wear the No.9 jersey, stepping up for Api Koroisau who is out with concussion protocols.
- Charlie Murray is also set to make his second NRL appearance off the bench.
- With Jarome Luai and Koroisau unavailable, leadership duties fall to Alex Twal, who captains the side for the first time at NRL level.
- Teenage back Luke Laulilii has been named in the centres.
The Roosters will be without Origin stars Lindsay Collins, Spencer Leniu, Robert Toia, Angus Crichton and Connor Watson, opening the door for a pair of debutants in Tom Rodwell (wing) and Max McCathie (interchange).
Egan Butcher returns in the second row, while Mark Nawaqanitawase shifts into the centres to replace Robert Toia.
This match could be defined by how each team handles the disruption to their spine. The Tigers will look to Adam Doueihi and young half Latu Fainu to steer the ship in attack, while the Roosters will rely on Benaiah Ioelu to increase his attacking output in the absence of Watson.
The forward battle will be key, and the Tigers pack, led by Terrell May, Fonua Pole and skipper Alex Twal, will need to lay a platform against a Roosters middle that’s also undergone reshuffling.
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Roosters is number 1 James TedescoFullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Sunia Turuva
-
Winger for Roosters is number 2 Daniel TupouWinger for Wests Tigers is number 2 Charlie Staines
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Centre for Roosters is number 3 Billy SmithCentre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Luke Laulilii
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Centre for Roosters is number 4 Mark NawaqanitawaseCentre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Starford To'a
-
Winger for Roosters is number 5 Tom RodwellWinger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Jeral Skelton
-
Five-Eighth for Roosters is number 6 Sandon SmithFive-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Adam Doueihi
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Halfback for Roosters is number 7 Hugo SavalaHalfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Latu Fainu
Forwards
-
Prop for Roosters is number 8 Naufahu WhyteProp for Wests Tigers is number 8 Terrell May
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Hooker for Roosters is number 9 Benaiah IoeluHooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Tristan Hope
-
Prop for Roosters is number 10 Makahesi MakatoaProp for Wests Tigers is number 10 Fonua Pole
-
2nd Row for Roosters is number 11 Egan Butcher2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Samuela Fainu
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2nd Row for Roosters is number 12 Salesi Foketi2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Jack Bird
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Lock for Roosters is number 13 Blake SteepLock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Alex Twal
Interchange
-
Interchange for Roosters is number 14 Zach Dockar-ClayInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Charlie Murray
-
Interchange for Roosters is number 15 Max McCathieInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Alex Seyfarth
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Interchange for Roosters is number 16 Taylor LosaluInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Sione Fainu
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Interchange for Roosters is number 17 De La Salle Va'aInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Tony Sukkar
Reserves
-
Replacement for Roosters is number 18 Ethan KingReplacement for Wests Tigers is number 18 Kit Laulilii
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Reserve for Roosters is number 19 Ethan RobertsReserve for Wests Tigers is number 19 Brent Naden
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Reserve for Roosters is number 20 Chad TownsendReserve for Wests Tigers is number 20 Royce Hunt
-
Reserve for Roosters is number 21 Ben JohnsonReserve for Wests Tigers is number 21 Solomona Faataape
-
Reserve for Roosters is number 22 Tyler MoriartyReserve for Wests Tigers is number 22 Izaac Tu'itupou
Roosters Ins
- Ben Johnson
- Chad Townsend
- De La Salle Va'a
- Egan Butcher
- Ethan Roberts
- Makahesi Makatoa
- Max McCathie
- Taylor Losalu
- Tom Rodwell
- Tyler Moriarty
Wests Tigers Ins
- Brent Naden
- Charlie Staines
- Izaac Tu'itupou
- Kit Laulilii
- Royce Hunt
- Solomona Faataape
- Tristan Hope
Roosters Outs
- Angus Crichton
- Connor Watson
- Lindsay Collins
- Robert Toia
- Siua Wong
- Spencer Leniu
Wests Tigers Ins
- Apisai Koroisau
- Heath Mason
- Tallyn Da Silva
Match Officials
- Referee: Peter Gough
- Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
- Senior Review Official: Adam Gee
Last updated:
Fast Facts:
- The Roosters have won 18 of their past 19 games against Wests Tigers.
- Wests Tigers centre Starford To’a has scored four tries in his past four games.
- Roosters outside back Mark Nawaqanitawase has scored nine tries in his last seven games.
- Wests Tigers back Sunia Turuva has scored four tries in four games against the Roosters.
- Roosters winger Daniel Tupou has scored 21 tries in 15 games against Wests Tigers.
Stats supplied by NRL historian/statistician David Middleton.
