Wests Tigers Head Coach, Benji Marshall is very wary of a desperate St George-Illawarra team in Saturday’s vital clash at Kogarah in Round 18 of the NRL Telstra Premiership.
The Dragons have won just one game this season to sit on the bottom of the ladder but pushed Canberra a long way in their 24-16 loss last weekend.
The Tigers sit 11th, four points outside the top eight, with 10 rounds remaining before the finals.
“We’re playing a Dragons team who have been desperate and playing with pride in their last six to seven games,’’ Marshall said.
“Unfortunately, they haven't got the results but they’re a dangerous team.
“We've got to make sure that we turn up with the right mindset, the right intent, the right attitude towards our defence, to give ourselves a real opportunity to beat them.
“Every game in the NRL's hard, and we have to make sure we prepare and go out like it’s going to be really hard.”
Wests Tigers will be without captain Jarome Luai after suffering delayed concussion symptoms following the 12-6 loss to the Newcastle Knights last Sunday.
Jock Madden, who returns from concussion, replaces Luai at five-eighth to partner Adam Doueihi in the halves.
A season ending shoulder injury to Taylan May sees Heamasi Makasini start at centre.
In positive news, hardworking lock Alex Twal returns from a knee injury, forcing Alex Seyfarth to the bench.
“It’s good to have Jock back. Adam and Jock spent a lot of time playing in the halves earlier in the year when Jarome was out and they did well together,’’ Marshall added.
“We're disappointed after the weekend. We had a lot of opportunities to win that game that we didn't take.
“We shot ourselves in the foot a bit, so there’s a lot there to improve on. We just need to be better in a few areas around our good ball attack.
“I want to take away some good things that we did to put Newcastle, where they only scored 12 points. They are a pretty good team. We have got to maintain that this week.”
Marshall paid tribute to Taylan May for his selfless act for the team after suffering his third dislocation for the season.
“We tried a couple of times to get him back and to his credit, he put his body on the line for the team and toughed it out and played through an injury,’’ Marshall said.
“It’s just the right time now to get the surgery done.”
Saturday’s match will be the first match between the sides at Kogarah since 2018. The Dragons have lost three straight at their home ground.
Stat Attack
- The Dragons have won three of their last four games against Wests Tigers.
- Wests Tigers have won only two from seven at St George Venues Jubilee Stadium.
- The Dragons have been outscored 62-12 in two games at Kogarah this season.
- Wests Tigers prop Bunty Afoa will make his 150th NRL appearance.
- Dragons centre Valentine Holmes has scored six tries in his last four games against Wests Tigers.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
