Vailea debuts, Aitken to loose forward, Tevaga on bench
Someone will leave Suncorp Stadium on Friday night with a much-needed win as both the Warriors and Wests Tigers have been down on their luck.
The Warriors are desperately wanting to raise their spirits after seven straight losses. The last round was particularly hard with Nathan Brown's men conceding 60 points (11 tries) to the Rabbitohs.
The Wests Tigers were on a high after charging back to a 42-24 win over the Broncos only to be beaten by nearly the same scoreline (44-24) a week later by the Manly Sea Eagles.
It may come down to which side makes the least errors and on that count the Wests Tigers are the third worst in the NRL in conceding penalties, behind the Roosters and Bulldogs.
Match: Wests Tigers v Warriors
Round 20 -
home Team
Wests Tigers
13th Position
away Team
Warriors
12th Position
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
The rundown
Team news
Wests Tigers: James Tamou is out, with the returning Alex Twal to start at prop after overcoming a shoulder injury.
Kelma Tuilagi moves from the reserves list to the interchange bench, with Zac Cini the 18th man.
Jock Madden and Jake Simpkin were the first two players omitted from the squad 24 hours before kick-off.
Wests Tigers five-eighth Adam Doueihi has scored 42 points in his past three games at Suncorp Stadium.
Warriors: In changes announced an hour before kick-off, Euan Aitken moves from the centres into the second row with Viliami Vailea (No.18) to start at centre. Bayley Sironen moves to lock and Jazz Tevaga back to the bench.
Pride Petterson-Robati will be the 18th man.
Eliesa Katoa has passed concussion protocols and will play.
Peta Hiku returns from a shoulder injury and has been named to captain the side in the wake of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck's decision to return home to New Zealand.
Taniela Otukolo will start at hooker.
The Warriors have won three of their past four games against Wests Tigers.
Match: Wests Tigers v Warriors
Round 20 -
home Team
Wests Tigers
away Team
Warriors
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Daine LaurieFullback for Warriors is number 1 Reece Walsh
-
Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 David NofoalumaWinger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
-
Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Moses MbyeCentre for Warriors is number 3 Adam Pompey
-
Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Tommy TalauCentre for Warriors is number 18 Viliami Vailea
-
Winger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Ken MaumaloWinger for Warriors is number 5 Marcelo Montoya
-
Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Adam DoueihiFive-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Peta Hiku
-
Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Luke BrooksHalfback for Warriors is number 7 Sean O'Sullivan
Forwards
-
Prop for Wests Tigers is number 8 Stefano UtoikamanuProp for Warriors is number 8 Jamayne Taunoa-Brown
-
Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Jacob LiddleHooker for Warriors is number 9 Taniela Otukolo
-
Prop for Wests Tigers is number 14 Alex TwalProp for Warriors is number 10 Ben Murdoch-Masila
-
2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Shawn Blore2nd Row for Warriors is number 4 Euan Aitken
-
2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Luciano Leilua2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Eliesa Katoa
-
Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Joe OfahengaueLock for Warriors is number 12 Bayley Sironen
Interchange
-
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Tom AmoneInterchange for Warriors is number 14 Kodi Nikorima
-
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Tukimihia SimpkinsInterchange for Warriors is number 15 Bunty Afoa
-
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Michael Chee KamInterchange for Warriors is number 16 Kane Evans
-
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 18 Kelma TuilagiInterchange for Warriors is number 17 Jazz Tevaga
Reserves
-
Reserve for Wests Tigers is number 20 Zac CiniReserve for Warriors is number 21 Pride Petterson-Robati
Match Officials
- Referee: Ben Cummins
- Touch Judge: Darian Furner
- Touch Judge: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
- Senior Review Official: Henry Perenara
Last updated:
Key match-up
Daine Laurie v Reece Walsh: Pint-sized fullbacks Laurie and Walsh - both of whom are under 180cm - pack some punch with seven tries each, as well as great acceleration off the mark.
Laurie has 71 tackle breaks but that's from 18 games. Walsh is holding his own with 35 from 10 games. The elusive running by these two will go a long way to determining their team's success.
Stat attack
The Wests Tigers are fourth in the NRL for offloads with three players inside the top 20 - David Nofoaluma, Luciano Leilua, and Joe Ofahengaue - just to keep the Warriors a little more on their toes.
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