Wests Tigers are the 'home' team in Hamilton tonight but it's the red-hot One New Zealand Warriors who will have the crowd in their corner as they work towards a top-four finish.
The Warriors sit third after getting the job done against the Titans and with their remaining four matches against sides outside the top eight they are in the box seat for a double chance in September.
Against that they haven't won in Hamilton before, going down to St George Illawarra in a home game in 2017 and losing 'away' games to Canterbury-Bankstown (2014) and Parramatta (2005 and 2006).
It will be a huge night for Hamilton-born Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Taine Tuaupiki who played their junior rugby league in the Waikato area. They'll both have big numbers of family and friends among the capacity crowd.
With Shaun Johnson in supreme form and Addin Fonua-Blake controlling the middle, the One New Zealand Warriors have chalked up 13 wins to set up their first finals appearance since 2018.
For Wests Tigers, there is still a remote chance they can escape the wooden spoon if they can grab a couple of wins in the run home and the Dragons lose all four of their matches.
At the very least their long-suffering fans will hope they can keep producing the sort of effort they displayed in Canberra on Sunday when they pushed the Raiders to the limit before going down 22-18.
Match: Wests Tigers v Warriors
Round 24 -
home Team
Wests Tigers
away Team
Warriors
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Jahream BulaFullback for Warriors is number 1 Taine Tuaupiki
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Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 David NofoalumaWinger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
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Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Starford To'aCentre for Warriors is number 3 Rocco Berry
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Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Asu KepaoaCentre for Warriors is number 4 Adam Pompey
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Winger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Junior TupouWinger for Warriors is number 5 Marcelo Montoya
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Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Daine LaurieFive-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Luke Metcalf
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Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Luke BrooksHalfback for Warriors is number 7 Shaun Johnson
Forwards
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Prop for Wests Tigers is number 8 Stefano UtoikamanuProp for Warriors is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake
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Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Apisai KoroisauHooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan
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Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 David KlemmerProp for Warriors is number 10 Mitchell Barnett
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2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Isaiah Papali'i2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Jackson Ford
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2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 John Bateman2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Marata Niukore
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Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Fonua PoleLock for Warriors is number 13 Tohu Harris
Interchange
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Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Jake SimpkinInterchange for Warriors is number 14 Dylan Walker
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Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Alex SeyfarthInterchange for Warriors is number 15 Jazz Tevaga
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Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Alex TwalInterchange for Warriors is number 16 Bayley Sironen
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Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Shawn BloreInterchange for Warriors is number 17 Josh Curran
Reserves
-
Replacement for Wests Tigers is number 18 Justin MatamuaReplacement for Warriors is number 18 Freddy Lussick
Match Officials
- Referee: Chris Butler
- Touch Judge: Chris Sutton
- Touch Judge: Nick Beashel
- Senior Review Official: Matt Noyen
Last updated:
Team news
Wests Tigers: Forwards Stefano Utoikamanu and Shawn Blore return from concussion in a boost for Wests Tigers, but Charlie Staines is out with a hamstring injury so Junior Tupou shifts to the wing and Asu Kepaoa comes into the centres. Alex Twal goes back to the bench to accommodate Utoikamanu's return. There were no changes in Friday's 24-hour update.
One New Zealand Warriors: Taine Tuaupiki will play his fourth game of the season, taking over at fullback from Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (head knock) in the only change to the squad that downed the Titans last week. Edward Kosi and Freddy Lussick remained in the squad when it was trimmed to 19 on Friday.
Stat attack
- Wests Tigers have come up with 240 offloads this season, second only to the Eels with 283.
- One New Zealand Warriors prop Addin Fonua-Blake averages 170 run metres per game this season and 64.4 post-contact metres per match.
- Wests Tigers have been outscored 48-6 in their past two games in New Zealand.
- The Warriors have won their past five games against Wests Tigers.
- Wests Tigers winger David Nofoaluma has scored eight tries in 12 games against the Warriors.
- The Warriors will play their 700th game since entering the competition in 1995.
- Wests Tigers have conceded 40 tries in their past six games.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
