NRL.com preview: Indigenous Round v Tigers
Both these sides let a win slip from their grasp last weekend and will be keen to make sure that doesn't happen again this round.
The Wests Tigers were in the lead at the 62-minute mark (20-18) before two late tries to the Warriors sealed their fate. St George Illawarra matched Cronulla with two tries but lost in golden-point extra time to a Chad Townsend field goal.
The Dragons are still without key personnel so the Wests Tigers might be sniffing some success this week. Their desperation to make a run for the top eight is as strong as the Dragons trying to keep their place in it - winning only one of their past five matches isn't helping.
Don't forget these two met only four weeks ago at WIN Stadium with Michael Maguire's men upsetting the Wollongong crowd with a 16-8 win.
Anthony Griffin's men must be keen to return the favour and knock over the Wests Tigers in front of their Bankwest Stadium home crowd on Friday night.
Match: Wests Tigers v Dragons
Round 12 -
home Team
Wests Tigers
13th Position
away Team
Dragons
8th Position
Venue: CommBank Stadium, Sydney
The rundown
Team news
Wests Tigers: They'll start 1-17 with Kiah Cooper the 18th man. James Roberts is back after four weeks on the sideline with a pectoral injury. He comes onto the wing with Tommy Talau moving into centre and Joey Leilua dropping out of the squad.
Last week's late inclusion, dummy-half Jake Simpkin, drops off the interchange with Tom Amone taking his place.
Simpkin and Stefano Utoikamanu were omitted from the extended bench 24 hours before kick-off.
Dragons: In a late positional change, Poasa Faamausili will start at prop with Paul Vaughan moving back to the bench. Apart from that, the Dragons are 1-17 with Kaide Ellis the 18th man.
Forward Josh Kerr (shoulder charge) misses a week after entering an early guilty plea and is replaced by Tariq Sims, who returns after serving a one-game ban.
Fullback Cody Ramsey, interchange forward Jaiyden Hunt and winger Max Feagai all failed HIAs during the loss to the Sharks with the first two named this week and Feagai replaced by the returning Brayden Wiliame (calf).
Late call-up Talatau Amone drops back to the interchange with recently signed veteran Gerard Beale earning the first start of his Dragons return in the centres.
Jayden Sullivan and Billy Brittain dropped off the extended bench on Thursday.
Match: Wests Tigers v Dragons
Round 12 -
home Team
Wests Tigers
away Team
Dragons
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Daine LaurieFullback for Dragons is number 1 Cody Ramsey
-
Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 David NofoalumaWinger for Dragons is number 2 Brayden Wiliame
-
Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Adam DoueihiCentre for Dragons is number 3 Jack Bird
-
Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Tommy TalauCentre for Dragons is number 4 Gerard Beale
-
Winger for Wests Tigers is number 5 James RobertsWinger for Dragons is number 5 Jordan Pereira
-
Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Moses MbyeFive-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Corey Norman
-
Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Luke BrooksHalfback for Dragons is number 7 Ben Hunt
Forwards
-
Prop for Wests Tigers is number 8 James TamouProp for Dragons is number 8 Blake Lawrie
-
Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Jacob LiddleHooker for Dragons is number 9 Andrew McCullough
-
Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 Alex TwalProp for Dragons is number 15 Poasa Faamausili
-
2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Luke Garner2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Billy Burns
-
2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Luciano Leilua2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Tariq Sims
-
Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Joe OfahengaueLock for Dragons is number 13 Jackson Ford
Interchange
-
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Tom AmoneInterchange for Dragons is number 10 Paul Vaughan
-
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Shawn BloreInterchange for Dragons is number 14 Talatau Amone
-
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Alex SeyfarthInterchange for Dragons is number 16 Daniel Alvaro
-
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Thomas MikaeleInterchange for Dragons is number 17 Jaiyden Hunt
Reserves
-
Reserve for Wests Tigers is number 21 Kiah CooperReserve for Dragons is number 18 Kaide Ellis
Match Officials
- Referee: Adam Gee
- Touch Judge: Peter Gough
- Touch Judge: Drew Oultram
- Senior Review Official: Henry Perenara
Last updated:
Key match-up
Adam Doueihi v Jack Bird: Going toe-to-toe in the centres should provide plenty of appeal as both players have a great fend to match their aggression. Bird has busted out of 38 tackles and offered five try assists to Doueihi's 22 tackle breaks and seven try assists, proving these these two are evenly matched.
Stat attack
The Wests Tigers are out in front for support play, with Luke Brooks in the NRL top four for engaging the line, and David Nofoaluma there too for offloads. Against all that potential to crack open a defence, the Dragons are the worst in the NRL for missed tackles.
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