Wests Tigers and the New Zealand Warriors will look to end disappointing 2017 seasons on a winning note when they meet this Sunday night at Leichhardt Oval.
Both out of finals contention and coming in to Sunday’s game off the back of close defeats (having both led late in their respective contests), Wests Tigers and the Warriors will again take the field with a number of players unavailable, but will welcome back one or two key faces.
Already without a number of key players due to injury, Wests Tigers were dealt a further blow for Sunday’s game with Michael Chee Kam and Matt McIlwrick both picking up one-week suspensions out of last week’s match. With Matt Ballin (retired) and Jacob Liddle (shoulder) leaving Wests Tigers without three hookers for this week’s game, Ivan Cleary has named Elijah Taylor to return from a shoulder injury in the No.9 jersey.
Jack Littlejohn returns to the interchange bench with Luke Brooks also named to return from a hamstring injury, joining Tuimoala Lolohea in the halves for the final game of the season.
Chee Kam’s omission could aksi have caused a problem in the backline, having already moved there as cover for Moses Suli (ankle), Kevin Naiqama (ribs) and Jamal Idris (knee), but in good news for the side, Naiqama has been named to make a timely return from injury — replacing Chee Kam in a straight swap on the left.
With Chris Lawrence (pectoral) also unavailable, Cleary has retained his starting edges from last week in Josh Aloiai and Joel Edwards, with last week’s debutant Bayley Sironen also on the bench alongside versatile forwards Sauaso Sue and Alex Twal.
Uncapped utility Jeremy Marshall-King — who is the half-brother of 2005 Premiership Winner Benji Marshall — has been named amongst the reserves in jersey 19.
For the Warriors, Coach Stephen Kearney has named an changed side as they look to end a run of eight consecutive defeats with Shaun Johnson named once again to partner Kieran Foran in the halves after making a successful return from injury last weekend.
Isaac Luke has been named at hooker after going off with concussion last week.
Be there for our final home game of season 2017 and help farewell our departing players!
WESTS TIGERS
In’s | Luke Brooks, Kevin Naiqama, Elijah Taylor
Out’s | Matt McIlwrick, Michael Chee Kam, Ava Seumanufagai
Reserves | Ava Seumanufagai, Jeremy Marshall-King, JJ Felise, Watson Heleta
Unavailable | Chris Lawrence (pectoral), Michael Chee Kam (suspension), Matt McIlwrick (suspension), Jacob Liddle (shoulder), Jamal Idris (knee), Moses Suli (ankle)
1. James Tedesco
2. David Nofoaluma
3. Esan Marsters
4. Kevin Naiqama
5. Malakai Watene-Zelezniak
6. Tuimoala Lolohea
7. Luke Brooks
8. Aaron Woods (capt.)
9. Elijah Taylor
10. Tim Grant
11. Joel Edwards
12. Josh Aloiai
13. Matt Eisenhuth
Interchange:
14. Alex Twal
15. Sauaso Sue
16. Bayley Sironen
17. Jack Littlejohn
Reserves:
18. Ava Seumanufagai
19. Jeremy Marshall-King
20. JJ Felise
21. Watson Heleta
Coach: Ivan Cleary
NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
In’s | Nil.
Out’s | Nil.
Reserves | Charne Nicoll-Klokstad, Chris Satae, James Bell, Mason Lino
Unavailable | Albert Vete (arm), Nathaniel Roache (hamstring), Jacob Lillyman (bicep), James Gavet (arm), Bodene Thompson (pectoral)
1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (capt.)
2. David Fusitu’a
3. Blake Ayshford
4. Solomone Kata
5. Ken Maumalo
6. Kieran Foran
7. Shaun Johnson
8. Ben Matulino
9. Isaac Luke
10. Sam Lisone
11. Bunty Afoa
12. Ryan Hoffman
13. Simon Mannering
Interchange:
14. Ata Hingano
15. Charlie Gubb
16. Isaiah Papali’i
17. Jazz Tevaga
Reserves:
18. Charne Nicoll-Klokstad
20. Chris Satae
21. James Bell
22. Mason Lino
Coach: Stephen Kearney
