Wests Tigers will look to bounce back from two close defeats when they take on the Canberra Raiders this Sunday at Campbelltown for their Round 15 clash.
After falling just short against the Roosters in Round 13, it was a case of deja vu for Ivan Cleary's side last Sunday against the Cronulla Sharks as they were unable to go on with the job in the second half — succumbing to a second half comeback from the home side that saw them finish the better of the two sides.
Cleary would no doubt have been impressed with the way his side competed and showed great resilience on the goal-line, but crucial errors at key times again caused problems throughout the match, and will certainly need to be addressed this week if they are to get the job done against the Raiders.
If Wests Tigers' season has been defined by close matches this year, then the same can be said for Canberra; the Green Machine again finding a way to lose a heartbreaker last week to the Penrith Panthers.
It's been a tale of what could have been for Ricky Stuart's men so far in 2018 with four defeats by two points or less — the exact same number as their opponents this week in Wests Tigers.
Going down last week to the Panthers in a game that was there for the taking would have no doubt left a bitter taste in the mouth for Canberra, and they'll certainly be determined to ensure that doesn't happen again as they make the trip up the Hume Highway on Sunday. The Raiders have had a good record against Wests Tigers in recent times but have lost their last two matches on the road at Campbelltown and have won just once away from Canberra all season — an 18-8 win over the Cowboys back in Round 8.
Both sides will enter the match without key players due to injury, and just two points apart on the ladder.
Desperate to stay in touch with the top eight and keep their respective finals hopes alive, it's certainly shaping as an intriguing contest on Sunday afternoon and definitely a game not to be missed!
MATCH DETAILS
Date — Sunday, June 17, 2018
Time — 4:10pm AEST
Venue — Campbelltown Sports Stadium
TV, RADIO AND LIVE STREAM INFORMATION
TV — Live via Channel 9 and FOX League (Ch.502)
Radio — FM 104.9 Triple M Sydney, AM 702 ABC Grandstand, Croc Media
Live Stream — 9Now, Foxtel Go, NRL Digital Pass, Watch NRL Streaming (exc. Australia)
LATEST CROWNBET ODDS
H2H — Wests Tigers ($1.80), Canberra Raiders ($2.05)
Line — Wests Tigers -1.5 ($1.92), Canberra Raiders +1.5 ($1.92)
Odds correct as of 12:00pm, Thursday, June 14 — 18+ only and gamble responsibly
TEAM LISTS
WESTS TIGERS — 1. Corey Thompson 2. Malakai Watene-Zelezniak 3. Esan Marsters 4. Mahe Fonua 5. Kevin Naiqama 19. Tyson Gamble 7. Luke Brooks 8. Russell Packer 9. Elijah Taylor 10. Ben Matulino 11. Chris Lawrence 12. Robbie Rochow 13. Matt Eisenhuth (Interchange: 14. Alex Twal 15. Matt McIlwrick 16. Josh Aloiai 17. Tim Grant 18. Michael Chee Kam 20. Sauaso Sue) — Coach: Ivan Cleary
CANBERRA RAIDERS — 1. Jack Wighton 2. Nick Cotric 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Joey Leilua 5. Michael Oldfield 6. Blake Austin 7. Aidan Sezer 8. Iosia Soliola 9. Josh Hodgson 10. Shannon Boyd 11. Joseph Tapine 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Josh Papalii (Interchange: 14. Siliva Havili 15. Luke Bateman 16. Dunamis Lui 17. Liam Knight 19. Brad Abbey 20. Jack Murchie) — Coach: Ricky Stuart
2018 Match Highlights: Rd.14, Sharks vs. Wests Tigers
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Overall — Played 35, Wests Tigers 18, Canberra 15, Drawn 2
At Campbelltown — Played 9, Wests Tigers 7, Canberra 2
Last Time They Met — Canberra Raiders 46 def. Wests Tigers 6 at GIO Stadium (Rd.3, 2017)
2018 SEASON SO FAR
| WESTS TIGERS | CANBERRA RAIDERS | |
| Position | 9th (14 points) | 10th (12 points) |
| Points For | 218 points (14th) | 284 points (6th) |
| Points Against | 217 points (5th) | 284 points (10th) |
| Home Form | Won 5, Lost 2 | Won 4, Lost 4 |
| Away Form | Won 2, Lost 5 | Won 1, Lost 4 |
| Last Five Games | Won 2, Lost 3 | Won 1, Lost 3, Bye 1 |
MATCH OFFICIALS
Match Referees — Grant Atkins and Gavin Badger
Touch Judges — Phil Henderson and Belinda Sleeman
Review Officials — Luke Patten and Ashley Klein
