NRL Late Changes: Round 16
Wests Tigers Head Coach Ivan Cleary has finalised his side to take on the Gold Coast Titans this afternoon for their Round 16 clash at Leichhardt Oval.
Kickoff for the match is at 2:00pm AEST with live coverage via FOX League (Ch.502).
After the stand-alone Representative Round last weekend, Cleary has confirmed a few late changes to the side originally named during the week with Ben Matulino ruled out with a minor injury.
Matulino, who has played every game for Wests Tigers this year, suffered an injury against the Raiders and it has been slow to respond this week. With the bye next week, the club has erred on the side of caution and has replaced the 29-year-old in the run-on side with Alex Twal, who earns the first start of his career.
Chris McQueen also earns the first start of his Wests Tigers career with Josh Aloiai dropping back to the bench, where he joins fellow forwards Sauaso Sue, Michael Chee Kam and Matt Eisenhuth.
Moses Mbye will formally make his club debut and become Wests Tigers Player #218 as he starts the match at fullback, while Robbie Farah starts his first game in Wests Tigers colours in over two years.
Esan Marsters (New Zealand) and Kevin Naiqama (Fiji), along with Aloiai and Chee Kam (Samoa) have all been named to back up for Wests Tigers after featuring throughout the Representative Round.
WESTS TIGERS
1. Moses Mbye
2. Malakai Watene-Zelezniak
3. Esan Marsters
4. Kevin Naiqama
5. Corey Thompson
6. Josh Reynolds
7. Luke Brooks
8. Russell Packer
9. Robbie Farah
14. Alex Twal
11. Chris Lawrence
21. Chris McQueen
13. Elijah Taylor (capt.)
Interchange:
12. Josh Aloiai
15. Sauaso Sue
16. Michael Chee Kam
17. Matt Eisenhuth
Coach: Ivan Cleary
GOLD COAST TITANS
1. Michael Gordon
2. Anthony Don
3. Dale Copley
4. Brenko Lee
5. Phillip Sami
6. AJ Brimson
7. Ash Taylor
8. Jarrod Walllace
9. Nathan Peats
10. Ryan James (capt.)
11. Kevin Proctor
12. Keegan Hipgrave
13. Jai Arrow
14. Mitch Rein
15. Will Matthews
16. Moeaki Fotuaika
17. Jack Stockwell
Coach: Garth Brennan
