Elijah Taylor returns for Wests Tigers final game of 2018

Author: Dan Talintyre
Timestamp: Tue 28 Aug 2018, 03:59 PM

Wests Tigers Head Coach Ivan Cleary has named his 21-man squad to take on the South Sydney Rabbitohs for their Round 25 clash this Thursday at ANZ Stadium.

With results not falling their way over the weekend, Cleary's side are out of finals contention but can still finish with a winning record (currently 12 wins, 11 losses) should they make it two wins from two against South Sydney this year, having already beat the Rabbitohs 22-6 when they met back in Round 19.

After a last-start win over the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles took their season total to 12 wins, Wests Tigers will be looking to record a winning season for the first time since 2011, when they finished 15-9.

Wests Tigers have been boosted by the return of co-captain Elijah Taylor, who returns after missing last week's win with a corked thigh, but are without co-captain Russell Packer for the final game of the year.

He is replaced in the front row by Matt Eisenhuth, with Taylor returning to his preferred lock position.

Former Rabbitoh Robbie Rochow also returns to the first-grade side for the first time since Round 15 with his inclusion on the bench, where he joins fellow forwards Alex Twal, Sauaso Sue and Josh Aloiai.

Jacob Liddle, Luke Garner, Tyson Gamble and Malakai Watene-Zelezniak have been named as reserves, with final team lists to be confirmed for both sides one hour prior to kickoff (6:50pm, Thursday).

For South Sydney, Coach Anthony Siebold will welcome back Robert Jennings (hamstring) in place of Hymel Hunt, who drops back to the bench with Tyrell Fuimaono going back to the reserves.

Dean Britt is also set to play his first game of the year after being included on the bench in jersey 17. He replaces Junior Tatola in the squad, with the former Wests Tigers forward named in the reserves.

WESTS TIGERS

1. Moses Mbye
2. David Nofoaluma
3. Esan Marsters
4. Mahe Fonua
5. Kevin Naiqama
6. Benji Marshall
7. Luke Brooks
8. Matt Eisenhuth
9. Robbie Farah
10. Ben Matulino
11. Chris Lawrence
12. Michael Chee Kam
13. Elijah Taylor (capt.)

Interchange:
14. Alex Twal
15. Sauaso Sue
16. Robbie Rochow
17. Josh Aloiai

Reserves:
18. Jacob Liddle
19. Luke Garner
20. Tyson Gamble
21. Malakai Watene-Zelezniak

Coach: Ivan Cleary

Round 25 - Round 25 - Thursday 30 Aug

Full Time

Rabbitohs

Wests Tigers

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Rabbitohs is number 1 Alex Johnston

Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Moses Mbye
Winger for Rabbitohs is number 2 Campbell Graham

Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 David Nofoaluma
Centre for Rabbitohs is number 3 Greg Inglis

Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Esan Marsters
Centre for Rabbitohs is number 4 Dane Gagai

Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Mahe Fonua
Winger for Rabbitohs is number 5 Robert Jennings

Winger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Kevin Naiqama
Five-Eighth for Rabbitohs is number 6 Cody Walker

Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Benji Marshall
Halfback for Rabbitohs is number 7 Adam Reynolds

Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Luke Brooks

Forwards

Prop for Rabbitohs is number 8 Thomas Burgess

Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 Ben Matulino
Hooker for Rabbitohs is number 9 Damien Cook

Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Robbie Farah
Prop for Rabbitohs is number 10 George Burgess

Prop for Wests Tigers is number 17 Josh Aloiai
2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 11 John Sutton

2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Chris Lawrence
2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 12 Angus Crichton

2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Michael Chee Kam
Lock for Rabbitohs is number 13 Sam Burgess

Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Elijah Taylor

Interchange

Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 14 Hymel Hunt

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 8 Matthew Eisenhuth
Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 15 Cameron Murray

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Alex Twal
Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 16 Jason Clark

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Sauaso Sue
Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 17 Dean Britt

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 18 Jacob Liddle