All the Round 23 team news!

Author: Dan Talintyre
Timestamp: Tue 20 Aug 2019, 04:00 PM

Wests Tigers will welcome back Josh Reynolds for his first NRL game since Round 7 as they look to end a run of back-to-back defeats this Saturday against the Newcastle Knights.

Reynolds has been named to start at hooker following injuries to Robbie Farah (tibia) and Jacob Liddle (knee) in what will be his 148th career appearance, but his first game in the number nine jersey since the end of the 2011 season.

In addition to Farah and Liddle, Wests Tigers will also be without captain Moses Mbye for another week with the 26-year-old still sidelined with a hip flexor injury.

After a strong performance for the club's Canterbury Cup side last weekend, Robert Jennings returns on the wing for his first NRL game since Round 17 — pushing Paul Momirovski in to the centres and last week's debutant Tommy Talau to the reserves.

Talau has been included in jersey 18 alongside Chris McQueen and Sam McIntyre in the extended 20-man squad named by Coach Michael Maguire.

Following his one-game suspension last week, Luke Garner has been named to return in the back row with Chris Lawrence also retaining his starting spot.

With Ryan Matterson named at lock, Michael Chee Kam shifts back to the bench.

Thomas Mikaele also returns to the run-on side after a late switch with Matt Eisenhuth last weekend, with the Goodna Eagles junior to start at prop.

Benji Marshall will captain the side once again with Mbye sidelined as Wests Tigers look to bounce back from consecutive defeats and keep their finals hopes alive.

Reynolds excited to be back in NRL

For the visitors, Coach Nathan Brown has been forced in to some changes as well this week with Connor Watson ruled out due to a knee injury.

His omission sees Danny Levi return at hooker while, in the outside backs, Hymel Hunt shifts to centre and Sione Mata'utia goes to the wing. Tim Glasby missed last weekend's game due to concussion protocols and has been named among the reserves alongside rookie Bradman Best, who is expected to make his debut.

Wests Tigers scored a crucial 28-26 win when the two sides met just four weeks ago in Newcastle and will be looking to make it three wins in a row against the Knights, having lost just one of the last five meetings between the two sides.

The hosts also hold a good record over the Knights at Campbelltown Sports Stadium, who have won just twice at the suburban ground since 2001.

Wests Tigers will provide an updated 19-man team to face the Knights at 5:30pm AEST on Friday before finalising their side for Round 23 at 4:30pm on Saturday.

Round 23 - Round 23 - Saturday 24 Aug

Full Time

Wests Tigers

Knights

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Corey Thompson

Fullback for Knights is number 1 Kalyn Ponga
Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 Robert Jennings

Winger for Knights is number 2 Hymel Hunt
Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Paul Momirovski

Centre for Knights is number 3 Sione Mata'utia
Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Esan Marsters

Centre for Knights is number 20 Bradman Best
Winger for Wests Tigers is number 5 David Nofoaluma

Winger for Knights is number 5 Shaun Kenny-Dowall
Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Benji Marshall

Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Mason Lino
Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Luke Brooks

Halfback for Knights is number 7 Mitchell Pearce

Forwards

Prop for Wests Tigers is number 8 Thomas Mikaele

Prop for Knights is number 8 David Klemmer
Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 13 Ryan Matterson

Hooker for Knights is number 9 Danny Levi
Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 Oliver Clark

Prop for Knights is number 10 Daniel Saifiti
2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Luke Garner

2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Lachlan Fitzgibbon
2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Chris Lawrence

2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Mitchell Barnett
Lock for Wests Tigers is number 14 Matthew Eisenhuth

Lock for Knights is number 21 Tim Glasby

Interchange

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 9 Josh Reynolds

Interchange for Knights is number 13 Josh King
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Elijah Taylor

Interchange for Knights is number 15 Herman Ese'ese
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Alex Twal

Interchange for Knights is number 16 Jacob Saifiti
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Michael Chee Kam

Interchange for Knights is number 17 Aidan Guerra