Neds Match Preview: Round 2
Wests Tigers will be looking to make it two wins from two to start the 2020 season when they take on the Newcastle Knights this Sunday.
After closing out Round 1 with a come-from-behind win over the St. George-Illawarra Dragons, Wests Tigers will look to produce a similarly strong performance against a Knights side also coming off a dominant Round 1 victory — completing at 80% in wet conditions en route to a 20-0 win over the New Zealand Warriors.
Despite the strong history between the two sides in the past two decades, Sunday's game will be just the second time in history that they will square off at Leichhardt Oval — the other coming back in 2011 when Robbie Farah slotted a Golden Point field goal to give the home side a 17-16 victory.
Benji Marshall, who slotted two goals from three attempts that night, is the only player who featured on the night who will take part this week.
Wests Tigers will be determined to continue their good record over the Knights, having won five of the past six games between the two — including a dominant 46-4 win at Campbelltown Sports Stadium when they last met in 2019.
Throwback Thursday: Golden Point field goal ends with Wests Tigers win
They'll head in to the game with an unchanged side with Michael Chee Kam a late inclusion to the 17. The Knights are also unchanged from their first start win, although could welcome back Sione Mata'utia as a late inclusion.
Only six of the 17 players listed by the Knights have ever played a game at Leichhardt Oval, and will do this week without a crowd as the NRL's new COVID-19 measures take full effect. Wests Tigers will certainly be looking to generate an atmosphere of their own at the iconic suburban ground, however, having won five of their past eight games at the ground and two of three under Michael Maguire.
MATCH DETAILS
Date — Sunday, March 22, 2020
Time — 4:00pm AEDT
Venue — Leichhardt Oval
TV, RADIO AND LIVE STREAM INFORMATION
TV — Live via Channel 9 and FOX League (Ch.502)
Radio — AM 702 ABC Grandstand, AM 873 2GB, FM 104.9 Triple M
Live Stream — 9Now, Foxtel Go, KAYO, NRL Digital Pass and Watch NRL (int.)
LATEST TEAM NEWS
Final team lists for both sides will be confirmed at 3:05pm, Sunday.
Match: Wests Tigers v Knights
Round 2 -
home Team
Wests Tigers
away Team
Knights
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Corey ThompsonFullback for Knights is number 1 Kalyn Ponga
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Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 David NofoalumaWinger for Knights is number 2 Edrick Lee
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Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Joseph LeiluaCentre for Knights is number 3 Enari Tuala
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Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Adam DoueihiCentre for Knights is number 4 Gehamat Shibasaki
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Winger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Robert JenningsWinger for Knights is number 5 Hymel Hunt
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Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Benji MarshallFive-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Kurt Mann
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Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Josh ReynoldsHalfback for Knights is number 7 Mitchell Pearce
Forwards
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Prop for Wests Tigers is number 8 Josh AloiaiProp for Knights is number 8 David Klemmer
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Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Billy WaltersHooker for Knights is number 9 Jayden Brailey
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Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 Alex TwalProp for Knights is number 10 Daniel Saifiti
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2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Luke Garner2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Lachlan Fitzgibbon
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2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Luciano Leilua2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Mitchell Barnett
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Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Elijah TaylorLock for Knights is number 13 Herman Ese'ese
Interchange
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Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Thomas MikaeleInterchange for Knights is number 14 Connor Watson
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Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Zane MusgroveInterchange for Knights is number 15 Jacob Saifiti
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Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Chris LawrenceInterchange for Knights is number 16 Tim Glasby
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Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 18 Michael Chee KamInterchange for Knights is number 17 Aidan Guerra
Match Officials
- Referee: Gerard Sutton
- Referee: Gavin Badger
- Touch Judge: Liam Kennedy
- Senior Review Official: Jared Maxwell
Last updated:
LATEST NEDS ODDS
A slight change in the odds this week with Wests Tigers drifting from $1.85 to $1.90 in the head-to-head while the Knights have come in from $1.95 to $1.85 with the +1.5 start.
H2H — Wests Tigers ($1.90), Newcastle Knights ($1.90)
Line — Wests Tigers -1.5 ($1.95), Newcastle Knights +1.5 ($1.85)
Odds correct on Friday, March 20 — 18+ only and gamble responsibly
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Overall — Played 30, Wests Tigers 15, Newcastle 13, Draw 2
At Leichhardt Oval — Played 1, Wests Tigers 1, Newcastle 0
Last Time They Met — Wests Tigers 46 def. Newcastle 4 (Rd.23, 2019)
