Neds Match Preview: Round 8

Author: Dan Talintyre
Timestamp: Tue 30 Jun 2020, 04:00 PM

Wests Tigers will look to make it three wins in a row for the first time this season when they take on the Penrith Panthers in Round 8.

With Saturday's game set to be played in front of around 7,000 Wests Tigers Members in the first fixture with increased fans since the COVID-19 shutdown, Michael Maguire's side will head in to the contest full of confidence after convincing last-start wins over the Cowboys and Bulldogs in recent weeks.

Their opponents in Penrith also come in confident after back-to-back wins over the Melbourne Storm and South Sydney Rabbitohs — their strong form coinciding with the return of star halfback Nathan Cleary from his two-game suspension.

The battle between Cleary and Luke Brooks in the halves will certainly attract plenty of attention, while a number of other individual battles shape as intriguing affairs.

Wests Tigers winger David Nofoaluma sits second on the try-scorers list this season with eight tries in seven games, while Panthers hooker Apisai Koroisau will certainly be heavily involved after topping the tackle count through the opening rounds.

MATCH DETAILS

Date — Saturday, July 4

Time — 7:35pm AEST

Venue — Bankwest Stadium

TV, RADIO AND LIVE STREAM INFORMATION

TV — Live via FOX League (Ch.502)

Radio —AM 702 ABC Grandstand, FM 104.9 Triple M

Live Stream — Foxtel Go, KAYO, NRL Digital Pass and Watch NRL (int.)

LATEST TEAM NEWS

Wests Tigers — No changes after last week's big win over the Bulldogs. Thomas Mikaele (ankle) was taken off as a precaution but is expected to play.

Penrith Panthers — Josh Mansour is back after sitting out last week with a knee injury and replaces Brent Naden on the wing in the only change.

Round 8 - Round 8 - Saturday 4 Jul

Full Time

Wests Tigers

Panthers

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Adam Doueihi

Fullback for Panthers is number 1 Dylan Edwards
Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 David Nofoaluma

Winger for Panthers is number 2 Josh Mansour
Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Joseph Leilua

Centre for Panthers is number 4 Stephen Crichton
Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Moses Mbye

Centre for Panthers is number 19 Brent Naden
Winger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Tommy Talau

Winger for Panthers is number 5 Brian To'o
Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Josh Reynolds

Five-Eighth for Panthers is number 6 Jarome Luai
Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Luke Brooks

Halfback for Panthers is number 7 Nathan Cleary

Forwards

Prop for Wests Tigers is number 8 Josh Aloiai

Prop for Panthers is number 8 James Tamou
Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Harry Grant

Hooker for Panthers is number 9 Apisai Koroisau
Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 Oliver Clark

Prop for Panthers is number 10 James Fisher-Harris
2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Luke Garner

2nd Row for Panthers is number 11 Viliame Kikau
2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Luciano Leilua

2nd Row for Panthers is number 12 Liam Martin
Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Matthew Eisenhuth

Lock for Panthers is number 13 Isaah Yeo

Interchange

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Elijah Taylor

Interchange for Panthers is number 15 Zane Tetevano
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Thomas Mikaele

Interchange for Panthers is number 16 Moses Leota
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Sam McIntyre

Interchange for Panthers is number 17 Billy Burns
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Michael Chee Kam

Interchange for Panthers is number 21 Tyrone May