Neds Match Preview: Round 8
Wests Tigers will be looking to return to winning ways when they travel to Wollongong to face the St. George-Illawarra Dragons on Sunday.
Following four-straight losses, including a heavy loss on ANZAC Day against the Sea Eagles, Coach Michael Maguire will be hoping for a much-improved performance from his side at WIN Stadium in Round 8.
Wests Tigers have not lost in Wollongong since 2002, having won three of the four encounters at the venue, including last year’s 24-14 triumph in the opening round.
Maguire’s men will face a Dragons outfit, who sit sixth on the ladder with four wins from seven attempts, however suffered a heavy loss to the Sydney Roosters on ANZAC Day.
The home side will be without their two starting wingers for the clash after Jordan Pereira and Mikaele Ravalawa were handed lengthy suspensions for incidents in Round 7.
ALL THE LATEST TEAM NEWS
Dragons: No changes from the side originally named during the week with captain Ben Hunt set to return from injury, pushing Jack Bird to centre and Cody Ramsey to the wing. Max Fagai starts on the other flank in place of Ravalawa.
Wests Tigers: Centre Joey Leilua has been cleared of a broken thumb and will return in the centres in place of utility Michael Chee Kam, while Zac Cini will make his NRL debut in place of James Roberts. A shuffle amongst the forwards sees Alex Twal start at prop and Joe Ofahengaue at lock, with Thomas Mikaele recalled.
Match: Dragons v Wests Tigers
Round 8 -
home Team
Dragons
away Team
Wests Tigers
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Matthew DuftyFullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Daine Laurie
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Winger for Dragons is number 2 Cody RamseyWinger for Wests Tigers is number 2 David Nofoaluma
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Centre for Dragons is number 3 Jack BirdCentre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Joseph Leilua
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Centre for Dragons is number 4 Zac LomaxCentre for Wests Tigers is number 5 Tommy Talau
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Winger for Dragons is number 5 Max FeagaiWinger for Wests Tigers is number 24 Zac Cini
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Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Corey NormanFive-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Adam Doueihi
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Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Ben HuntHalfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Luke Brooks
Forwards
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Prop for Dragons is number 8 Blake LawrieProp for Wests Tigers is number 8 James Tamou
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Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Andrew McCulloughHooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Jake Simpkin
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Prop for Dragons is number 10 Paul VaughanProp for Wests Tigers is number 10 Alex Twal
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2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Josh Kerr2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Luke Garner
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2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Tariq Sims2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Luciano Leilua
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Lock for Dragons is number 15 Josh McGuireLock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Joe Ofahengaue
Interchange
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Interchange for Dragons is number 13 Tyrell FuimaonoInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Moses Mbye
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Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Daniel AlvaroInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Stefano Utoikamanu
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Interchange for Dragons is number 17 Billy BurnsInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Alex Seyfarth
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Interchange for Dragons is number 18 Kaide EllisInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Thomas Mikaele
Reserves
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Reserve for Dragons is number 21 Talatau AmoneReserve for Wests Tigers is number 18 Michael Chee Kam
Match Officials
- Referee: Chris Sutton
- Touch Judge: Jon Stone
- Touch Judge: Drew Oultram
- Senior Review Official: Steve Chiddy
Last updated:
MATCH DETAILS
Date — Sunday, 2nd May
Time — 4:05pm AEST
Venue — WIN Stadium, Wollongong
TV, RADIO AND LIVE STREAM INFORMATION
TV — Channel 9, FOX League (Ch.502)
Radio — AM 702 ABC Grandstand, FM 104.9 Triple M
Live Stream — 9Now, KAYO Sports, Watch NRL (int.), Sky Sport 4 (NZ only)
LATEST NEDS ODDS
Head-to-Head — St George Illawarra Dragons ($1.33), Wests Tigers ($3.30)
Line — St George Illawarra Dragons -10.5 ($1.90), Wests Tigers +10.5 ($1.90)
Odds correct as of 12:00pm, Tuesday, 27th April. 18+ only, Gamble responsibly.
HISTORY
Head-to-Head — Played 38, St. George-Illawarra 20, Wests Tigers 18, Draw 2
At WIN Stadium — Played 4, Wests Tigers 3, St. George-Illawarra 1
Last Time They Met — Wests Tigers 24 def. St. George-Illawarra 14 (Rd.1, 2020)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee — Chris Sutton
Touch Judges — Jon Stone and Drew Oultram
Bunker Review Official — Steve Chiddy
