Match Preview: Round 16 vs Warriors
Wests Tigers will travel to Auckland on Sunday to face off against the New Zealand Warriors at Mt Smart Stadium.
The match will be the first game to be played in New Zealand since 2019, with the COVID-19 pandemic forcing the Warriors to relocate to Australia.
For the visitors, James Roberts and Stefano Utoikamanu are both set to make their return from injury, with the latter coming off the interchange bench.
Adam Doueihi has been named to join Utoikamanu on the bench with Fa’amanu Brown set to start at hooker for the first time in the NRL since Round 23, 2017.
Alex Twal will miss the match due to a nasty concussion sustained against the Bulldogs. His spot will be filled by Fonua Pole, who has progressed through the club’s SG Ball, Jersey Flegg and NSW Cup teams over the past year to make his first grade debut.
After a four-try haul and man of the match performance against the Cook Islands last weekend, David Nofoaluma will be hoping to carry his stellar representative form into this clash.
Mt Smart Stadium has produced mixed results for Wests Tigers over the past two decades, with the club winning five of their twelve encounters at the stadium, including three of their last six.
Match: Warriors v Wests Tigers
Round 16 -
home Team
Warriors
away Team
Wests Tigers
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Warriors is number 14 Chanel Harris-TavitaFullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Daine Laurie
-
Winger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-ZelezniakWinger for Wests Tigers is number 2 David Nofoaluma
-
Centre for Warriors is number 3 Jesse ArtharsCentre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Starford To'a
-
Centre for Warriors is number 18 Adam PompeyCentre for Wests Tigers is number 4 James Roberts
-
Winger for Warriors is number 5 Marcelo MontoyaWinger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Ken Maumalo
-
Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Ronald VolkmanFive-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Luke Brooks
-
Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Shaun JohnsonHalfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Jackson Hastings
Forwards
-
Prop for Warriors is number 10 Jazz TevagaProp for Wests Tigers is number 10 Zane Musgrove
-
Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde EganHooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Fa'amanu Brown
-
Prop for Warriors is number 20 Aaron PeneProp for Wests Tigers is number 16 Alex Seyfarth
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 4 Euan Aitken2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Luke Garner
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 13 Josh Curran2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Kelma Tuilagi
-
Lock for Warriors is number 12 Tohu HarrisLock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Joe Ofahengaue
Interchange
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 8 Addin Fonua-BlakeInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Stefano Utoikamanu
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Bunty AfoaInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Adam Doueihi
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Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Bayley SironenInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Fonua Pole
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Interchange for Warriors is number 22 Freddy LussickInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 20 Austin Dias
Reserves
-
Replacement for Warriors is number 16 Eliesa KatoaReplacement for Wests Tigers is number 21 Jacob Liddle
Match Officials
- Referee: Chris Sutton
- Senior Review Official: Kasey Badger
Last updated:
Time - 2:00 pm AEDT (4:00 pm Local)
Venue - Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland
TV, Radio and Live Stream Information:
TV - FOX League (Ch. 502)
Radio - ABC Grandstand 702, 2GB 873
Live Stream - KAYO Sports, Watch NRL (int.)
Latest PlayUp Odds:
Head-to-Head - New Zealand Warriors ($1.48) v Wests Tigers ($2.65)
Line - New Zealand Warriors -4.5 ($1.90) v Wests Tigers +4.5 ($1.90)
Odds correct as of 10:00am, Wednesday, 29th June. 18+ only. Gamble Responsibly.
History:
Head-to-Head - Played 34, New Zealand Warriors 18, Wests Tigers 16
At Mt Smart Stadium - Played 12, New Zealand Warriors 7, Wests Tigers 5
Last Time They Met - New Zealand Warriors 16 def. Wests Tigers 12 (Round 3, 2022)
Match Officials:
Referee - Chris Sutton
Senior Review Official - Kasey Badger
