Weekend Preview: Round 4

Fresh off its nail-biting Round 3 victory, Wests Tigers’ NSW Women’s Premiership side faces the prospect of another tough game this week, coming up against a strong Mounties team, which beat St. George 62-0 in their last outing.

This match will be streamed live on NSWRL TV (via Facebook), and fans tuning in can expect a high-quality contest, with two formidable forward packs, meaning there’ll be plenty of action in the middle third of the field.

Ebony Prior has shone with her quick dummy half skills and will again be a factor, while Pauline Piliae-Rasabale makes her second appearance in Wests Tigers colours, at five-eighth.

Harvey Norman Tarsha Gale Cup (U/19s)

The Wests Tigers Tarsha Gale Cup team travels to Canberra to face the Raiders on Saturday morning, with this group trying to secure its second win of the 2023 season.

Middle forwards Sofaia Vaki and Claire Kennedy will prove key to their hopes of coming away with competition points in Round 4, with their powerful carries an instrumental part of the Tigers attack.

Expect Tiana-Lee Thorne to once again provide significant impact from fullback after an impressive start to the campaign.

UNE SG Ball Cup (U/19s) - Western Suburbs

In a top of the table blockbuster, the Magpies SG Ball side takes on the Raiders in Canberra this Saturday, in what is sure to be one of the games of the junior representative weekend.

In a huge boost for Wests, captain Kit Laulilii and bullocking prop, Chris Faagutu both return from injury, with Wests naming its strongest side of the season to date, just in time for one of the team’s biggest games of 2023.

After meeting Canberra in a brutal trial match prior to season kickoff, the undefeated Magpies know that this will be one heck of a contest.

UNE SG Ball Cup (U/19s) - Balmain

With the Tigers U/19s locking in their first win of the season in dramatic fashion last weekend, they face a strong Bulldogs side at Belmore in Round 4.

Co-captain Tony Sukkar returns from a minor injury for Balmain, with the rampaging forward’s inclusion a major in for the away side.

Prop, Elijah Mataale has proved damaging over the opening three rounds of the competition, and will be looking to continue his strong run of form.

UNE Harold Matthews Cup (U/17s) - Western Suburbs

The Magpies sit first on the Harold Matthews Cup ladder after three rounds and take on the second-placed Raiders in Canberra on Saturday afternoon.

Wests secured a solid win over South Sydney last weekend, but in Round 4, take on a fast and skillful Canberra side led by impressive halfback, Jonah Anderson.

Looking forward to the imposing challenge this week, the U/17s Magpies are determined to maintain their 2023 undefeated streak.

UNE Harold Matthews Cup (U/17s) - Balmain

BYE

SLE Laurie Daley Cup (U/18s) - Macarthur Wests

The Macarthur Wests Tigers teams plays their first home games of the season this weekend, with the Laurie Daley Cup side hoping to replicate the form that brought them a big Round 3 win over Riverina.

Skipper Zac Gibson returns to the line-up this week, with a strong Monaro outfit sure to provide some challenges for Macarthur Wests.

Exciting outside back Daniel Waqa is also included on the wing after featuring for Western Suburbs’ SG Ball Cup team last weekend.

SLE Andrew Johns Cup (U/16s) - Macarthur Wests

The undefeated Andrew Johns Cup boys are presented with probably their toughest challenge to date this weekend, taking on a Monaro side which has scored two big victories consecutively.

Playing in their first home match of the year (at Kirkham Oval, Camden), the likes of skipper PJ French, Brooklyn Milford and Paul Johnson have been critical to maintaining the team’s perfect record to date.

They will be spurred on by the inclusion of lock forward, Peter Taai, who played for Wests’ Harold Matthews Cup side in Round 3.