Match Preview: NRLW Round 5 vs Dragons
Wests Tigers return from their two-game road trip to face St George-Illawarra Dragons on Saturday afternoon at CommBank Stadium.
Match: Wests Tigers v Dragons
Round 5 -
home Team
Wests Tigers
5th Position
away Team
Dragons
8th Position
Venue: CommBank Stadium, Sydney
The side was on the cusp of victory against North Queensland Cowboys a week ago, though heartbreakingly conceded in the final minutes.
Botille Vette-Welsh returns to fullback after her hiatus through HIA protocols, with Pauline Piliae-Rasabale back in the halves.
Also returning is Losana Lutu who has been named on the interchange after being a late withdrawal from the Cowboys’ contest due to a knee injury.
Brett Kimmorley has named 20-year-old Salma Nour to make her NRLW debut in the No.17 jersey.
A specialist dummy-half, Nour joined Wests Tigers following three seasons with Illawarra Steelers in the Tarsha Gale competition and was named the club’s competition Player of the Year in 2022.
Co-captain Kezie Apps suits up against her old side for the first time, having played for the Dragons since the inaugural NRLW season in 2018.
Dragons coach Jamie Soward has made a few changes after last week’s loss to the Raiders, with dummy-half Sophie Clancy returning from a head knock and Ella Koster named on the bench.
Back rower Cheynoah Amone is in line to make her NRLW debut off the bench.
Team Lists:
Match: Wests Tigers v Dragons
Round 5 -
home Team
Wests Tigers
away Team
Dragons
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Botille Vette-WelshFullback for Dragons is number 1 Teagan Berry
-
Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 Jakiya WhitfeldWinger for Dragons is number 2 Margot Vella
-
Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Rikeya HorneCentre for Dragons is number 3 Keele Browne
-
Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Leianne TufugaCentre for Dragons is number 4 Bobbi Law
-
Winger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Josie LenazWinger for Dragons is number 5 Shenai Lendill
-
Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Pauline Piliae-RasabaleFive-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Tyla King
-
Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Emily CurtainHalfback for Dragons is number 7 Raecene McGregor
Forwards
-
Prop for Wests Tigers is number 8 Sarah TogatukiProp for Dragons is number 10 Tara McGrath-West
-
Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Ebony PriorHooker for Dragons is number 9 Sophie Clancy
-
Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 Christian PioProp for Dragons is number 16 Sarah Riordan
-
2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Kezie Apps2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Jamilee Bright
-
2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Eliza Siilata2nd Row for Dragons is number 15 Ella Koster
-
Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Najvada GeorgeLock for Dragons is number 13 Alexis Tauaneai
Interchange
-
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Sophie CurtainInterchange for Dragons is number 8 Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa
-
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Taylor OsborneInterchange for Dragons is number 14 Zali Hopkins
-
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Salma NourInterchange for Dragons is number 17 Cheynoah Amone
-
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 18 Jessica KennedyInterchange for Dragons is number 21 Macie Carlile
Reserves
-
Replacement for Wests Tigers is number 21 Imogen GobranReplacement for Dragons is number 18 Renee Targett
Match Officials
- Referee: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
- Senior Review Official: Dave Munro
Last updated:
Stat Attack:
- Leianne Tufuga averages two line breaks per game this season, the most in the NRLW.
- The Dragons complete sets at a higher rate (81 percent) than any other team heading into Round 5.
- As a team the Wests Tigers are by far the competition's top off-loaders, with their 43 so far being 14 more than the nearest team. Back-rower Christian Pio is their individual leader with 13 offloads.
Broadcast Information:
TV – Channel 9, FOXTEL
Live Stream – 9NOW, KAYO Sports
