NRL match preview: Wests Tigers vs Canberra Raiders
Date: Saturday, 28 June, 2014
Venue: Campbelltown Sports Stadium
Kick-off: 5.30pm.
Tigers: 1. James Tedesco 2. David Nofoaluma 3. Tim Simona 4. Chris Lawrence 5. Pat Richards 6. Braith Anasta 7. Luke Brooks 8. Aaron Woods 9. Robbie Farah (c) 10. Keith Galloway 11. Curtis Sironen 12. Bodene Thompson 13. Adam Blair Interchange: 14. Sauaso Sue 15. Martin Taupau 16. Blake Austin 17. Ava Seumanufagai
Raiders: 1. Anthony Milford 2. Matt Allwood 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Jack Wighton 5. Brenko Lee 6. Terry Campese 7. Josh McCrone 8. David Shillington 9. Glen Buttriss 10. Brett White 11. Joel Edwards 12. Jarrad Kennedy 13. Shaun Fensom Interchange: 14. Kyle O’Donnell 15. Paul Vaughan 16. Dane Tilse 17. Shannon Boyd
Wests Tigers welcome the Canberra Raiders to Campbelltown Sports Stadium, Campbelltown on Saturday night.
The Tigers head into the game with the luxury of having the bye last week while the Raiders suffered a loss at the hands of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in round 15.
This is the first meeting between the sides this season and will take on added meaning because of one man, James Tedesco. It is well documented that Tedesco signed with the Raiders before changing his mind and asking to remain with the Tigers. In the lead up to the game, the Raiders players have vowed not to target the fullback but you have to think there will be some disappointed players in the green machine side.
For the Tigers, their Origin representatives Aaron Woods and Robbie Farah return, with Martin Taupau moving back to the bench and Dene Halatau and Joel Luani dropping out of the squad. Farah will give the side more direction and Woods will give them more go-forward, both which were missing from their performance against Souths.
The Raiders made the bizarre decision to start Anthony Milford on the bench last round but he returns to the starting side at fullback against the Tigers. This means Reece Robinson drops out of the squad and Paul Vaughan has been moved to the bench.
The Tigers seem the obvious choice for this game. They are at home in front of a boisterous crowd and are the team in form. However, a forward pack with the size of the Raiders have troubled the Tigers in the past and will prove a difficult test for the home side.
The Tigers pack has been one of the most improved this season and the back-line started the season on form but through injury and poor form that has started to dip. Although, this game seems like it will be the one to turn that all around.
Tigers by 12.
