NRL match preview: Bulldogs vs Wests Tigers
Date: Thursday, 21st August
Venue: ANZ Stadium
Kick-off: 7.30pm
Teams
Bulldogs: 1. Sam Perrett 2. Corey Thompson 3. Josh Morris 4. Tim Lafai 5. Mitch Brown 6. Moses Mbye 7. Trent Hodkinson 8. Aiden Tolman 9. Michael Ennis (C) 10. James Graham 11. Josh Jackson 12. Tony Williams 13. Greg Eastwood Interchange: 14. Reni Maitua 15. Dale Finucane 16. David Klemmer 17. Pat O’Hanlon 20. Harlan Alaalatoa
Wests Tigers: 1. Kurtis Rowe 2. Jy Hitchcox 3. Blake Austin 4. Chris Lawrence 5. Cory Thompson 6. Mitchell Moses 7. Luke Brooks 8. Aaron Woods 9. Robbie Farah (C) 10. Keith Galloway 11. Curtis Sironen 12. Bodene Thompson 13. Adam Blair Interchange: 14. Ava Seumanufagai 15. Martin Taupau 16. Sauaso Sue 17. Jack Buchanan
Preview
The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs welcome the desperate Wests Tigers to ANZ Stadium on Thursday night.
The Tigers season is basically over after another disappointing loss against the Sydney Roosters last week. On the other hand, the Bulldogs enter the game after a controversial win over the Parramatta Eels.
The home side will be brimming with confidence after turning around their fortunes but have been forced into changes through injury. Youngster Lloyd Perrett is out with an ankle injury so Pat O’Hanlon comes into the side. Harlan Alaalatoa has also been named on an extended bench.
For the travelers, Dene Halatau misses the match against his former team with a hamstring injury so Bodene Thompson returns from suspension in his place. Jack Buchanan has been named initially this week after being forced to back up from NSW Cup last week.
Canterbury are again without Josh Reynolds but fill-in Moses Mbye did a serviceable job last weekend. Their forward pack is clearly their strength and against a Tigers side that has constantly been questioned for a lack of size, they may be able to exploit that.
The Tigers have again named Mitchell Moses and Luke Brooks in the halves, a possible sign for the future of the club. If the joint-venture club have any chance against their higher opposition, the two youngsters need to shine like they did when they met in round 19.
Prediction
Tigers by 4.
