Wests Tigers start life after Michael Maguire when they host Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles at Campbelltown on Sunday.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Wests Tigers Vs Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Venue: Campbelltown Sports Stadium
Date: Sunday June 12, 2pm
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Related: NRL Team List Tuesday
Embed from Getty ImagesTigers: 1. Daine Laurie 2. David Nofoaluma 3. Starford To’a 4. Brent Naden 5. Ken Maumalo 6. Luke Brooks 7. Jackson Hastings 8. James Tamou 9. Jacob Liddle 10. Zane Musgrove 11. Luke Garner 12. Luciano Leilua 13. Joe Ofahengaue 14. Jock Madden 15. Alex Twal 16. Kelma Tuilagi 17. Alex Seyfarth 18. Fa’amanu Brown 19. Fonua Pole 20. Jake Simpkin 21. Junior Tupou 22. Austin Dias
The Wests Tigers are coming off a bye week and will start the second half of 2022 with Brett Kimmorley as interim coach after Michael Maguire’s contract was terminated. David Nofoaluma comes back into the starting line-up at the expense of Asu Kepaoa. Jake Simpkin goes back to the reserves with Jacob Liddle returning at hooker. Jock Madden and Alex Twal are back in the seventeen.
Embed from Getty ImagesSea Eagles: 1. Reuben Garrick 2. Jason Saab 3. Morgan Harper 4. Tolutau Koula 5. Christian Tuipulotu 6. Kieran Foran 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Josh Aloiai 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Toafofoa Sipley 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Andrew Davey 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Dylan Walker 15. Josh Schuster 16. Martin Taupau 17. Sean Keppie 18. Taniela Paseka 19. Ethan Bullemor 20. Kaeo Weekes 21. Kurt De Luis 22. Jorge Taufua
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are coming off a comprehensive win over the New Zealand Warriors at 4 Pines Park last Saturday night. They welcome back Queensland Origin skipper Daly Cherry-Evans after his sides win on Wednesday night. Josh Schuster returns to the interchange replacing Karl Lawton who is out with a season ending ACL injury.
Since the publication of this story, Cherry-Evans has been ruled out and replaced by Schuster in the starting line-up.
Referee: Peter Gough
MATCHDAY PREVIEW
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles have a chance to stay in touch with the top eight against a Wests Tigers outfit that’s had a dramatic week with the exit of head coach Michael Maguire.
Despite sitting just two points outside the top eight and with home fixtures against top four sides in North Queensland Cowboys and Melbourne Storm coming up, this game is a must-win before their bye in round 17.
Last week might have broken the shackles with a huge win against the Warriors, and this week will have to do it again Daly Cherry-Evans. A victory without the Queensland Origin captain will boost confidence within the squad.
They get the Wests Tigers at their worst possible time having recorded one win since the two sides last met in round 9. Based on needing 22 points to make the finals, the Wests Tigers would need to win at least 7 of their last 12 to be any chance. This looks unlikely with a tough draw through July where they take on the Eels, Panthers, Cowboys, and Broncos.
The Tigers predicament makes it tough for interim coach Brett Kimmorley who’s named David Nofoaluma and Jacob Liddle to return to the starting line-up. Nofoaluma returning through NSW Cup after suffering concussion.
In their last clash, the Sea Eagles led 14-0 at the break before taking out the match 36-22 in a high scoring encounter.
The Sea Eagles should be too strong in this one. Their outside backs in Jason Saab, Morgan Harper and Reuben Garrick have speed and enough points in them to put this game away quickly. Saab will be particular keen to get a bag of tries having just two to his name in 2022 after scoring 26 in 27 matches last season.
Jackson Hastings’ direction in attack will be the biggest influence on whether the Tigers can cause a boil over. He was their best in the win against Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at Leichhardt in round 11. They have missed Adam Doueihi’s contribution immensely during the campaign and will look stronger in attack with his return set for round 18.
Embed from Getty ImagesINTERESTING FACT
In their last five encounters Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles have crossed 30 points each time against the Wests Tigers. Their only loss coming in 2020 when the Tigers got up 34-32 after the Sea Eagles led 20-12 at the break on an afternoon where David Nofoaluma scored a hat-trick and Adam Doueihi scored a double. Nofoaluma has 10 tries in 13 appearances against the Sea Eagles.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Sea Eagles by 16.
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