Josh Mercer previews the Saturday evening game between the Tigers and the Warriors.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Wests Tigers Vs New Zealand Warriors
Venue: FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
Date: Saturday, August 12, 5:30 pm
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Tigers: .1 Jahream Bula 2. David Nofoaluma 3. Starford To’a 4. Asu Kepaoa 5. Junior Tupou 6. Daine Laurie 7. Luke Brooks 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. David Klemmer 11. Isaiah Papali’i 12. John Bateman 13. Fonua Pole 14. Jake Simpkin 15. Alex Seyfarth 16. Alex Twal 17. Shawn Blore 18. Justin Matamua 19. Aitasi James 20. Triston Reilly 21. Josh Feledy 22. Kit Laulilii
Warriors: 1. Taine Tuaupiki 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Rocco Berry 4. Adam Pompey 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Luke Metcalf 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Jackson Ford 12. Marata Niukore 13. Tohu Harris 14. Dylan Walker 15. Jazz Tevaga 16. Bayley Sironen 17. Josh Curran 18. Freddy Lussick 20. Edward Kosi 21. Bunty Afoa 22. Viliami Vailea 23. Ronald Volkman
Referee: Chris Butler
Embed from Getty ImagesMATCHDAY PREVIEW
The Tigers did an excellent job against the Raiders in Canberra, taking the Green Machine to the limit. The first try was something to watch after a David Nofoaluma intercept led to a try for Charlie Staines. The Tigers were missing that special play that would have gotten them in front of the Raiders, though there was a try awarded that came off what looked like a forward pass. There were a couple of passes that should have been called forward.
If the Tigers keep playing the way they are, they may surprise a few people at this back end of the season. Api Koroisau has been in good form, setting up two crucial tries with precision kicks; he is the key for them. The Tigers have taken this home game to New Zealand, so it’s a big ask for them to win. Are they up to the challenge?
The Warriors were in a challenging game last week but emerged as the victors. Titans front-rower Moeaki Fotuaika was sent from the field early in the game after forceful contact with the head of Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, so the Warriors had a one-man advantage for most of the game (Marata Niukore was sent to the sin bin for slapping David Fifita). Even with that advantage, the Titans took the game right to the Warriors, but it just wasn’t the Titans’ day.
The Warriors are having a great season, which would make their fans happy. Shaun Johnson is having a great season, they have too much firepower across the park for the Tigers. The pleasing thing about the Tigers taking this game to New Zealand is that the Warriors deserve some sort of repayment for the time they spent in Australia during COVID-19, and hopefully more teams follow suit.
LAST TEN MATCHES
Warriors 6, Tigers 4.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Warriors by 16.
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