Check out the match preview and prediction for the Magic Round clash between the Wests Tigers and The Dolphins.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Wests Tigers Vs The Dolphins
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Date: Sunday May 19, 6:25pm
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Tigers: 1. Jahream Bula 2. Charlie Staines 3. Brent Naden 4. Justin Olam 5. Solomon Alaimalo 6. Lachlan Galvin 7. Jayden Sullivan 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. David Klemmer 11. Samuela Fainu 12. Alex Seyfarth 13. Alex Twal 14. Jake Simpkin 15. Fonua Pole 16. Asu Kepaoa 17. Sione Fainu 18. Tallyn Da Silva 19. Solomona Faataape 20. Alexander Lobb 21. Kit Laulilii 22. Tony Sukkar.
Dolphins: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jack Bostock 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Mark Nicholls 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Euan Aitken 13. Kenny Bromwich 14. Josh Kerr 15. Kurt Donoghoe 16. Ray Stone 17. Connelly Lemuelu 18. Trai Fuller 19. Sean O’Sullivan 20. Jarrod Wallace 21. Edrick Lee 22. Oryn Keeley.
Referee: Chris Butler.
Video Referee: Kasey Badger.
MATCHDAY PREVIEW
Key changes to both sides have put the Dolphins firmly in the driver’s seat for their Magic Round clash against Wests Tigers at their ‘second home’ Suncorp Stadium.
Isiah Papali’i misses out through suspension, while Starford To’a and John Bateman are also sidelined. The ‘away’ side welcomes back Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, while Max Plath misses out due to a head knock sustained in their win against Manly last time out. The return of the Hammer has unfortunately forced Trai Fuller to 18th Man.
The latter has been integral to keeping this in-form Dolphins side rolling through the period with Tabuai-Fidow out on the sidelines – in which Wayne Bennett’s side went 3-1 to extend their recent record in good form of six wins in their last eight games.
Their opponents, however, have had contrasting fortunes and are winless in their last six games. To make matters worse, they are faced with arguably a tougher task this time round than when they suffered a 10-point defeat to the Phins at the same venue in Round 5 – fielding a supposed weaker side against the in-form Queensland side who had an element of home advantage. That said, the memory of that loss will no doubt strengthen their resolve this time round with a chance to avenge it.
The Dolphins produced an impressively gritty performance last week to beat Manly and they have developed into a team that appear to believe they are never out of a game – they have also shown they can grind out wins when not playing their finest football.
Despite the Wests Tigers being weakened by their outs, it is hard to believe that the Dolphins will take their challenge lightly and therefore they should have enough to get over the line in the final game of Magic Round. If Wests are to produce a shock, Stefano Utoikamanu and his fellow middles will need to take it to the Queensland side and produce one of their best efforts for Captain Koroisau to unpick the relentless Dolphins.
Head-to-head stats can be found at Magic Round Number Crunch.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Check out all the NRL Predictions for Magic Round here.
Dolphins by 12 points.
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