Check out the match preview and prediction for the round 25 clash between the Tigers and the Sea Eagles.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Wests Tigers Vs Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Venue: Leichhardt Oval, Sydney
Date: Thursday August 22, 7:50pm
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Tigers: 1. Heath Mason 2. Solomon Alaimalo 3. Solomona Faataape 4. Junior Tupou 5. Charlie Staines 6. Lachlan Galvin 7. Aidan Sezer 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. David Klemmer 11. Alex Seyfarth 12. Samuela Fainu 13. Isaiah Papali’i 14. Latu Fainu 15. Sione Fainu 16. Fonua Pole 17. Alex Twal 18. Tim Johannssen 19. Tallyn Da Silva 20. Reuben Porter 21. Josh Feledy 22. Tony Sukkar
Sea Eagles: 1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jason Saab 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Lehi Hopoate 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Josh Aloiai 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Karl Lawton 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Gordon Chan Kum Tong 15. Ben Trbojevic 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Nathan Brown 18. Corey Waddell 19. Toafofoa Sipley 20. Jamie Humphreys 21. Clayton Faulalo 22. Matthew Lodge
Referee: Peter Gough
Embed from Getty ImagesMATCHDAY PREVIEW
Junior Tupou, Api Koroisau, Alex Twal, David Klemmer, Isaiah Papali’i, Fonua Pole, Alex Seyfarth.
Out of the 17 Tigers who played the last time we had Wests Vs Manly, those are the only seven who will play this Thursday. Seven players out of an entire 17. What’s more, all but Klemmer will be lining up in a different jersey.
The Tigers may well be sitting in the same spot on the table, but there has been a world of change at the Tigers over the last 12 months. What was once a directionless side, chopping and changing in a desperate bid to win a game, has now become a decently steady outfit who compete in almost every game they play, and have unearthed a heap of exciting young kids.
The Tigers are the youngest side in our competition. Headlined by talented kids like Lachlan Galvin and the Fainu brothers, I do really think things are looking up for the Tigers. The recruitment of three-time premiership-winning half Jarome Luai for next year will only help that cause too.
Their win over South Sydney last week at Campbelltown was far from straightforward. But at that end of the table you take wins of any kind. It was a win that took them from the brink of a third consecutive wooden spoon to a genuine chance of escaping that unwanted history in the final round when they line up against Parramatta.
Coming into this game at their historic home of Leichhardt, they’ll be looking to continue to build. I do think these Tigers will be realistic about their chances against a very in-form Manly side, but they’ll be relishing the opportunity to prove themselves up against the likes of DCE, Haumole Olakau’atu and the Trbojevic brothers. The first foundation to any successful side isn’t necessarily wins – it’s a competitive nature. This game presents a great opportunity for the Tigers to showcase that they have that against one of the competition’s strongest sides.
On the Manly side of things, this game represents a real moment in the career of Luke Brooks. The five-eighth was easily the most maligned player in the NRL for the duration of his career at the Tigers. He played 205 games for Wests, sticking it out while the likes of James Tedesco and Mitch Moses left for greener pastures. While he watched Tedesco win premierships and a Dally M medal, and watched Moses guide Parramatta to a grand final, Brooks was left without even a finals appearance to his name.
But this year he will get that finals appearance. He’s found a home at Manly, shielded from the spotlight by their more established stars, and it has allowed him to showcase his ability in a much better environment.
Coming into this game, Brooks and his Manly teammates are tasked with getting a routine win, and continuing to chase an unlikely top four finish. It’s been a very solid season for them, and a strong end to charge into the finals will be exactly what Anthony Seibold demands from his side.
So, sit back on Thursday night to watch the face of the Tigers’ past try and show their exciting next generation how it’s done. Enjoy your footy.
Head-to-head stats can be found at Number Crunch Stats.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Check out all the NRL Predictions here.
Sea Eagles by 14 points.
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