Wests Tigers Team v Canberra

[Geo]

Wests Tigers Head Coach Michael Maguire has named a strong 21-man squad for the club's first ever home game at Bankwest Stadium against the Canberra Raiders this Friday night.

Fresh off the bye in Round 12, Wests Tigers will head in to Friday's game boosted by the inclusion of several key players with Origin representatives Moses Mbye (Queensland) and Ryan Matterson (New South Wales) both named to back up.

After a strong return to the side in Round 11, Paul Momirovski retains his place in the squad in the centres with Mahe Fonua listed amongst the reserves.

Chris Lawrence's inclusion in the squad is another boost for the side with the veteran forward inching closer to his first game of the year, having missed the season-to-date following a horrific injury sustained in the pre-season.

David Nofoaluma is also named amongst the reserves following a strong performance against the Rabbitohs in Round 11, while Elijah Taylor returns to 21-man squad after sitting out last week's Canterbury Cup game with concussion.


Friday's game will see Benji Marshall play his 296th first-grade game as he closes in on the elusive NRL 300 club, while Robbie Farah (currently 293 career games) and Ben Matulino (246 career games) also approach their respective milestones.

Wests Tigers head in to this week's clash last-start winners against the Raiders after winning a tight 22-20 tussle when they met in Round 22 last year, while Canberra have won the last three games played between the two sides in Sydney.

Following Wednesday's State of Origin series opener, both sides will provide updated 19-man squad lists 24 hours before kickoff (7:55pm, Thursday) before confirming final team lists one hour prior to kickoff (6:55pm, Friday).

1 Moses Mbye
2 Robert Jennings
3 Paul Momirovski
4 Esan Marsters
5 Corey Thompson

6 Benji Marshall
7 Luke Brooks

8 Ben Matulino
9 Robbie Farah
10 Alex Twal
11 Ryan Matterson
12 Chris McQueen
13 Matt Eisenhuth

14 Jacob Liddle
15 Thomas Mikaele
16 Josh Aloiai
17 Michael Chee-Kam

18 David Nofoaluma
19 Elijah Taylor
20 Chris Lawrence
21 Mahe Fonua

 

[TheDaBoss]

Rowdy!!!❤❤❤❤❤

 

[Tigerlily]


 

[Geo]

but but where is DWZ..and Shouldn't Matulino be playing for the Pamfers..

 

[Guest]

Expect Rowdy to get a game in Canterbury Cup this weekend.

 

[TheDaBoss]

Expect Rowdy to get a game in Canterbury Cup this weekend.

Guaranteed win there... aint missing that game... hopefully its on 9gem

 

[hsvjones]

As expected teams seem to get the top players back against us.. Welcome back Jordan R and we will give him 2 tries as thats what we do..

 

[balmain boy]

On paper they slaughter us. We better be up for this one.

 

[eyewondertwo]

thank heavens that English hooker aint playing..he killed us last game at Campbelltown.

 

[Telltails]

Will be interested to see how both teams manage the surface at night - some criticism over how slippery it is.

 

[Muffstar]

Croker will have a blinder against us.

 

[Jock Koss]

@balmain-boy totally disagree, in fact, if we weren’t favourites this week? I’d bet

 

[balmain boy]

@balmain-boy totally disagree, in fact, if we weren’t favourites this week? I’d bet

You look man for man between the 2 sides and see which of the players named from each side you'd rather have playing for us.
In the back 5 they practically win them all, Simmonsson a highly rated youngster may be slightly behind Jennings but Jennings has done sweet bugger all since joining us. So this is maybe equal.
5/8 they win. Halfbacks we do.
One prop from each side, our hooker, one second rower each with their lock.

Of the starting sides 8/13 they win, with one tie. Only Brooks, Twal, Farah and Matto get a start.

 

[happy_tiger]

but but where is DWZ..and Shouldn't Matulino be playing for the Pamfers..

More dumb questions

DWZ was signed to strengthen the CC side

Do I have to explain this every time the side is announced

 

[851]

Croker will have a blinder against us.

Croker has been playing horrible, we will fix that

 

[Zach]

there's something about our games against Canberra that i just dread watching....every season i never look forward to the game. I hate admitting that

 

[yeti]

@balmain-boy totally disagree, in fact, if we weren’t favourites this week? I’d bet

You look man for man between the 2 sides and see which of the players named from each side you'd rather have playing for us.
In the back 5 they practically win them all, Simmonsson a highly rated youngster may be slightly behind Jennings but Jennings has done sweet bugger all since joining us. So this is maybe equal.
5/8 they win. Halfbacks we do.
One prop from each side, our hooker, one second rower each with their lock.

Of the starting sides 8/13 they win, with one tie. Only Brooks, Twal, Farah and Matto get a start.

It's a good thing the game ain't played on paper, eh?

 

[TYGA]

This Raiders team we will beat. We struggle with Junior Pauli, BJ Leilua, Rapana, Shannon Boyd.

Papali is playing front row for QLD, Josh Hodgson is out and Wighton to a lesser extent backing up from Origin. Tapine is coming back from injury as is Bateman.

I think we are sneaky certainties in this game.
They are a solid hard working team we won’t be overpowered as usual.

 

[TheDaBoss]

This Raiders team we will beat. We struggle with Junior Pauli, BJ Leilua, Rapana, Shannon Boyd.

Papali is playing front row for QLD, Josh Hodgson is out and Wighton to a lesser extent backing up from Origin. Tapine is coming back from injury as is Bateman.

I think we are sneaky certainties in this game.
They are a solid hard working team we won’t be overpowered as usual.

last game we capitalized off a sinbin, off a quick tap by naiqama

 

[balmain boy]

@balmain-boy totally disagree, in fact, if we weren’t favourites this week? I’d bet

You look man for man between the 2 sides and see which of the players named from each side you'd rather have playing for us.
In the back 5 they practically win them all, Simmonsson a highly rated youngster may be slightly behind Jennings but Jennings has done sweet bugger all since joining us. So this is maybe equal.
5/8 they win. Halfbacks we do.
One prop from each side, our hooker, one second rower each with their lock.

Of the starting sides 8/13 they win, with one tie. Only Brooks, Twal, Farah and Matto get a start.

It's a good thing the game ain't played on paper, eh?

It is. Good players can be in and out of form. A team that executes well and plays very disciplined can beat any side.

Though the raiders are the team we have our 2nd worst record against. Behind only the Roosters.