Wests Tigers Team v Roosters Rd 2..

[Geo]

All the Round 2 team news!
Author
Dan Talintyre
Timestamp
Tue 16 Mar 2021, 04:00 PM

Luke Brooks is set to become the first halfback in Wests Tigers history to reach 150 games for the club after Coach Michael Maguire named his 21-man squad for this Sunday’s Round 2 clash against the Sydney Roosters.

Having played 149 first-grade games for the club since his debut in 2013, the local junior Brooks will bring up the milestone in front of the club’s home fans for the first time this season with Wests Tigers welcoming the ladder-leading Roosters to Campbelltown Sports Stadium for the first time since 2017.

Brooks will join fellow local junior Adam Doueihi in the halves for the first time this year after the five-eighth watched last Sunday’s season opener from the sidelines due to a suspension carrying over from 2020.

Doueihi’s return to the side sees the versatile Moses Mbye shift to the interchange bench in jersey 14, with Russell Packer dropping to the reserves alongside Alex Seyfarth, Michael Chee Kam and Jock Madden.

Wests Tigers are otherwise unchanged from their last-start defeat to Canberra which saw five players — Daine Laurie, James Roberts, James Tamou, Joe Ofahengaue and Stefano Utoikamanu — make their club debuts. Sunday’s game will also be Tamou’s first time captaining Wests Tigers in a home NRL fixture.

Having named an initial 21-man squad for the clash, Wests Tigers will provide an updated 19-man team list at 4:05pm on Saturday before finalising their side one hour prior to kickoff (3:05pm, Sunday).
WESTS TIGERS

1. Daine Laurie
2. David Nofoaluma
3. James Roberts
4. Joseph Leilua
5. AJ Kepaoa
6. Adam Doueihi
7. Luke Brooks
8. James Tamou (capt.)
9. Jacob Liddle
10. Joe Ofahengaue
11. Luke Garner
12. Luciano Leilua
13. Alex Twal

Interchange:
14. Moses Mbye
15. Thomas Mikaele
16. Stefano Utoikamanu
17. Tommy Talau

Reserves:
18. Russell Packer
19. Michael Chee Kam
20. Alex Seyfarth
21. Jock Madden

Coach: Michael Maguire

 

[hobbo1]

As expected

 

[jrtiger]

not sure on the bench. wouldn't surprise me to see a couple changes there.

 

[tig_prmz]

As expected but I don't think Talau and Mbye can be on the bench.

 

[JD Tiger]

I am concerned about our bench. Forget 4 forwards, we have 2 there, and still no second hooker (unless that's the plan for Mbye).

 

[Guest]

Two utilities on the bench or is Madge now starting to look at Talau as a backrow option?

Tough ask this week. Commitment in defence and general kicking game needs to rise several notches to compete against the chooks.

 

[carltonleach]

Only two front towers on the bench is interesting. Fingers crossed AD can be a big change for us from last week in attack

 

[Shooter Mcgavin]

“Expect changes”...in seriousness though as Willow mentioned it assumes that Talau may be a back row option moving forward I guess

 

[Speed2burn]

No way we’ll run with that bench

 

[AdelaideTiger]

So is Talau viewed as a 13 type player when he comes on?
I was surprised how dangerous he looked operating in the middle/edge.

 

[avocadoontoast]

Pretty strange bench, but Maguire has always had issues with bench selections/usage.

Can't believe Garner retained his spot, a ham sandwich would be more effective.

 

[Sabre]

Can see Chee-Kam coming in for Talau

 

[nrlsurvivor]

Two utilities on the bench or is Madge now starting to look at Talau as a backrow option?

Tough ask this week. Commitment in defence and general kicking game needs to rise several notches to compete against the cooks.

Based on use of Talau last week, he is there as a back rower, with the potential to cover the entire backline if we cop a few injuries.

 

[Madge]

Two utilities on the bench or is Madge now starting to look at Talau as a backrow option?

Tough ask this week. Commitment in defence and general kicking game needs to rise several notches to compete against the cooks.

Looks like Talau will play a similar role to last week - roaming and playing on the edges abit.

 

[nrlsurvivor]

Can see Chee-Kam coming in for Talau

I don't think so. I think they are similar players now that Talau has filled out a bit. Talau has more upside.

 

[TillLindemann]

Hoping that Liddle is better for getting in 80 mins last week. I think he might do ok this week.

 

[Speed2burn]

Can see Chee-Kam coming in for Talau

I’d prefer Talau in the side over Chee Kam

 

[TheDaBoss]

Allroite
Time to thrash

 

[Madge]

I don't think running with the 2 forwards will be an issue to be honest, I guess we will see how it goes. Twal played 60 minutes on Sunday and did it well. Joe O has a breather and takes over Twal later in the game. Twal comes back on for last 20 or so.

 

[AdelaideTiger]

Is Mbye just cover at this point? Or does he spend some time in the DH role?