Wests Tigers Team v St George

[Geo]

Wests Tigers Coach Michael Maguire has made several changes to his 21-man squad ahead of Sunday’s Round 8 clash against the St. George-Illawarra Dragons.

After a disappointing ANZAC Day result against the Sea Eagles, Maguire will welcome back Joey Leilua to the side after the Samoan international’s strong performance in the Knock-On Effect NSW Cup competition in Round 7.


Leilua last played in Round 5 before suffering a head knock against the Cowboys that saw him sidelined for the following week, but will return to the team this week in place of Michael Chee Kam.

Luke Garner also returns to the starting side after coming off the bench in the past fortnight. His inclusion in the back row sees Joe Ofahengaue shift to lock and Alex Twal to the front row, with young forward Stefano Utoikamanu dropping back to the bench alongside Moses Mbye, Alex Seyfarth and Thomas Mikaele.

Mikaele’s inclusion comes after his strong performance for reserve-grade on Sunday, where he scored the opening try and ran for 171 metres.

Chee Kam, Zane Musgrove, Tom Amone and Jacob Liddle are the four players included amongst the reserves with an updated 19-man squad to be provided at 4:05pm on Saturday.

Sunday’s clash will mark the second time in as many years that Wests Tigers have faced the Dragons at WIN Stadium, having claimed a 24-14 win when they last met in Round 1 of the 2020 season.

1 Daine Laurie
2 David Nofoaluma
3 James Roberts
4 Joseph Leilua
5 Tommy Talau
6 Adam Doueihi
7 Luke Brooks
8 James Tamou
9 Jake Simpkin
10 Alex Twal
11 Luke Garner
12 Luciano Leilua
13 Joe Ofahengaue

14 Moses Mbye
15 Stefano Utoikamanu
16 Alex Seyfarth
17 Thomas Mikaele

18 Micheal Chee Kam
19 Zane Musgrove
20 Tom Amone
21Jacob Liddle

 

[TigerVinnie]

Forum meltdown in 3..2..1..


 

[Sabre]

Hopefully Amone comes onto the bench in place of Seyfarth

 

[Chicken_Faced_Killa]

Shuffle those chairs and see what comes up.

 

[Goldust]

At least Twal isn’t lock
That’s something

 

[WT2K]

Should be entertaining read

 

[TigerWest]

Wests Tigers Coach Michael Maguire has made several changes to his 21-man squad ahead of Sunday’s Round 8 clash against the St. George-Illawarra Dragons.

After a disappointing ANZAC Day result against the Sea Eagles, Maguire will welcome back Joey Leilua to the side after the Samoan international’s strong performance in the Knock-On Effect NSW Cup competition in Round 7.


Leilua last played in Round 5 before suffering a head knock against the Cowboys that saw him sidelined for the following week, but will return to the team this week in place of Michael Chee Kam.

Luke Garner also returns to the starting side after coming off the bench in the past fortnight. His inclusion in the back row sees Joe Ofahengaue shift to lock and Alex Twal to the front row, with young forward Stefano Utoikamanu dropping back to the bench alongside Moses Mbye, Alex Seyfarth and Thomas Mikaele.

Mikaele’s inclusion comes after his strong performance for reserve-grade on Sunday, where he scored the opening try and ran for 171 metres.

Chee Kam, Zane Musgrove, Tom Amone and Jacob Liddle are the four players included amongst the reserves with an updated 19-man squad to be provided at 4:05pm on Saturday.

Sunday’s clash will mark the second time in as many years that Wests Tigers have faced the Dragons at WIN Stadium, having claimed a 24-14 win when they last met in Round 1 of the 2020 season.
1 Daine Laurie
2 David Nofoaluma
3 James Roberts
4 Joseph Leilua
5 Tommy Talau
6 Adam Doueihi
7 Luke Brooks
8 James Tamou
9 Jake Simpkin
10 Alex Twal
11 Luke Garner
12 Luciano Leilua
13 Joe Ofahengaue

14 Moses Mbye
15 Stefano Utoikamanu
16 Alex Seyfarth
17Thomas Mikaele

18 Jacob Liddle
19 Zane Musgrove
20 Tom Amone
21 Micheal Chee Kam

Certainly wasn’t expecting this line up?

 

[old_man_tiger]

Hopefully Mbye to 3, Liddle to 14, Amone in somewhere and Zane and MCK can have hattricks in ISP.

Round 10 deadline looming large for supporters I hope it is for the coach.

 

[mike]

Popcorn 🍿 to the ready

 

[hobbo1]

Twal at Prop ..better than lock
Garner starting is a plus

Was Joey faking injury last week ?

 

[TigerVinnie]

Surely if BJ's hand is broken, Mybe to Centre. Liddle to 14 and Amone to replace Seyfarth....surely....

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

The team shows how slim pickings we have in the backs.

Tawl at prop big yes - should always play there he has never been a lock.

Joe isn’t a backrower, maybe a roving lock role could suit. He is actually one player trying week in week out.

Seyfarth on the bench is stupid. He is not an impact or hold player. Swap him for Amone and Liddle for Mbye and will be happy with the bench.

 

[JC99]

Backline is better, forward pack looks better. Can complain about Joey but we just don't have better centres (no I don't think cini should play centre)

 

[mike]

Twal at Prop ..better than lock
Garner starting is a plus

Was Joey faking injury last week ?

Just a flesh wound

 

[happy_tiger]

Well I'm glad all the players who played badly last week were penalized by the desperate and angry coach

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

The team shows how slim pickings we have in the backs.

Tawl at prop big yes - should always play there he has never been a lock.

Joe isn’t a backrower, maybe a roving lock role could suit. He is actually one player trying week in week out.

Seyfarth on the bench is stupid. He is not an impact or hold player. Swap him for Amone and Liddle for Mbye and will be happy with the bench.

Mmbye can cover halves and centre and hooker and lock he probably stays

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

The team shows how slim pickings we have in the backs.

Tawl at prop big yes - should always play there he has never been a lock.

Joe isn’t a backrower, maybe a roving lock role could suit. He is actually one player trying week in week out.

Seyfarth on the bench is stupid. He is not an impact or hold player. Swap him for Amone and Liddle for Mbye and will be happy with the bench.

we can't carry Liddle and Simpkin in 17
hopefully next year Hastings or Brooks takes the Mmbye role

 

[Tigerdave]

Here's hoping Joe goes alright at lock. Twal back at prop is good.

Thought Joey broke a thumb to......expect changes I guess.

 

[Leichardt61]

Backline is better, forward pack looks better. Can complain about Joey but we just don't have better centres (no I don't think cini should play centre)

Backline is virtually the same though?

 

[Madge]

Well that is better than expected, but Joey’s form will have to be monitored very closely. As others have suggested, Mbye to centre and liddle on the bench probably would have been a better option but we will see.