All the Round 19 team news!
Author
Dan Talintyre
Timestamp
Tue 23 Jul 2019, 03:59 PM

Wests Tigers hooker Robbie Farah will become the 39th player in Telstra Premiership history to reach 300 games when his side take on the Newcastle Knights this Friday for their Round 19 clash at McDonald Jones Stadium.

Farah — who has played every game for Wests Tigers this season — has once again been named in the number nine jersey by Coach Michael Maguire for what will be his 300th NRL game and 274th game for the club, having also played 26 games for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in 2017 and 2018.

The 35-year-old will become just the sixth player to reach the milestone having played for Wests Tigers during their career, joining John Morris and Adam Blair as well as Chris Heighington, Scott Prince and Benji Marshall, who all played alongside Farah in the club’s maiden Premiership in 2005.

Farah’s total of 273 games for Wests Tigers remains the most in club history, while he has also captained the side in more games than any other player with 149.

Friday’s game marks a crucial one for Maguire’s side as they look to remain in the finals hunt, currently sitting just two points outside the top eight.

Press Conference: Robbie Farah

Wests Tigers will welcome back fullback Corey Thompson after he missed last week’s game with an ankle injury, while young prop Oliver Clark also returns to the side for the first time since Round 15. Clark starts up front alongside Josh Aloiai, while Luke Garner and Michael Chee Kam form a new-look back row.

Ryan Matterson shifts to lock with Matt Eisenhuth dropping back to the reserves, while Alex Twal and Chris Lawrence are the new faces on the bench — joining Jacob Liddle and Thomas Mikaele, who has been named after undergoing the appropriate concussion protocols following his knock last week.

Eisenhuth is joined amongst the reserves by young gun centre Tommy Talau — who featured as 18th Man last week — and Josh Reynolds, who is expected to be available for selection this week after being ruled out for the past fortnight.

Having won their past two matches at the venue, Wests Tigers have a good record in Newcastle with seven victories from their last 11 games there.

McDonald Jones Stadium will officially be called Beanie for Brain Cancer Stadium as part of the Beanies for Brain Cancer Round this weekend, which seeks to raise much-needed research funds for the disease via the Mark Hughes Foundation.

Wests Tigers will provide an updated 19-man team list for Friday’s game at 6:00pm AEST on Thursday before finalising their side one hour prior to kickoff.

1. Corey Thompson
2. Paul Momirovski
3. Moses Mbye (capt.)
4. Esan Marsters
5. David Nofoaluma
6. Benji Marshall
7. Luke Brooks
8. Josh Aloiai
9. Robbie Farah
10. Oliver Clark
11. Luke Garner
12. Michael Chee Kam
13. Ryan Matterson

Interchange:
14. Jacob Liddle
15. Thomas Mikaele
16. Alex Twal
17. Chris Lawrence

Reserves:
18. Matt Eisenhuth
19. Tommy Talau
20. Chris McQueen
21. Josh Reynolds

Coach: Michael Maguire

Wow he moved the deck chairs on the Titanic

Lawrence on his way out …he’s cooked .

I just don’t like the look of the backline ugh. Needs upgrading.

Hate it when MCK starts. He is far more effective off the bench.

@hobbo1 And Packer he had better game than Chris Mcqueen and gets ignored.

@Furious1 Hope its one of his rare good games that he delivers this week.

Given it was the pack that lost us the game last week and where we are struggling then think he pulled the right changes. Needed something different in the front row and Clarke has been great all yr in NSW cup and again on the weekend - brings a real strong running prop with some size and motor and Matterson into the middle strengthens a weak point plus I though Garner was great on his return and Chee is hard to leave out as has been playing well.

When you look at what options he had then he didn’t have many other options other then bringing back McQueen who was rubbish in nsw cup and Packer

Think this might be Lawrences last year although the fact he is almost free on the cap next year might get him another contract

ET injured? Has to be. I refuse to believe that one of our best players over the last 2 weeks is the only player to get dropped out of the 21 man squad.

@GNR4LIFE Imagine ET is injured as wasn’t named in NSW cup and everyone else was and probably lucky for Chirs Lawrence he isnt available or Chris would be in nsw cup for Robbies 300th

@GNR4LIFE I would’ve played him at lock with matterson In the backrow and Chee-Kam instead of Lawrence on the bench.

@GNR4LIFE obviously did not look hard enough in the mirror!

@hobbo1 said in Wests Tigers Team v Newcastle:

Lawrence on his way out …he’s cooked .

Yep. Don’t think he’ll be offered a new deal.

@WT2K said in Wests Tigers Team v Newcastle:

@hobbo1 said in Wests Tigers Team v Newcastle:

Lawrence on his way out …he’s cooked .

Yep. Don’t think he’ll be offered a new deal.

No…not if the club wants to move forward .

@GNR4LIFE said in Wests Tigers Team v Newcastle:

ET injured? Has to be. I refuse to believe that one of our best players over the last 2 weeks is the only player to get dropped out of the 21 man squad.

Offers nothing in attack …
Good call by the coach .