NRL 2020: Penrith Panthers, Wests Tigers, trial match preview

Author: Troy Whittaker NRL.com Reporter
Timestamp: Sat 22 Feb 2020, 03:01 PM

Tyrone May has been granted approval to play for Penrith in Saturday night's trial against Wests Tigers despite being suspended until round five of the NRL season.

May, who missed the entirety of last year under the no-fault stand down rule, pleaded guilty to four counts of intentionally recording an intimate image without consent.

The 23-year-old playmaker was sentenced to a three-year community corrections order and 300 hours of community service, but he's free to continue his NRL career after completing a secondary prevention program and serving a four-match ban.

Pre-season fixtures aren't included in the new suspension.

May joins the likes of Jarome Luai, Josh Mansour, Matt Burton, Brian To'o, Brent Naden and Dean Whare in a 26-man Penrith squad to play at Panthers Stadium.

Tigers fans will get their first look at new recruits Adam Doueihi, Billy Walters, Zane Musgrove and Luciano Leilua while experienced first-graders Chris McQueen, Josh Reynolds, Elijah Taylor and Michael Chee Kam will also feature.

Having recruited well over the summer, a number of positions are up for grabs at the Tigers - including fullback, second row, centre and hooker - and standout trial form may dictate who gets first crack.

Round 2 - Round 2 - Saturday 22 Feb

Full Time

Panthers

Wests Tigers

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Panthers is number 18 Daine Laurie

Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Adam Doueihi
Winger for Panthers is number 2 Josh Mansour

Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 Zac Cini
Centre for Panthers is number 3 Dean Whare

Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Tommy Talau
Centre for Panthers is number 4 Brent Naden

Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Matheson Johns
Winger for Panthers is number 5 Brian To'o

Winger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Reece Hoffman
Five-Eighth for Panthers is number 6 Jarome Luai

Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Josh Reynolds
Halfback for Panthers is number 7 Matt Burton

Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Jock Madden

Forwards

Prop for Panthers is number 8 Moses Leota

Prop for Wests Tigers is number 8 Oliver Clark
Hooker for Panthers is number 9 Tyson Smoothy

Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Billy Walters
Prop for Panthers is number 10 Jack Hetherington

Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 Zane Musgrove
2nd Row for Panthers is number 11 Billy Burns

2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Luciano Leilua
2nd Row for Panthers is number 16 Pat Hollis

2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Chris McQueen
Lock for Panthers is number 13 Isaah Yeo

Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Matthew Eisenhuth

Interchange

Interchange for Panthers is number 14 Brendan Hands

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Sam McIntyre
Interchange for Panthers is number 15 Kaide Ellis

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Jake Simpkin
Interchange for Panthers is number 17 Tyrone May

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Michael Chee Kam
Interchange for Panthers is number 20 Stephen Crichton

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Alex Seyfarth

Reserves

Reserve for Panthers is number 21 Jed Cartwright

Reserve for Wests Tigers is number 18 Elijah Taylor
Reserve for Panthers is number 22 Lindsay Smith

Reserve for Wests Tigers is number 19 Logen Dillon
Reserve for Panthers is number 23 J'maine Hopgood

Reserve for Wests Tigers is number 20 William Kei
Reserve for Panthers is number 25 Billy Tsikrikas

Reserve for Wests Tigers is number 21 Terrell May
Reserve for Panthers is number 26 George Tsikrikas

Reserve for Wests Tigers is number 22 Liam Scolari
Reserve for Panthers is number 27 Jake Tago

Reserve for Wests Tigers is number 23 Joseph Taipari

Match Officials

Referee: Ashley Klein
Referee: Phil Henderson

Last updated: 12/8/2022 3:40:30 AM

The Rundown

Squads

Penrith Panthers: Ativalu Lisati, Billy Burns, Billy Tsikrikas, Brendan Hands, Brent Naden, Brian To'o, Caleb Aekins, Daine Laurie, Dean Whare, Dylan Edwards, George Tsikrikas, Jack Hetherington, Jake Tago, Jarome Luai, Jed Cartwright, J'maine Hopgood, Josh Mansour, Kaide Ellis, Liam Martin, Lindsay Smith, Matt Burton, Moses Leota, Pat Hollis, Stephen Crichton, Tyrone May, Tyson Smoothy

Wests Tigers squad: Adam Doueihi, Alex Seyfarth, Austin Dias, Billy Walters, Brendan O'Hagan, Chris McQueen, Elijah Taylor, Etuale Lui, Jake Simpkin, Jock Madden, Joe Taipari, Jordin Leiu, Josh Reynolds, Logen Dillon, Luciano Leilua, Matheson Johns, Matt Eisenhuth, Michael Chee Kam, Oliver Clark, Reece Hoffman, Sam McIntyre, Terrell May, Vea Tapaatoutai, William Kei, Zac Cini, Zane Musgrove

Casualty ward

Penrith Panthers: Second-row recruit Kurt Capewell will have to wait an extra week to make his Panthers debut after sustaining a minor quad strain. Young fullback Charlie Staines has been restricted by a low-grade hamstring strain. Isaah Yeo (shoulder), Jed Cartwright (shoulder) and James Fisher-Harris (pectoral) are working back from off-season surgeries.

Hooker Mitch Kenny (elbow), Dean Blore (shoulder), Shawn Blore (ACL) and Brayden McGrady (ACL) will miss the start of the season. Zane Tetevano and Malakai Watene-Zelezniak are on All Stars duty.

Wests Tigers: Outside back Paul Momirovski injured his ankle at the NRL Nines and will miss 2-3 weeks, robbing him of the chance to press his claims. Prop Russell Packer (foot) is unlikely to play, while hooker Jacob Liddle (ACL) is confined to watching.

The big question

Penrith Panthers: Can Josh Mansour rediscover his mojo? Barely two years ago Mansour was close to the best winger in the league but some horror injuries have taken their toll. With Brian To'o now ensconced in first grade and some other young guns on the rise, Mansour needs to hit the ground running. A solid Nines tournament was a good start.

Five key match-ups of the Panthers' 2020 draw

Wests Tigers: Who plays hooker? With a proposed swap deal between Paul Momirovski and Melbourne rake Harry Grant likely to fall through, the Tigers are no closer to solving their No.9 problem created by Robbie Farah's retirement. Jacob Liddle is injured long-term, seemingly leaving Josh Reynolds, Moses Mbye and Billy Walters to duke it out. Reynolds and Mbye have more NRL runs on the board but Walters - who can also play in the halves - starred at the Nines and can continue his case for selection on Saturday night. Jake Simpkin is another option, though he's currently on a development deal.