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Wests Tigers v Raiders: Big three return; Wighton, Whitehead rested

With a finals spot all but assured, the Green Machine will be keen to continue their miraculous late-season revival against a Wests Tigers side who are now guaranteed the wooden spoon. 

Ricky Stuart's men have emerged as one of the Telstra Premiership's form teams over the past month and last week returned to the top eight for the first time since round 3.

 

Sunday's match will mark the first time these two clubs have faced each other since round 1 in 2021. 

Sportsbet Betting preview: Wests Tigers v Raiders

The Rundown

Team news

Wests Tigers: No late changes on Sunday, with Ken Maumalo overcoming a groin injury to take his spot on the wing and Luke Garner back from a head knock in the centres. Captain James Tamou returns from a one-game suspension. 

Raiders: Playmaker Jack Wighton and back-rower Elliott Whitehead have been rested by coach Ricky Stuart, with Matt Frawley coming in to start at five-eighth and Corey Harawira-Naera promoted from the bench to start in the second row. Albert Hopoate is the new face on the bench. Winger Nick Cotric returns from a groin injury on the wing. 

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Daine Laurie
    Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Xavier Savage
  • Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 Brent Naden
    Winger for Raiders is number 2 Nick Cotric
  • Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Starford To'a
    Centre for Raiders is number 3 Matthew Timoko
  • Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Luke Garner
    Centre for Raiders is number 4 Sebastian Kris
  • Winger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Ken Maumalo
    Winger for Raiders is number 5 Jordan Rapana
  • Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Adam Doueihi
    Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 20 Matt Frawley
  • Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Jock Madden
    Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Jamal Fogarty

Forwards

  • Prop for Wests Tigers is number 8 James Tamou
    Prop for Raiders is number 8 Josh Papalii
  • Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Jake Simpkin
    Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Zac Woolford
  • Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 Joe Ofahengaue
    Prop for Raiders is number 10 Joseph Tapine
  • 2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Tom Freebairn
    2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Hudson Young
  • 2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Kelma Tuilagi
    2nd Row for Raiders is number 17 Corey Harawira-Naera
  • Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Fa'amanu Brown
    Lock for Raiders is number 13 Adam Elliott

Interchange

  • Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Fonua Pole
    Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Tom Starling
  • Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Zane Musgrove
    Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Emre Guler
  • Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Tyrone Peachey
    Interchange for Raiders is number 16 Corey Horsburgh
  • Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Austin Dias
    Interchange for Raiders is number 18 Albert Hopoate

Reserves

  • Replacement for Wests Tigers is number 19 Fetalaiga Pauga
    Replacement for Raiders is number 12 Elliott Whitehead

Match Officials

  • Referee: Gerard Sutton
  • Touch Judge: Peter Gough
  • Touch Judge: Drew Oultram
  • Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein

Last updated:

Key match-up

Daine Laurie v Xavier Savage: Two exciting players at the back of the field who have been performing well through the back end of the year. Savage ran for a team-high 226 metres last week, while Laurie has been one of the Wests Tigers' better players through a torrid stretch of late, with 20 tackle breaks in his last four games. 

Stat Attack

The Wests Tigers are one of the competition's worst defensive units across 24 rounds, and sit third for the most missed tackles in the NRL, averaging 33.3 per game. That is in contrast to the Green Machine, who miss the third-fewest tackles in the competition at an average of 29 per game. 

Acknowledgement of Country

National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.

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