After some promising signs early in the season Wests Tigers have slumped to five losses on the trot as they head to Tamworth to confront a Knights outfit buoyed by a gritty win over the Warriors in torrid conditions in Newcastle.
Wins over heavyweights the Sharks and Eels in Rounds 2-3 had Tigers fans believing they could finally rid themselves of the dreaded wooden spoon they collected in 2022 and 2023.
The emergence of talented teenage playmaker Lachlan Galvin and the brilliant form of skipper Api Koroisau were cause for optimism but the hooker's ongoing battle with hip spasms forced him out of the Bulldogs game and he was sorely missed.
Galvin's halves partner Aidan Sezer will miss the next four games after taking the early guilty plea to a Dangerous Contact offence.
The fact Adam O'Brien's men have found a way to knock off the Dolphins and Warriors without superstar skipper Kalyn Ponga will be a huge shot in the arm as he faces at least another eight weeks on the sideline.
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Team News
Wests Tigers: Jayden Sullivan takes over at halfback from the suspended Aidan Sezer, while skipper Api Koroisau is back on deck after missing Round 9 with hip spasms. Starford To'a will play his first game since Round 2 having returned from an ankle injury in NSW Cup last weekend, with Brent Naden shifting to the wing. No changes in the one-hour update.
Knights: A late switch sees Dylan Lucas join the run-on side and Kai Pearce-Paul revert to the bench. Jacob Saifiti (leg) dropped out of the side on Friday and is replaced by Jack Hetherington on the interchange, while Tyson Frizell (hamstring) will play his first game since Round 4.
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Stat Attack
- Wests Tigers have won only one of their four games played at Scully Park.
- The Knights have won their last four games against the Tigers.
- Tigers winger Charlie Staines has scored three tries in his past two games.
- The Knights have lost four of their past five away games.
- Prop Alex Twal is the only Tigers player who has experienced a win at Scully Park.
This article contains content that is only available on NRL.com
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.