The Wests Tigers have recorded an important win at ANZ Stadium, downing the Canterbury Bulldogs by 6 points in an ANZAC Weekend thriller.
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Final score
Wests Tigers 18
Canterbury Bulldogs 12
The Wests Tigers will be looking to put a trying week behind them on Sunday when they take on the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 4pm AEST.
Wests have started 2017 poorly, winning only two of their first seven games, and currently holding the worst points differential in the NRL.
This was compounded this week with news that both James Tedesco and Aaron Woods are set to leave the club at the end of the season, leaving Wests with only one member of their ‘Big Four’ remaining.
Mitchell Moses will play out the season for the club, as Ivan Cleary denied him an early release during the week.
Canterbury have also had some stutters to start the season, but have rebounded nicely from a thrashing from Manly to record three straight wins, including victories over the Broncos and Rabbitohs.
Despite this, they still hold a negative points differential, and many are questioning which version of the Bulldogs is the real one.
Wests have only one out from last week’s side, as Jamal Idris drops out. JJ Felise, Joel Edwards, Justin Hunt, Kyle Lovett and Luke Brooks have all been added to the extended side, with Brooks seeming to be the favourite to take the empty spot.
The Bulldogs will welcome back David Klemmer for this clash, meaning Adam Elliot drops back to the extended bench. Francis Taulau, Reimis Smith and Renouf Toomaga have also been named in the 21.
The mail suggests that Raymond Faitala-Mariner may be the man that eventually makes way for the aforementioned Klemmer.
The halves battle looks like one of the big deciding factors for this game. If Luke Brooks does replace Jack Littlejohn, it gives the Tigers a dynamic halves pairing that have proven numerous times that they can put on points in a hurry.
However, the Dogs halves have been rounding into some nice form, and with Josh Reynolds still looking an outside chance for a Blues jersey, we could get him at his niggling best.
Prediction
The Tigers are there for the taking at the moment, and I expect the Bulldogs to do so with some ease.
Bulldogs by 16.
Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 4pm AEST.
Soothsayer
Roar Rookie
Dogs caned in the penalties and then a sin bin! Were they that undisciplined?
The Barry
Roar Guru
More insults? Try watching the game instead of coming up with zingers like Mr Magoo. Morris clearly went past the horizontal.
Don
Guest
Magoo again
Don
Guest
Sure was if your name is Mr Magoo!
Don
Guest
Paul Carige!
Oingo Boingo
Guest
Better than a field goal attempt .
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Piss weak sin bin, no surprise with Sutton holding the whistle though.
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
No worries TB. Tough one to take for your boys. Josh Jackson certainly didn't deserve to be the culprit for that ricochet.
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
» Click here to read the full match report
The Barry
Roar Guru
Really? Brooks landed flat on his back in the Jackson tackle, Morris was tipped upside down. Pretty clear.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Thanks Joel.
The Barry
Roar Guru
The only thing I'd hand him would be the Santa suit for the Christmas party...
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
I stand corrected. And quite happy to be to be honest. Much better to blog than my prediction would have been.
Emcie
Roar Guru
At the tigers
The Barry
Roar Guru
Yeah...congrats on the win TigerMike.
PNG Broncos fan88
Roar Guru
Jackson does it and its strong tackle, no penalty. Morris cops it then drops it, its a penalty. Mystified?
The Barry
Roar Guru
That's so disappointing. Unlucky rebound off Jackson from that kick. But Eastwood!!! 75th minute, seven tackle set, 40 metres out, third tackle and he puts in that kick.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
I expect him to be handed the captaincy
TigerMike
Guest
Nice very nice results count
PNG Broncos fan88
Roar Guru
Nah mate, pretty big call from you Joel on the 16pts. Tigers made my day ;-)