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Wests Tigers
22
Match Complete
St. George Illawarra Dragons
24
| 79 |  | Z. Lomax | ||
| 76 |  | Z. Lomax | ||
| 75 |  | J. Ford | ||
| A. Doueihi | | 66 | ||
| J. Madden | | 65 | ||
| 62 | | Z. Lomax | ||
| 61 | | Z. Lomax | ||
| 43 | | T. Moga | ||
| T. Freebairn | | 33 | ||
| A. Doueihi | | 26 | ||
| T. Freebairn | | 24 | ||
| A. Doueihi | | 23 | ||
| F. Brown | | 21 | ||
| 7 | | Z. Lomax | ||
| 5 | | J. Su'A |
| 4 | Tries | 4 | ||
| 3 | Conversions | 3 | ||
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 1 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
Show Preview
Round 24 of the NRL Premiership continues this afternoon when Wests Tigers host the St George Illawarra Dragons at CommBank Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 2pm (AEST).
While I can’t speak for Wests Tigers’ supporters, I imagine expectations were low ahead of last weekend’s game against the Roosters. Still, the manner of their 66-point capitulation at the SCG must have come as a shock.
Sure, the Tigers had nothing to play for except a diminishing chance of avoiding the wooden spoon. But have they no pride? Do they not care about the little things that matter to their supporters? Will they at least turn up to the game this week?
They’re all legitimate questions after the worst defeat in joint venture history. If there’s any succour, five teams have lost by bigger margins since 1908 and one of those was Western Suburbs back in 1910, the days of three-point tries, heavy leather balls and semi-professionalism. The nascent and historically awful Canterbury team of 1935 also feature twice on that list.
Sorry, but that’s no consolation. Here it is then: the other two teams on that list – Parramatta in 1993 and Cronulla in 2003 – both, like the Tigers, reached their nadir on the second-last weekend of August. Beware the ides of the second-last weekend of August.
It should also be noted that Canterbury rose from the ashes of 1935 to win a premiership in 1938. Canterbury’s coach in ’38 was the great Jimmy Craig, arguably the most gifted player of his era and a premiership winner with both Balmain and Wests. It bodes well for the Benji Marshall era. Hang in there, Tigers fans.
Elsewhere, the Dragons won a bizarre game against the Gold Coast Titans last Sunday. They led 30-26 when Francis Molo was sent-off for a high tackle and, naturally, increased their lead to 20 before the close. Go figure.
In team news, the Dragons have made changes out of necessity. Molo and Moses Mbye are suspended while Andrew McCullough is injured. Jack Bird switches to centre in the absence of Mbye, with Jack De Belin moving to lock and Aaron Woods into the starting team. Jayden Sullivan replaces McCullough at hooker and Tyrell Sloan comes on to the bench.
Wests have made changes because, well, it surely can’t get any worse. Skipper James Tamou is out suspended, with Joe Ofahengaue moving to prop, Fa’amanu Brown to lock and Jake Simpkin returning at hooker. Luke Garner (concussion) and Alex Seyfarth (injury) are out, with Tom Freebairn to make a first NRL start and Kitione Kautoga to make his debut from the bench.
Prediction
The Tigers will show a bit more pride and at least give an ordinary Dragons team a game.
Dragons by 12.
Kick-off: 2pm AEST
Venue: CommBank Stadium
TV/Stream: Kayo Sports, Foxtel, Nine Network
Odds: Tigers $3.10,Dragons $1.37 – odds via PlayUp
Tigers
1. Daine Laurie 2. Brent Naden 3. Starford To’a 4. Asu Kepaoa 5. Junior Pauga 6. Adam Doueihi 7. Jock Madden 8. Joe Ofahengaue 9. Jake Simpkin 10. Zane Musgrove 11. Tom Freebairn 12.Kelma Tuilagi 13. Fa’amanu Brown
Interchange: 14. Fonua Pole 15. Austin Dias 16. Jacob Liddle 17. Kitione Kautoga
Dragogns
1. Cody Ramsey 2. Mathew Feagai 3. Jack Bird 4. Zac Lomax 5. Tautau Moga 6. Talatau Amone 7. Ben Hunt 8. Aaron Woods 9. Jayden Sullivan 10. Blake Lawrie 11. Josh McGuire 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Jack De Belin
Interchange: 14. Tyrell Fuimaono 15. Jaiyden Hunt 16. Jackson Ford 17. Tyrell Sloan
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