After just one day in charge, Ivan Cleary was never going to make massive changes to the team line up for this week’s round six clash against the North Queensland Cowboys in Townsville this Saturday night.
It’s possible there may be some more changes after he’s been around for a full week, but not today.
Cleary made just one change when he named his first ever Wests Tigers squad.
The new coach selected Jacob Liddle to replace Matt Ballin on the bench for the trip up north.
That is the only change to the team that was comprehensively beaten [28-6] by the St George Illawarra Dragons last Sunday.
The visit to North Queensland is considered to be one of the toughest assignments in the NRL.
But whatever happens up there in his first game as the new coach, Cleary will have his hands full for the following three weeks when the Wests Tigers are scheduled to play the Eels, Bulldogs and Sharks in rounds 7, 8 and 9.
Hopefully they will have more than one scalp under their belt after that run and the new coach will have the opportunity to start work on some long term planning for the Wests Tigers.
On a positive note, backrower Chris Lawrence is set to play his 200th NRL game against the Cowboys.
• The Intrust Super Premiership side had their first win of the season against the North Sydney Bears on Sunday, coming out on top 18-16 at Chatswood Oval.
• In Holden Cup, Chris Hutchison’s side face the Cowboys on Saturday as they look to bounce back from four straight losses.
NRL – Wests Tigers v Cowboys
1. James Tedesco
2. David Nofoaluma
3. Jamal Idris
4. Kevin Naiqama
5. Moses Suli
6. Mitchell Moses
7. Jack Littlejohn
8. Aaron Woods (C)
9. Matt McIlwrick
10. Ava Seumanufagai
11. Josh Aloiai
12. Chris Lawrence
13. Elijah Taylor
Interchange:
14. Tim Grant
15. Sauaso Sue
16. Michael Chee Kam
17. Jacob Liddle
18. Kyle Lovett
19. Joel Edwards
20. Justin Hunt
21. Junior Tatola
