Injury has forced Wests Tigers coach Jason Taylor to make a couple of changes to his squad for this Friday’s vital clash with the Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium.
Prop forward Keith Galloway has been ruled out of the round 8 match with a shoulder injury, resulting in Ava Seumanufagai being promoted to the starting pack for the first time this season.
Seumanufagai has been impressive coming in from the bench this season so hopefully he will be able to fill the shoes of Galloway, who has been in good form of late.
But that’s not the only change in the team named by Taylor; exciting up and coming centre Delouise Hoeter has been included in an 18 man squad, which almost certainly means one of the backs in the starting line up is in some doubt for Friday night’s blockbuster.
Either way, Taylor has made it clear since the disappointing loss to the Canberra Raiders at Leichhardt on Sunday he wants consistency for the entire 80 minutes from one of the most talented sides in the 2015 NRL competition.
Finally, returning from a knee injury last week in NSW Cup, Matthew Lodge is set to play his second NRL match of the season with his inclusion on the five-man interchange bench.
Lodge will fill the spot left vacant by Seumanufagai’s promotion to the starting 13.
In NSW Cup team news, extended NRL squad member Nathan Milone makes his return from a long-term knee injury this week to partner Tim Moltzen in the centres.
Wests Tigers NRL – Round 8 v Bulldogs:
1. James Tedesco
2. Kevin Naiqama
3. Tim Simona
4. Chris Lawrence
5. Pat Richards
6. Mitchell Moses
7. Luke Brooks
8. Aaron Woods
9. Robbie Farah (C)
10. Ava Seumanufagai
11. Curtis Sironen
12. Kyle Lovett
13. Martin Taupau
Interchange:
14. Dene Halatau
15. Matthew Lodge
16. Jack Buchanan
17. Sauaso Sue
18. Delouise Hoeter
Wests Tigers NSW Cup – Round 8 v Wentworthville:
1. Shannon McDonnell
2. Keith Lulia
3. Nathan Milone
4. Tim Moltzen
5. Kurtis Rowe
6. Penani Manumalealii
7. Josh Drinkwater (C)
8. Jordan Grant
9. Joel Luani
10. Michael Bullock
11. Lamar Liolevave
12. Asipeli Fine
13. Brenden Santi
Interchange:
14. Manaia Cherrington
15. Wesley Lolo
16. Salesi Funaki
17. Sitaleki Akauola
