Wests Tigers coach Jason Taylor has made one positional change to the team he has just named for the club’s Round 25 away game against the New Zealand Warriors at Mt Smart Stadium this Sunday, August 28.
And even that change wasn’t entirely unexpected after the shocker against Penrith last week when the Wests Tigers were dispatched 40-10.
Taylor has switched David Nofoaluma to fullback and has listed Jordan Rankin back on the wing.
Rankin, who has been a solid performer all season wherever the coach has asked him to play, did have a below par performance at fullback, failing to catch several Penrith bombs.
No doubt Nofoaluma will be tested with the high ball by the Warriors on Sunday.
After suffering a knee injury during last weekend’s game against the Panthers, second-rower Chris Lawrence will be given until the end of the week to prove his fitness for the important clash.
Michael Chee Kam has again been named on an extended interchange bench and is expected to travel with the side as 18th man.
Wests Tigers remain in the hunt for a finals appearance, however the team must win both remaining games against the Warriors and Raiders to have a chance of moving into the top eight.
It will also hope that the Titans lose both their last two games.
The club has won its past two matches against the New Zealand Warriors, however Wests Tigers haven’t won a game at Mt Smart Stadium since 2011.
♦ In other grades, the Intrust Super Premiership side play their final regular season match of the year against Newcastle on Sunday at Hunter Stadium.
Paul Stringer’s team remain in third-place on 32 points after a narrow loss to Manly-Warringah on Sunday and need to win this weekend to ensure they stay ahead of Newtown (31 points) and New Zealand (30 points) leading into the finals.
• Meanwhile in Holden Cup, Wests Tigers caused an upset over the competition leaders Penrith last week and are now well and truly in the hunt to finish in the top four with two regular season games remaining.
The club’s Holden Cup side play New Zealand (14th) and Canberra (8th) to finish the season, with the side currently just two competition points behind the third-placed Roosters.
Wests Tigers NRL – Round 25 v Warriors:
1. David Nofoaluma
2. Jordan Rankin
3. Tim Simona
4. Kevin Naiqama
5. Joshua Addo-Carr
6. Mitchell Moses
7. Luke Brooks
8. Aaron Woods (C)
9. Dene Halatau
10. Sauaso Sue
11. Josh Aloiai
12. Chris Lawrence
13. Elijah Taylor
Interchange:
14. Kyle Lovett
15. Ava Seumanufagai
16. Tim Grant
17. Joel Edwards
18. Michael Chee Kam
UNAVAILABLE:
Nathan Milone (knee – season)
Matt Ballin (knee – season)
James Tedesco (jaw – 3-5 weeks)
Rod Griffin (arm – season)
