Taylor names last Wests Tigers team for 2016 – or is it?

Wests Tigers head coach Jason Taylor has named his side for this Sunday’s final round encounter against the Canberra Raiders at Leichhardt Oval.

Time will tell if it’s the last time in 2016 Taylor has had to name his team.

After an impressive victory over the New Zealand Warriors on Sunday, the club is set to welcome back vice captain Chris Lawrence (knee) and Kyle Lovett (virus) for the game against the Green Machine from the national capital.

As a result, Michael Chee Kam has been named on a five man bench and Curtis Sironen returns to the Intrust Super Premiership side.

Wests Tigers remain in finals contention at the moment, but will be hoping the North Queensland Cowboys put the Gold Coast Titans to the sword on Saturday night.

The Titans are on 27 points, ahead of the Tigers on 26.

So the Tigers will still need to beat the Raiders on Sunday to overtake the Titans.

Which means it’s possible the Wests faithful will wake up on Sunday morning knowing the club’s 2016 bid to make the finals is over win or lose against the Raiders.

But whatever happens the team has made massive improvements this season, especially in defence and in the halves, where Moses and Brooks have finally come of age.

So either way Leichhardt Oval should be packed for what should be a ripper of a rugby league clash.

The match, which will kick off at 2pm, will mark the final home game for club veteran Dene Halatau, who is set to retire at the conclusion of the season.

The 33-year-old made his NRL debut in 2003 and has played 179 NRL games for Wests Tigers, as well as 69 matches for Canterbury-Bankstown.

In other grades, the Intrust Super Premiership side have qualified for the finals in third and will now face the second-placed Illawarra on Saturday at Jubilee Oval.

The winner will enjoy a week off and progress straight through to the preliminary finals, while the loser will face either Wyong or Canterbury-Bankstown next weekend.

Meanwhile in Holden Cup, Wests Tigers snatched a late draw against New Zealand last weekend and are part of a final round log-jam that could see them finish as high as third or as low as eighth.

Wests Tigers NRL – Round 26 v Raiders:

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:

James Tedesco (jaw)

Robbie Farah (hip flexor)

Nathan Milone (knee)

Matt Ballin (knee)

Rod Griffin (arm)