Round 7: Bulldogs v Wests Tigers preview
Bulldogs and Tigers to square off in Sunday night showdown.
After a narrow loss to the Sharks last Sunday night that leaves them with just one win from six games for the season, speculation continues around the coaching future of Dean Pay in the top job at Canterbury. You certainly can't question the players' commitment to their top dog, with their efforts week to week proving they want to continue under his tutelage.
That and the fact their season is fast slipping away should provide them with plenty of motivation as they take centre stage for the last game of the round for the fourth straight week since the competition relaunch.
With winger Christian Crichton being suspended for a shoulder charge last week, Pay has re-jigged the backline with Reimis Smith and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak manning the flanks after being named in the centres last week and Kerrod Holland joining the run-on team to partner impressive youngster Jake Averillo in the centres. Jack Cogger has been named to take Holland's place on the interchange. Aiden Tolman also finds himself on the reserves list after spending time in isolation following a Covid-19 scare two weeks ago. He should come into the team pending a final test this week.
A month into the relaunched season and Wests Tigers fans find their team in a position they have become all too accustomed to in recent years - ninth on the ladder and searching for the consistency to breakthrough as a top 8 side.
After coach Michael Maguire sent a warning shot to the entire squad when axing club legend Benji Marshall a fortnight ago, there have been positives with a tough loss to the Raiders followed up by a strong victory over the Cowboys last week in which they blew out to a 34-0 halftime lead.
There's also been the negatives. After sending a strong message around his team's defensive mindset, McGuire's men let in 20 unanswered points against the Cowboys in the second half and for the second straight week - failed to cross the stripe for a try in the final 40.
Injuries have left the Tigers with a few headaches this week with Robert Jennings (hamstring), Zane Musgrove (foot) and Alex Twal (knee) all set for a stint on the sidelines. Jennings injury is offset by the return of Tommy Talau on the wing, whilst Oliver Clark and Matt Eisenhuth join the starting pack with Elijah Taylor finding his way back into the 17 via the bench.
Last meeting: Round 21 2019 - Bulldogs 18 Wests Tigers 16
Who to watch: Who to watch for the home side.
Spending the last few years at Belmore switching between fullback and centre, the versatile Will Hopoate was initially pencilled in at right centre for season 2020 before again shifting to the back in Round 4. The former New South Wales rep has again looked at home in the number one jersey averaging 190 metres and 3 tackle busts per game. His ball-playing ability on the edges has added an attacking threat for the blue and whites and there's not a safer custodian under the high ball in the game today. As one of the few players in the Bulldogs squad displaying genuine NRL quality week in - week out, ‘Hoppa' will again be key to their chances this week.
At the opposite end of the park, Tigers custodian Adam Doueihi is displaying plenty of promise as he continues to transition into the role Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett thrust him into for the back half of 2019. Plying his trade in the halves coming through the grades, Doueihi was forced to develop his utility value at South Sydney with regular halves Adam Reynolds and Cody Walker ahead of him. Signed by the Tigers late in the pre-season, McGuire opted to use him in the centres in rounds one and two, but fullback was always the plan for him as the season wore on and he got his chance to make the number one jersey his own when the comp restarted in round three. One of his biggest strengths at the back is his exceptional positional play and the ability to read an opposition kick. With similar stats to his opposite number of 188 metres and 4 tackle busts per game, expect the battle at the back to play a key role in the outcome of this one.
The favourite: The Tigers hold firm favouritism in this one.
My tip: The injuries to the Tigers levels things right up here and they are still yet to prove they're an 80 minute team. Their trend of not crossing the stripe the last two weeks is a concern against a Bulldogs side who refuses to go away. Despite struggling in recent times, the Bulldogs have won their last three against the Tigers and look a good chance of coming over the top of them again in this one. Bulldogs by 4.
