Round 24: Wests Tigers v Dragons preview
Tigers host Dragons as wooden spoon looms
The Wests Tigers will host the St George Illawarra Dragons this Sunday at Parramatta as the regular season winds down. With both teams having disappointing 2022 campaigns, they'll be looking to give their fans some hope for the coming years.
The Tigers have hit rock bottom. The club that hasn't played finals football since 2011 are just two losses away from their first ever wooden spoon. A 72 points to 6 loss to the Sydney Roosters last round showed why the team deserves to be where they are on the ladder, dishing up one of, if not the, worst defensive showings of the year. With the club's new centre of excellence now open, and a coaching succession plan in place, the Wests Tigers are ready for the next few seasons, but a few strong showings to end the year would certainly provide some reassurance to their frustrated fan base.
Missing a whole host of their top thirty players through injury and suspension, an already uphill battle for the Tigers this weekend is made a lot harder. With no sign of playmaker Luke Brooks, and with injuries ravaging their outside backs and forward stocks, the team named on Tuesday afternoon by Tim Sheens (sorry, Brett Kimmorley) is lacking experience. The suspension of James Tamou is another blow for Wests.
Junior Pauga returns to the first grade side on the wing, while Tom Freebairn has earned himself a starting spot in the second row. A number of further changes in the forward pack are highlighted by Nu Brown's move to lock, and Jake Simpkin's return into the NRL team. Jacob Liddle has been picked on the bench, along with Kitione Kautoga, who will make his NRL debut. Tyrone Peachey, James Roberts, and Justin Matamua have all been overlooked.
The Dragons find themselves in tenth with just two matches left in the home-and-away season, six points outside the top eight. Well in the fight for finals until only a few weeks ago, a heartbreaking loss to Canberra ended any hopes of them playing finals footy for the first time since 2018.
A strong performance against the 15th placed Titans gave their fans something to cheer for last weekend, finishing twenty point victors in front of a home crowd. Leading by sixteen points late in the first half, the Dragons let the Gold Coast back into the match, before Francis Molo got sent off with seventeen minutes remaining to set up a grandstand finish. But despite the numerical disadvantage, the Dragons were too strong in the dying stages.
The suspension of Moses Mbye sees Jack Bird shift into the centres and Jack De Belin to lock. Aaron Woods has been named to start at prop for the first time since round 5, while Jayden Sullivan takes the starting hooker spot from Andrew McCullough, who is out through injury. Francis Molo is also suspended.
The last time these two sides met, back in round 8, was a low scoring affair. With only two points being scored in the first half, the Dragons got the better of Wests in the second, holding on to win 12-6. Expect a lot more points this weekend with both sides having nothing to lose, they'll be prepared to throw the ball around a bit in attack.
The Wests Tigers have won four of their last five matches against the Dragons
Last meeting: Round 8 2022 - Dragons 12 Wests Tigers 6
Who to watch: Jacob Liddle will make his return to the Wests Tigers first grade side this weekend off the bench. Making nine appearances in the NRL this season, the 25 year olds most recent top grade game was off the bench back in round 17. As one of three hookers in the 17 for the Tigers this weekend, his minutes may be limited, but Liddle will be wanting to prove that he is indeed an NRL level hooker with his future somewhat clouded.
Playing consistently at fullback for the Dragons since round eleven, Cody Ramsey has shone after beating Tyrell Sloan to the number one jersey. Starting his NRL career on the wing back in late 2020, he is signed with St George until the end of the 2024 season. With some injury issues of late, Ramsey will want to bring his breakout 2022 campaign to an end on a high, and help his side to a strong win against the Tigers this weekend.
The favourite: The Dragons are the favourites to beat the Wests Tigers in Parramatta this Sunday.
My tip: The Tigers will only get worse after last week. With nothing to play for, they will fold, and fold easily. Dragons by 50.
