Wests Tigers v Knights preview

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Wests Tigers v Newcastle Knights Friday 6:00pm at Campbelltown Sports Stadium, Leumeah / Dharawal

Knights looking to spoil Tigers' newfound hopes to start 2025

A bolstered, almost unrecognisable Tigers side are set to kick-off their 2025 campaign by hosting the Newcastle Knights at Campbelltown on Friday evening. After the Knights scraped into the finals last season, they will be aiming to take things a few steps further this year. The Wests Tigers haven't won a first round match since 2020, and with their finals drought already at 13 seasons, the stakes are high right off the bat. 

Big name recruits Jarome Luai, Sunia Turuva, Jeral Skelton, Terrell May, Royce Hunt, and Jack Bird are all set to line up for the Wests Tigers this Friday, with fans no doubt keenly watching for their impacts. Luai will partner Lachie Galvin in the halves in the debut of what the club hopes to be their long term halves combination. The pressure will be on for Luai to step up and lead the long-struggling side in his role in the number seven jersey.

Api Koroisau's suspension sees Tallyn Da Silva step up into the hooker role, whilst an appendix issue for Jahream Bula gives Heath Mason a big opportunity as starting fullback. Solomona Faataape and Adam Doueihi get the nod as the centre pairing, whilst Charlie Staines is left out of the 17 in favour of club debutants Skelton and Turuva. Royce Hunt and Jack Bird will start the game from the bench, with their roles, and how many minutes each will get, still unclear. Terrell May has claimed ownership of the number 8, teaming up with Fonua Pole in the front row. 

Plenty of noise has surrounded the potential halves pairing over in Newcastle, with O'Brien having used an astounding eleven different combinations throughout last season. It's Fletcher Sharpe and Jack Cogger named in the 6 & 7 for round 1, seeing Phoenix Crossland take up the role at hooker and Jayden Brailey pushed to the bench.

New recruit James Schiller is set for his Knights debut on the wing, whilst the pack is shaping up nicely. Union convert Leo Thompson has been impressive of late, and is partnered by the experienced Jacob Saifiti in the props. Captain Kalyn Ponga seems set to remain in his fullback role after a brief halves experiment this time last year, and the pressure will be on for him to deliver to his full potential. There's no room for former Tiger Jackson Hastings in the 17.

The Knights have come out victorious in the past six NRL match ups between these clubs.

Last meeting: Round 23 2024 - Knights 34 Wests Tigers 18

Who to watch: Tristan Hope has been named to make his NRL debut off the bench for the Wests Tigers this Friday. The absence of Api Koroisau gives him the opportunity, with Hope expected to help relieve Tallyn Da Silva of the number nine duties for part of the 80 minutes. The 27 year old first played Queensland Cup in 2018, and has been a consistent hooker for East Brisbane Tigers across the past two seasons, taking out the premiership in 2023. Rewarded for his efforts with a train-and-trial deal at Concord, his performances during pre-season and trials were sufficient for Benji to upgrade Hope to a development contract, and hand him his first top flight appearance. 

Fletcher Sharpe being named in the halves may not be a massive surprise to Newcastle fans, but it certainly is a risk on Adam O'Brien's part. The 20 year old from Maitland has only ever played NRL games at wing or fullback so far in his career, so this is a significant shift for the youngster. Sharpe played both pre-season trial games in the number 6 jersey for the Knights, giving some foreshadowing that he was favoured to make the change into the halves. Sharpe was a part of the Australian PM XIII team that travelled to Port Moresby last year, and he's certainly in confident form, running in two tries against the Roosters two weeks ago.

The favourite: The Knights appear to be the marginal favourites heading into this one.

My tip: Newcastle are a real bogey team for the Wests Tigers, and with new combinations still forming, I can't see Wests getting up at home in Campbelltown. Knights by 8.

1. Heath Mason 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Adam Doueihi 4. Solomona Faataape 5. Jeral Skelton 6. Lachlan Galvin 7. Jarome Luai 8. Terrell May 9. Tallyn Da Silva 10. Fonua Pole 11. Samuela Fainu 12. Alex Seyfarth 13. Alex Twal 14. Tristan Hope 15. Royce Hunt 16. Jack Bird 17. Sione Fainu 18. Latu Fainu 20. Kit Laulilii

1. Kalyn Ponga 2. James Schiller 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Fletcher Sharpe 7. Jack Cogger 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Dylan Lucas 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Tyson Frizell 14. Jayden Brailey 15. Jack Hetherington 16. Brodie Jones 17. Mathew Croker 18. Thomas Cant 19. Will Pryce

Referees: Liam Kennedy; Sideline Officials: Jon Stone, Kieren Irons; Video Referees: Kasey Badger;