Wests Tigers v Warriors preview

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Wests Tigers v Warriors Sunday 6:15pm at Campbelltown Sports Stadium, Leumeah / Dharawal

Wests and Wahs look to end the weekend with a win

The Wests Tigers will be aiming to win three in a row for the first time since Benji Marshall's playing days when they close out the round against the New Zealand Warriors on Sunday evening.

Returning to Campbelltown buoyant after posting back-to-back wins over the past fortnight, the Wests Tigers will be out to break a record that has stood since 2018 by claiming three wins in succession.

Clawing back a double-digit deficit to register a 30-18 win over the Dolphins in Redcliffe last Saturday, coach Marshall has retained the same squad despite injury concerns over Jeral Skelton and Samuela Fainu.

The joint venture has struggled at Campbelltown this decade with a paltry three wins from 16 appearances - however two of those victories occurred under Marshall's watch last season.  

Making their first premiership appearance in Australia this season, the New Zealand Warriors will be aiming to extend a dominant run over the joint venture.

Winning seven consecutive matches against the Tigers this decade, including the most recent meeting between the two sides at Campbelltown, coach Andrew Webster has been forced to change his backline with Adam Pompey shifting to the wing for Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Rocco Berry coming into the centres.

Posting a comeback win of their own to defeat the Roosters 14-6 last Friday in Auckland, the Warriors have enjoyed the highest completion rate of any team this season at 85% over the opening three rounds.

The Warriors have won 11 out of 27 matches in Australia since Webster took charge as coach in 2023; the side's record in Sydney during that period stands at five wins from ten visits.

Last meeting: Round 21 2024 - Warriors 28 Wests Tigers 16

Who to watch: Becoming a fan favourite in a short space of time at the joint venture, Royce Hunt will be aiming to make a big impact in limited minutes. Averaging 70 metres, including close to half in post-contact metres, in just under half an hour of game time over the opening three rounds, the 29-year-old prop has revelled off the bench after establishing himself at the Sharks over the past five seasons. With the Tigers scoring a third of all their tries in the ten minutes either side of halftime with Hunt on the field, the Warriors will need to be on high alert when he enters the field midway through the opening half.

Taking the most of his opportunity in the centres with three tries in as many appearances this season, young gun Ali Leiataua has provided a fresh injection of attacking spark to the Warriors right edge. Managing seven appearances over the previous two seasons in first grade, the 22-year-old looks set for an extended stay in the number three jersey following a game-breaking brace of tries last week. Crossing for a four-poster when the two sides clashed in Auckland last year, look for Leiataua to continue his strong start to 2025 on Sunday evening. 

Favourite: The Wests Tigers are expected to improve upon their record over the Warriors at Campbelltown, having won five out of eight meetings at the venue this century. 

My tip: The last time the Wests Tigers defeated the New Zealand Warriors occurred in the early rounds of the 2019 season on a Sunday night at Campbelltown. As the only surviving player from that team, Alex Twal will be hoping history repeats six years later. Tigers by 6.

1. Jahream Bula 2. Sunia Turuva 16. Jack Bird 4. Starford To'a 22. Solomona Faataape 6. Lachlan Galvin 7. Jarome Luai 8. Terrell May 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Fonua Pole 11. Samuela Fainu 12. Alex Seyfarth 13. Alex Twal 14. Tallyn Da Silva 15. Royce Hunt 17. Sione Fainu 18. Latu Fainu 21. Tony Sukkar

1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Taine Tuaupiki 4. Ali Leiataua 5. Adam Pompey 23. Edward Kosi 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Luke Metcalf 8. James Fisher-Harris 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Marata Niukore 13. Erin Clark 15. Jackson Ford 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Leka Halasima 22. Bunty Afoa 18. Te Maire Martin

Referees: Wyatt Raymond; Sideline Officials: Jon Stone, Kieren Irons; Video Referees: Matt Noyen;