Wests Tigers v Knights: Skelton comes in; Best sidelined
The hottest ticket in town will be for Campbelltown Sports Stadium this Sunday with top two team Wests Tigers at home to top three team Newcastle Knights.
Benji Marshall's charges will have to shake off the high emotion of their energy-charged golden point win over the Eels in their Easter Monday thriller quickly to reset their focus of their next challengers who have defied expectations.
The home side however would have celebrated the involvements of Jock Madden who has been standing tall in their past two wins with co-captain and five-eighth Jarome Luai sidelined.
Madden stepped up to slot two penalty goals - including the golden point winner - but has also been combining well with halfback Adam Doueihi to steer the team around the park.
Last year's wooden spooners the Knights have found a new lease on life under new coach Justin Holbrook who has unlocked their attacking flair, despite two of their more high-profile players missing their recent wins with injury.
Both captain Kalyn Ponga and star recruit Dylan Brown are set to miss a couple more weeks, but in their place, largely unheralded talents like Fletcher Hunt and Sandon Smith have been filling in the steel-capped boots with aplomb.
Match: Wests Tigers v Knights
Round 6 -
home Team
Wests Tigers
2nd Position
away Team
Knights
3rd Position
Venue: Campbelltown Sports Stadium, Sydney
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Team News
Wests Tigers: With winger Luke Laulilii banned for one match for his mid-air tackle on Bailey Simonsson in their dramatic win over Parramatta, Jeral Skelton comes in for the two v three match against the Knights in the only change to the starting 13. On the bench, coach Benji Marshall has added experienced back Patrick Herbert to his 19.
Knights: Round 5 debutant Wilson De Courcey retains his place in the centres after coming from the bench last week in jersey 19 for the injured Bradman Best, who remains sidelined with a groin strain. Coach Justin Holbrook has otherwise named an unchanged 17, with Cody Hopwood also included on the six-player bench.
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Jahream BulaFullback for Knights is number 1 Fletcher Hunt
-
Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 Faaletino TavanaWinger for Knights is number 2 Dominic Young
-
Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Sunia TuruvaCentre for Knights is number 3 Dane Gagai
-
Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Heamasi MakasiniCentre for Knights is number 4 Wilson De Courcey
-
Winger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Jeral SkeltonWinger for Knights is number 5 Greg Marzhew
-
Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Jock MaddenFive-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Fletcher Sharpe
-
Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Adam DoueihiHalfback for Knights is number 7 Sandon Smith
Forwards
-
Prop for Wests Tigers is number 8 Terrell MayProp for Knights is number 8 Jacob Saifiti
-
Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Apisai KoroisauHooker for Knights is number 9 Phoenix Crossland
-
Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 Fonua PoleProp for Knights is number 10 Trey Mooney
-
2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Samuela Fainu2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Dylan Lucas
-
2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Kai Pearce-Paul2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Jermaine McEwen
-
Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Alex TwalLock for Knights is number 13 Mat Croker
Interchange
-
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Latu FainuInterchange for Knights is number 14 Harrison Graham
-
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Sione FainuInterchange for Knights is number 15 Tyson Frizell
-
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Royce HuntInterchange for Knights is number 16 Pasami Saulo
-
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Alex SeyfarthInterchange for Knights is number 17 Thomas Cant
-
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 18 Tristan HopeInterchange for Knights is number 18 Tyson Gamble
-
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 19 Patrick HerbertInterchange for Knights is number 19 Cody Hopwood
Reserves
-
Reserve for Wests Tigers is number 20 Bunty AfoaReserve for Knights is number 20 Francis Manuleleua
-
Reserve for Wests Tigers is number 21 Tony SukkarReserve for Knights is number 21 Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana
-
Reserve for Wests Tigers is number 22 Charlie MurrayReserve for Knights is number 22 James Schiller
Wests Tigers Ins
- Bunty Afoa
- Charlie Murray
- Patrick Herbert
- Tony Sukkar
Knights Ins
- Cody Hopwood
- Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana
- Francis Manuleleua
- James Schiller
Wests Tigers Outs
- Luke Laulilii
Knights Ins
- Bradman Best
Match Officials
- Referee: Wyatt Raymond
- Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
- Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- Wests Tigers are aiming for a 4-1 start to the season for only the third time.
- The Knights have won seven of their last eight games against Wests Tigers.
- Wests Tigers have lost their last five games at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.
- Knights five-eighth Fletcher Sharpe has scored six tries in three games against Wests Tigers.
- Wests Tigers halfback Adam Doueihi has scored five tries in his last seven games against the Knights.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
