Wests Tigers will be looking to bounce back from a narrow loss in Round 7 and remain in the top four when they host the Raiders at Leichhardt Oval.
The 'house full' sign is up and the iconic ground will be pumping as Benji's boys look to hit back against a Canberra outfit riding high after taking down the Storm.
The perfect way to kick off the Anzac Round with two potent attacking sides going at it in front of a raucous Leichhardt Oval crowd.
Follow all the action from Round 8 of the NRL Telstra Premiership on NRL.com's live blog.
Wests Tigers v Raiders at Leichhardt Oval
Match: Wests Tigers v Raiders
Round 8 -
home Team
Wests Tigers
3rd Position
away Team
Raiders
13th Position
Venue: Leichhardt Oval, Sydney
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
43rd minute: The Tigers get a penalty off the first set due to a late tackle on Adam Doueihi after kicking. Just three plays later Taylan May crosses the stripe off a Jahream Bula short ball. Doueihi misses the conversion attempt. 14-14.
Stat attack: The Tigers' middle forwards led the way in the first half, with Terrell May doing the damage up the middle. He had 89 metres gained from 11 hit-ups and made 21 tackles, while lock Alex Twal made 32 tackles on top of 63 metres gained and seven hit-ups.
Half-time: The Raiders take the lead into half-time after a topsy-turvy opening stanza at Leichhardt Oval. The home side dominated the possession and field position in the opening 25 minutes, scoring two tries, before Api Koroisau was sent to the sin bin for a hip drop tackle. The visitors converted the opportunities into all 14 of their points, giving them a four-point lead at the break.
37th minute: Ethan Sanders adds a penalty goal after Jarome Luai is nabbed for an escort to make it 14 points scored during Api Koroisau's time in the sin bin. Raiders 14-10.
33rd minute: Kaeo Weekes shows his power, running over the top of three Tigers to level the scores and silence the Leichhardt crowd. Ethan Sanders nails the conversion. Raiders 12-10.
Kaeo Weekes Try
Injury update: Ethan Strange returns to the field after 20 minutes on the sideline receiving treatment for an ankle injury.
29th minute: Matt Timoko gets the Raiders on the board after stepping off his right foot and slicing through the Tigers' defence to score under the posts. Tigers 10-6.
Matthew Timoko Try
26th minute: Tigers hooker Api Koroisau is sent to the sin bin after a hip drop tackle on Noah Martin, who remains on the field after receiving treatment.
24th minute: The Raiders get a rare attacking opportunity, but can't capitalise despite a scything run from Savelio Tamale.
18th minute: Adam Doueihi extends the lead for the Tigers on the back of a repeat set, shrugging off his opposite number Ethan Sanders in the process. The halfback hits the post on the conversion attempt. Tigers 10-0.
Adam Doueihi Try
12th minute: The Tigers get another chance to attack after a Joseph Tapine offload goes astray, but the Raiders are saved thanks to a one-on-one strip effected by Tom Starling.
Injury alert: Ethan Strange has limped off with a left ankle injury, replaced by Daine Laurie, who is making his Raiders debut.
8th minute: The Tigers notch the first try of the game as Luke Laulilii grounds a bouncing Api Koroisau cross-field chip just inside the dead-ball line. It came after the Raiders turned the ball over from an errant offload. Adam Doueihi converts from the sideline. Tigers 6-0.
Luke Laulilii Try
2nd minute: The Raiders go the length of the field in the first set of the game and Noah Martin claims a try off an Ethan Sanders grubber. Joseph Tapine is found to have obstructed Api Koroisau in the lead-up.
Kick-off: After a solemn Anzac commemoration, Adam Doueihi gets us underway in Round 8 with the kick-off to the Raiders.
Late Mail
Wests Tigers: The Tigers are 1-19 with no late changes. Heamasi Makasini is out after suffering a foot injury in last week's tight loss to Brisbane. Luke Laulilii comes in on the wing for Makasini and Starford To'a plays his first game in place of Patrick Herbert.
Marshall: We'll need to have that physicality
Raiders: A switch in the pack 90 minutes before kick-off with Morgan Smithies coming into the starting side and Ata Mariota going to the bench. Centre Simi Sasagi was ruled out with a slight hamstring strain on Wednesday with Savelio Tamale coming into the side and Owen Pattie added to the six-man bench. Joe Roddy is set to replace veteran forward Josh Papalii after the Samoan star was struck down with a calf injury. Noah Martin also gets his chance to start in the back row, with Hudson Young suspended.
Weekes: Trust the process
Numbers Game
- Wests Tigers have won four of their last five games at Leichhardt Oval.
- The Raiders have won 10 of their last 11 games against the Tigers.
- Wests Tigers have not defeated the Raiders at Leichhardt Oval since 2010.
- Ricky Stuart has won six from seven at Leichhardt as Raiders coach and player.
- Wests Tigers fullback Jahream Bula has scored seven tries in eight games at Leichhardt Oval.
