Dragons v Wests Tigers: Dragons stick solid; Luai sidelined
Wests Tigers are desperate to keep in touch with the top eight when they travel to Kogarah to take on the resurgent Dragons.
Benji Marshall's men suffered a tense 12-6 loss to the Knights last weekend and need to quickly rebound if they want to keep their finals hopes alive.
The Tigers currently sit 11th, four points outside the top eight with 10 rounds remaining in the competition.
The Tigers will enter Saturday's match as favourites but the Dragons have shown plenty of improvement in the past two weeks and narrowly fell short of victory in Canberra last Sunday.
A crop of young forwards has laid the foundation and have provided fans with a glimpse into the future. The Couchman twins, Dylan Egan, Hamish Stewart and Loko Pasifiki Tonga continue to lead the way up front and will likely form the nucleus of the pack for many years.
Out wide, Tyrell Sloan remains one of the most exciting attacking players on his day while Valentine Holmes boasts skills refined over a lengthy NRL career.
St George Illawarra have struggled to score points this season but they are determined to change that on Saturday night.
Match: Dragons v Wests Tigers
Round 18 -
home Team
Dragons
17th Position
away Team
Wests Tigers
12th Position
Venue: St George Venues Jubilee Stadium, Kogarah
Team News
Dragons: No changes from the tight loss to Canberra last week, with Moses Suli making his return via NSW Cup. It's been a tough year for the Dragons but they have won three of their last four against the Tigers. No changes to the 19 named on Tuesday.
Wests Tigers: Bunty Afoa will start in the frontrow with Fonua Pole dropping back to the bench in a late change when the sides were finalised 90 minutes before kick-off. Jock Madden will return from a concussion to step into the No.6 jumper after Jarome Luai was ruled out due to delayed concussion symptoms. Alex Twal also returns from a knee injury after being a late withdrawal last week, with Alex Seyfarth dropping back to the six-man bench. Heamasi Makasini has moved from the interchange to the starting side after centre Taylan May was ruled out with a shoulder injury.
Match: Dragons v Wests Tigers
Round 18 -
home Team
Dragons
away Team
Wests Tigers
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Clinton GuthersonFullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Jahream Bula
-
Winger for Dragons is number 2 Setu TuWinger for Wests Tigers is number 2 Sunia Turuva
-
Centre for Dragons is number 3 Mathew FeagaiCentre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Heamasi Makasini
-
Centre for Dragons is number 4 Valentine HolmesCentre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Starford To'a
-
Winger for Dragons is number 5 Tyrell SloanWinger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Jeral Skelton
-
Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Daniel AtkinsonFive-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Jock Madden
-
Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Kyle FlanaganHalfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Adam Doueihi
Forwards
-
Prop for Dragons is number 8 Loko Jnr Pasifiki TongaProp for Wests Tigers is number 8 Terrell May
-
Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Damien CookHooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Apisai Koroisau
-
Prop for Dragons is number 10 Toby CouchmanProp for Wests Tigers is number 15 Bunty Afoa
-
2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Dylan Egan2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Tony Sukkar
-
2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Hamish Stewart2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Sione Fainu
-
Lock for Dragons is number 13 Ryan CouchmanLock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Alex Twal
Interchange
-
Interchange for Dragons is number 14 Jacob LiddleInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 10 Fonua Pole
-
Interchange for Dragons is number 15 Luciano LeiluaInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Josese Lanyon
-
Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Josh KerrInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Alex Seyfarth
-
Interchange for Dragons is number 18 Jacob HalangahuInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 18 Faaletino Tavana
Reserves
-
Reserve for Dragons is number 17 Emre GulerReserve for Wests Tigers is number 17 Latu Fainu
-
Reserve for Dragons is number 19 Lyhkan King-TogiaReserve for Wests Tigers is number 19 Charlie Murray
Match Officials
- Referee: Todd Smith
- Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
- Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Dragons have won three of their last four games against Wests Tigers.
- Wests Tigers have won only two from seven at St George Venues Jubilee Stadium.
- The Dragons have been outscored 62-12 in two games at Kogarah this season.
- Wests Tigers prop Bunty Afoa will make his 150th NRL appearance.
- Dragons centre Valentine Holmes has scored six tries in his last four games against Wests Tigers.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
Tickets are selling fast for an epic double-header at Kogarah, with the Dragons NRL and NRLW teams in action. Click here to secure your seats today.
