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2018 NRL – Wests Tigers vs Sydney Roosters Preview

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AT A GLANCE

When? Saturday 10th March, 05:30 (UK)

Where? ANZ Stadium

What channel is it on? Wests Tigers v Sydney Roosters will not be televised live in the UK

Where can I stream the match?

https://www.foxtel.com.au/outa...

https://www.telstra.com.au/tv-...

Are tickets still available? http://premier.ticketek.com.au...

THE LOWDOWN

TIGERS

Head Coach: Ivan Cleary

Starting 13: Lolohea, Thompson, Marsters, Naiqama, Watene-Zelezniak, Reynolds, Brooks, Packer, Godinet, Matulino, Lawrence, Rochow, Taylor – Interchanges: Marshall, Twal, Chee Kam, Eisenhuth – Reserves: McIlwrick, Grant

Unavailable:

  • Wests Tigers have undergone a major transformation in the off-season as they look to bounce back from a disappointing season in which they finished in 14th place.
  • Six players are set to make their debut for Ivan Cleary’s side with former Canterbury halfback Josh Reynolds arguably their biggest signing. Benji Marshall has also returned to the club where he made his name.
  • Wests had problems on both sides of the ball last year, scoring just 17.2 points per game whilst conceding 24.7 points per game. Both of those numbers will have to improve if the Tigers want to make a play-off push this season.

ROOSTERS

Head Coach: Trent Robinson

Starting 13: Tedesco, Tupou, Mitchell, Manu, Ferguson, Cornish, Cronk, Waerea-Hargreaves, Friend, Taukeiaho, Cordner, Aubusson, Liu – Interchanges: Napa, Tetevano, Matterson, Radley – Reserves: Robinson, Butcher

Unavailable: Luke Keary

  • Sydney Roosters will look to go one better this season having finished second in last year’s regular season before disappointingly going down to North Queensland Cowboys in their semi-final.
  • Head coach Trent Robinson’s recruitment has been impressive, bringing in star halfback Cooper Cronk along with fullback James Tedesco although they have lost Mitchell Pearce to Newcastle Knights.
  • The Roosters are one of the favourites for this season’s Premiership with them boasting some huge names amongst their squad. If they are to win, it could come down to their defence which was the third best in the NRL last season, conceding just 17.8 points per game.

THE PREDICTION

Wests Tigers and Sydney Roosters face-off in a game that will have plenty of needle, especially towards former Wests fullback James Tedesco who defected to the Roosters in the off-season. Wests were poor last year but have recruited in large numbers to try and kick-on this season. However, they face a Roosters side that are likely to be in with a shout of winning the competition and they can lay a marker down for the season with a win here.

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