Canterbury Bulldogs v Wests Tigers: Round 21 preview

Author: NRL.com
Timestamp: Sat 10 Aug 2019, 06:35 PM

The Tigers stayed in the finals race with last week's convincing home win over the Cowboys but they can't afford to relax.

With so little room for error in the run to the play-offs the Tigers must maintain their intensity, especially against a team they'll be expected to beat.

Michael Maguire's men enter the game in good form and probably don't deserve to play finals football if they don't win on Saturday night.

The Bulldogs showed last week that they aren't about to roll for anyone over in the run to the finals when they put a big dent in Penrith's play-off plans.

Round 21 - Round 21 - Saturday 10 Aug

Full Time

Bulldogs

Wests Tigers

Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney

Highlights Latest

The Rundown

Team news

Bulldogs: The Bulldogs are 1-17, with Jayden Okunbor and Ofahiki Ogden dropping off the reserves list. Raymond Faitala-Mariner gets his first game back in the NRL since round 14. Brandon Wakeham and Kayne Kalache were omitted 24 hours out from kick-off.The Bulldogs have won three of their past five games.

Wests Tigers: Thomas Mikaele replaces the injured Josh Aloiai (hand) at prop and Elijah Taylor joins the bench. Tommy Talau and Chris McQueen dropped off the extended bench on game day. Josh Reynolds and Jacob Liddle were omitted from the squad on Friday night. Wests Tigers require 14 points to reach 10,000 points since the club entered the premiership in 2000.

Round 21 - Round 21 - Saturday 10 Aug

Full Time

Bulldogs

Wests Tigers

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Bulldogs is number 1 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak

Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Corey Thompson
Winger for Bulldogs is number 2 Nick Meaney

Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 Paul Momirovski
Centre for Bulldogs is number 3 Kerrod Holland

Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Moses Mbye
Centre for Bulldogs is number 4 Will Hopoate

Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Esan Marsters
Winger for Bulldogs is number 5 Reimis Smith

Winger for Wests Tigers is number 5 David Nofoaluma
Five-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Jack Cogger

Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Benji Marshall
Halfback for Bulldogs is number 7 Lachlan Lewis

Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Luke Brooks

Forwards

Prop for Bulldogs is number 8 Aiden Tolman

Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 Oliver Clark
Hooker for Bulldogs is number 9 Michael Lichaa

Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Robbie Farah
Prop for Bulldogs is number 10 Dylan Napa

Prop for Wests Tigers is number 15 Thomas Mikaele
2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 11 Josh Jackson

2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Luke Garner
2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 12 Corey Harawira-Naera

2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Michael Chee Kam
Lock for Bulldogs is number 13 Chris Smith

Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Ryan Matterson

Interchange

Interchange for Bulldogs is number 14 Jeremy Marshall-King

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Matthew Eisenhuth
Interchange for Bulldogs is number 15 Renouf Atoni

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Alex Twal
Interchange for Bulldogs is number 16 Danny Fualalo

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Chris Lawrence
Interchange for Bulldogs is number 17 Raymond Faitala-Mariner

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 20 Elijah Taylor

Match Officials

Referee: Peter Gough
Referee: Chris Butler

Last updated: 5/29/2023 4:41:58 AM

Key match-up

Veteran five-eighth Benji Marshall continues to prove age is no barrier with the Tigers now inside the top eight. His opposite number Jack Cogger is just 22 and has played 268 less NRL games but he showed plenty of composure in last week's upset of Penrith and he'll enjoy testing himself against the mercurial Marshall.

For the Bulldogs to win

Avoiding the wooden spoon should provide sufficient motivation to play their final five games like there's no tomorrow. The Doggies need to out-muscle the Tigers up front and not be afraid to chance their arm early in the tackle count. Defensively they have to keep close tabs on crafty Tigers veteran Robbie Farah.

For the Tigers to win

After coming from behind to beat the Knights in round 19, the Tigers were all business from the opening whistle in last week's 28-4 defeat of the Cowboys. Maguire got valuable contributions all over the park and will be asking for the same effort on Saturday. If the Tigers turn up with the right attitude they should win comfortably.

Brett Kimmorley says

This should be a close game. Canterbury can defend well and the arrival of Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has provided a real boost for their attack. They still aren’t scoring a lot of points but are at times grinding out wins. The Wests Tigers are also a grinding outfit. It will be a nice, big, arm wrestle, this one. The Tigers don’t have a big milestone to play for this week. Wests Tigers by 1

Stat Attack

It doesn't reflect on the ladder but the Bulldogs lead the NRL in one department – set completion. Canterbury's 80 percent is level with the first-placed Melbourne Storm. Getting to a kick is one thing, but threatening the line is another as Dean Pay's men prove.

And another thing ...

It was way back in round three when the Bulldogs notched their first win of the season - a 22-8 defeat of the Tigers. The Doggies have only won five games since then, while the Tigers have been hard to pick all season but they're still right in the finals hunt with a 9-10 record. The Tigers trailed 18-0 at half-time in that round three clash and it might be in the back of their minds come Saturday.