Wests Tigers NRL head coach Benji Marshall has made a stack of changes to his squad to play Canberra Raiders on Saturday in Round 21 of the Telstra Premiership.
One of the most interesting ones is naming the prodigal son, Junior Tupou, to play his first game on the wing since returning to the Wests Tigers earlier this month.
Tupou, who can play at wing or centre, has signed a train-and-trial deal for the remainder of this season, before joining the Wests Tigers Top 30 squad for 2027.
The deal sees the 23-year-old return home to the Wests Tigers where he played 34 NRL games during the 2022-2024 seasons.
Tupou spent time at the Dolphins in 2025 before going on to join the Sydney Roosters to begin the 2026 season.
Tupou said he was thrilled to be returning home to the Wests Tigers.
“I’m so happy to be back at this club. They gave me my first opportunity in the NRL, and it’s a place that means a lot to me and my family,’’ Tupou said.
“The club is on the rise, and I want to be a part of where this group is headed.
“I’m excited to working under Benji and his staff and I can’t wait to get stuck into it with the boys,’’ he said.
Sunia Turuva has been shifted to the centres to make way for Junior Tupou.
Turuva partners Patrick Herbert in the centres in Herbert’s first game back from a shoulder injury suffered in round 16.
In other changes, Tino Tavana replaces Jeral Skelton on the wing, while Javon Andrews has been named at half-back in his NRL debut.
Ethan Roberts starts in the second-row after coming off the bench last week and Bunty Afoa returns after missing the Bulldogs game through suspension.
Yes, the Bulldogs game: the less said about it the better. But for the record, the final score was Bulldogs 32, Tigers duck egg.
Adam Doueihi (pictured above during the Dogs game), named in the reserves (23), has been cleared to play after his charge was downgraded to a grade two careless high tackle. Doueihi entered a guilty plea and was fined $1000.
His teammate Latu Fainu didn’t do as well at the judiciary hearing, being found guilty of a grade three dangerous contact charge during the Dogs game, and he will now miss the next three matches.
WESTS TIGERS LINEUP V CANBERRA RAIDERS, SATURDAY, JULY 25, 3PM:
1. Jahream Bula
2. Junior Tupou
3. Sunia Turuva
4. Patrick Herbert
5. Tino Tavana
6. Jarome Luai
7. Javon Andrews
8. Terrell May
9. Api Koroisau
10. Fonua Pole
11. Samuela Fainu
12. Ethan Roberts
13. Alex Twal
INTERCHANGE:
14. Jared Haywood
15. Sione Fainu
16. Alex Seyfarth
17. Bunty Afoa
18. Starford To’a
19. Jock Madden
