New Wests Tigers signings Oliver Gildart and Jackson Hastings have been named in the run on side for round one against Storm on Saturday night.
The English centre will become player number #250 for the joint venture club, with Hastings #251.
Hastings will partners Luke Brooks in the halves.
A third debutant, Tyrone Peachey, will have to bide his time from the interchange bench.
The ball playing lock forward will wear the number 14 jersey.
Indeed his presence on the interchange bench alongside Luke Garner, Zane Musgrove and Alex Seyfarth makes it one of the strongest fielded by the club for a couple of years.
Luke Brooks, meanwhile, has the little “c’’ next to his name and will captain the side.
Big things are expected of Brooks (pictured) in 2022, but even more of Hastings, who looks like he’s as keen as mustard to get stuck in and prove that he can thrive in the NRL.
But let’s hope both the coach, Michael Maguire, and the fans, are patient, because halves combinations, just like Rome, aren’t built in a day.
And then there’s the opposition: they don’t come much tougher than the Melbourne Storm.
The visitors will be missing some stars, but history has taught us that they always have others ready to take their place.
It’s a shame the game is not at Leichhardt or Campbelltown – it’s at Commbank Stadium in Parramatta – as it would have given Wests Tigers a small advantage.
Such is life.
WESTS TIGERS NRL:
1. Daine Laurie
2. David Nofoaluma
3. James Roberts
4. Oliver Gildart
5. Ken Maumalo
6. Jackson Hastings
7. Luke Brooks (c)
8. Alex Twal
9. Jake Simpkin
10. Stefano Utoikamanu
11. Kelma Tuilagi
12. Luciano Leilua
13. Joe Ofahengaue
INTERCHANGE:
14. Tyrone Peachey
15. Luke Garner
16. Zane Musgrove
17. Alex Seyfarth
