Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall has named a 22-man squad for Sunday’s Round 17 match against the Roosters at Allianz Stadium.
There are no changes to the starting side following the team’s extraordinary 48-24 Round 16 victory over the Raiders at Campbelltown Stadium.
Prop forward David Klemmer will make his return from a three-game suspension off the bench, while John Bateman has been named in the extended squad after missing the past five games with a pectoral tear.
Justin Olam (knee) and Charlie Staines (influenza) are also included in the extended squad, after missing Sunday’s win at Campbelltown.
The victory was the second in a row, after the gritty effort a week earlier against the Titans at Leichhardt.
At Campbelltown, the highlight was a 90 metre intercept try by Adam Doueihi that snuffed out any chance of a Canberra comeback.
Doueihi, 25, was in his own comeback, first game in the NRL for 14 months due to a serious knee injury.
Playing in the centres in place of Justin Olam, Doueihi was all class.
Earlier in the week, Doueihi extended his contract through until the end of the 2025 season.
The Balmain junior has played 57 games for Wests Tigers since joining the club in 2020.
He made his long-awaited return last weekend playing for Wests Tigers feeder team Western Suburbs Magpies in the NSW Cup.
When Olam was declared unfit for the Raiders game, coach Benji Marshall slotted Doueihi in his place.
Fans were happy to see such a class player back in first grade, providing some badly needed experience and leadership to a very young squad.
Hopefully they can now play with some consistency, starting with the Roosters on Sunday.
The Round 17 match against the Roosters will be Wests Tigers’ 600th game since entering the competition in 2000.
TEAM LIST:
1. Jahream Bula
2. Solomona Faataape
3. Brent Naden
4. Adam Doueihi
5. Luke Laulilii
6. Lachlan Galvin
7. Aidan Sezer
8. Stefano Utoikamanu
9. Api Koroisau
10. Fonua Pole
11. Reuben Porter
12. Samuela Fainu
13. Justin Matamua
INTERCHANGE:
14. Heath Mason
15. Sione Fainu
16. Alex Seyfarth
17. David Klemmer
RESERVES:
18. Kit Laulilii
