Wests Tigers head coach Jason Taylor has just named his side for the final home game at Campbelltown Sports Stadium against the Gold Coast Titans this Saturday, August 13.
The same 17 players that defeated the defending premiers North Queensland on Sunday have been named to play this weekend in a crucial clash against the Titans – who sit just one competition point behind Wests Tigers.
Elijah Taylor has been named at lock and will be monitored throughout the week after not returning to the field due to concussion last Sunday against the Cowboys.
Half Luke Brooks is likely to return the following week against the Panthers on Friday, August 19 at Penrith.
If his knee is still not right then he will almost be certain to make his comeback against the Warriors on Sunday, August 28 at Mt Smart Stadium.
The Wests Tigers are back on familiar soil for the final match in round 26 when they will host the rampaging Canberra Raiders at Leichhardt on Sunday, September 4.
But despite a tremendous performance in beating the premiers on Sunday at Leichhardt, Wests Tigers are walking a fine line between finals success and failure.
They have won their past three matches to be on 24 points and just out of the eight because of their terrible for and against so they must just keep winning if they want to keep their destiny in their own hands.
But they have shown incredible resolve in defence during those past three games, keeping their opponents to a combined four tries in 240 minutes of football.
After 23 rounds it looks like 28 points will be the cutoff for the eight, but 30 premiership points will guarantee a spot in the big dance in September.
But if Wests Tigers can continue to defend like they have in the last three matches there’s no reason they can’t win all four of their remaining matches.
With all three grades winning last weekend, both the club’s Intrust Super Premiership and Holden Cup sides sit firmly in the top eight just four weeks out from the finals series.
In the Intrust Super Premiership, the Paul Stringer coached side will look to climb into second place with a win over the ninth-placed Wentworthville Magpies this Saturday.
Meanwhile in Holden Cup, another win for Wests Tigers would see the side move towards the top four, however a loss may see them drop as low as eighth.
It’s a massive day of Wests Tigers action this weekend at Campbelltown Sports Stadium, with Holden Cup getting things underway at 10:40am, followed by ISP at 12:40pm and finally NRL at 3pm.
WESTS TIGERS V TITANS 3PM SATURDAY AT CAMPBELLTOWN SPORTS STADIUM:
1. James Tedesco
2. David Nofoaluma
3. Tim Simona
4. Kevin Naiqama
5. Jordan Rankin
6. Mitchell Moses
7. Jack Littlejohn
8. Aaron Woods (C)
9. Dene Halatau
10. Sauaso Sue
11. Josh Aloiai
12. Chris Lawrence
13. Elijah Taylor
INTERCHANGE:
14. Kyle Lovett
15. Ava Seumanufagai
16. Tim Grant
17. Joel Edwards
UNAVAILABLE:
Nathan Milone (knee)
Matt Ballin (knee)
Luke Brooks (knee)
