With Robbie Farah and new recruit Matt Ballin still nursing knee injuries, Wests Tigers head coach Jason Taylor has rushed Dene Halatau into the starting hooker’s spot for the round two clash with Manly at Leichhardt Oval next Monday night.
Also straight into the starting lineup was halfback Luke Brooks.
Both Halatau and Brooks missed last Saturday night’s round one win over the NZ Warriors due to suspensions copped in the final round of the 2015 season.
Halatau will add an important dose of experience in this vital spot in the spine of the Tigers.
It also means there is no need for Taylor to throw young hooker Manaia Cherrington to the wolves for a full 80 minutes.
Farah is expected to be out between four and six weeks, but Ballin’s injury is more serious and he is expected to miss the first 10 rounds of the new season
Young forward Josh Aloiai retains his spot on the bench after an impressive NRL debut last weekend against New Zealand, while off-season recruits Jordan Rankin and Tim Grant will line-up for their second Wests Tigers’ NRL match.
Rankin and Grant both made impressive debuts in the 34-26 victory over the Warriors at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.
Full-time squad members Joel Edwards (Intrust Super Premiership) and Bayley Sironen (Holden Cup) also return from injury to play their first game of the 2016 season this weekend.
Leichhardt Oval will host both NRL and Holden Cups games on Monday night, with the Intrust Super Premiership game to be played on Saturday afternoon against New Zealand.
Wests Tigers NRL – Round 2 v Sea Eagles:
1. James Tedesco
2. David Nofoaluma
3. Tim Simona
4. Kevin Naiqama
5. Jordan Rankin
6. Mitchell Moses
7. Luke Brooks
8. Aaron Woods (C)
9. Dene Halatau
10. Tim Grant
11. Curtis Sironen
12. Chris Lawrence
13. Sauaso Sue
Interchange:
14. Kyle Lovett
15. Josh Aloiai
16. Ava Seumanufagai
17. Manaia Cherrington
18. Michael Chee Kam
