Is Jason Taylor about to wield the selection axe to ensure the Wests Tigers don’t lose five in a row this Sunday?
Yes and no.
Taylor this afternoon named a 19-man squad for the round 7 clash against the Melbourne Storm at Leichhardt Oval.
In what may be a pointer to Taylor losing patience and potential personnel changes, Joel Edwards and Michael Chee Kam have been named on an extended bench.
If they get on the field, both will be making their Wests Tigers debut against the Storm.
But that’s about it as far as any possible changes are concerned.
Chris Lawrence and Dene Halatau will co-captain the team in the absence of Aaron Woods, who will be sidelined with an ankle injury for between four and six weeks.
He suffered the injury in the first half of the match against the Newcastle Knights, the fourth loss on the trot for the Tigers in 2016.
Ava Seumanufagai takes Woods’ place in the starting line-up, while Nathan Milone retains the centre position left vacant by the suspended Tim Simona.
This weekend will also be prop forward Tim Grant’s 150th NRL match, with the former Panther and Rabbitoh making his debut in 2007.
The 28-year-old joined Wests Tigers at the start of this season, making 122 appearances for Penrith and 21 for South Sydney.
The club’s Intrust Super Premiership side have the bye this weekend, while the Holden Cup team play before the NRL match against the 11th placed Storm.
Wests Tigers will celebrate the 1980s as the theme for this weekend’s game, with music, fashion and hairstyles from that decade on show at Leichhardt Oval.
The Kick-To-Win returns this weekend thanks for Phil Gilbert Motor Group, with one lucky fan getting the chance to kick at NRL half-time to win the $100,000 prize (For full details visit the club’s website here.)
Wests Tigers NRL – Round 7 v Storm:
1. James Tedesco
2. David Nofoaluma
3. Nathan Milone
4. Kevin Naiqama
5. Jordan Rankin
6. Mitchell Moses
7. Luke Brooks
8. Ava Seumanufagai
9. Robbie Farah
10. Tim Grant
11. Dene Halatau (C)
12. Chris Lawrence (C)
13. Sauaso Sue
Interchange:
14. Josh Aloiai
15. Curtis Sironen
16. Kyle Lovett
17. Joel Edwards
18. Jack Buchanan
19. Michael Chee Kam
Unavailable:
Matt Ballin (knee – Round 10 approx.)
Tim Simona (suspension – Round 9)
Aaron Woods (ankle – Round 10-12)
