Wests Tigers head coach Jason Taylor has made just one change to the side that defeated South Sydney two weeks ago.
In naming his team to travel to Melbourne for this Sunday’s vital round 16 match against the Storm at AAMI Park, Taylor recalled Jordan Rankin to the starting line up.
Rankin replaces Joshua Addo-Carr on the wing.
It’s no secret that Addo-Carr has signed to play for the Melbourne club in 2017.
Taylor has also named NSW Origin representative duo Aaron Woods and Robbie Farah in his 17.
Woods and Farah will play in tomorrow night’s Origin II match at Suncorp Stadium, before backing up in Melbourne four days later.
This is a change for Farah, who was “rested’’ after Origin I by Taylor.
But it seems that with Matt Ballin out for the season Farah’s services will be critical if the Tigers are to turn any perceived “dark horse’’ status into a successful push for a place in this year’s finals.
Wests Tigers – with six wins and a bye under their belt – sit just outside the top eight.
They can make it, but they will need to string together a few wins over the next 10 weeks.
The cut off for a place in the eight will be either 26 or 28, depending on whether Parramatta is in or out of the equation.
Even at 26 the Wests Tigers will need to win five of their last 10 matches.
Time will tell if they can become consistent enough to be a threat this year.
It would help if the Farah-Taylor situation is not a distraction.
WESTS TIGERS NRL ROUND 16 V MELBOURNE STORM:
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. Sauaso Sue
11. Josh Aloiai
12. Chris Lawrence
13. Elijah Taylor
Interchange:
14. Tim Grant
15. Ava Seumanufagai
16. Robbie Farah
17. Kyle Lovett
18. Michael Chee Kam
UNAVAILABLE:
Curtis Sironen (ankle – Round 16)
Rod Griffin (knee – Round 16)
Nathan Milone (knee – indefinite)
Matt Ballin (knee – season)
