Stability rare as hen’s teeth at Wests Tigers

Right now, stability is what the Wests Tigers need if they are to avoid a fourth wooden spoon.

They had it in spades in the first 10-11 games of the season, with coach Benji Marshall rarely having to make a change to his lineup from week to week.

And it showed both in the results and the performances, which were a vast improvement on the previous three seasons.

But all of a sudden it’s dramas on and off the field, from two talented youngsters leaving the joint venture in quick succession, to a stack of injuries.

It has all reached a climax today, with Benji having to make several changes to the team that had a shocker while losing to Manly 28-10 last round.

Some of the changes have been forced on the coach due to injuries, from fullback Bula to hooker Api Koroiseau and Jarome Luai on NSW Origin duty.

But not all of them.

Heath Mason, not that long ago the great hope to take over from Lachlan Galvin, is completely out of the team after receiving a one match suspension for an alleged shove at referee Gerry Sutton.

However it’s also fair to report that Mason, while he tried hard, his performance at Brookvale was average at best.

Sunia Turuva (pictured above) has been named at fullback, with Charlie Staines returning to the side on the wing, and Luke Laulilii named in the centres alongside Starford To’a and Jeral Skelton.

Adam Doueihi will be at five-eighth to partner Latu Fainu in the halves, while Tristan Hope comes into the side as hooker.

That’s just too many changes for this time of the season, when teams should be able to name almost exactly the same 17 every week.

It seems Lady Luck is not on Benji’s side or the Wests Tigers’ for that matter.

Which basically leaves club fans with only one thing to do between now and the end of the season: pray for a miracle win or three to avoid the dreaded spoon.

The Round 18 match with the Roosters at Allianz Stadium this Sunday will kick off at 2pm.

TEAM LIST: 1.Sunia Turuva, 2. Charlie Staines, 3. Luke Laulilii, 4. Starford To’a, 5. Jeral Skelton, 6. Adam Doueihi, 7. Latu Fainu, 8. Terrell May, 9. Tristan Hope, 10. Fonua Pole, 11. Samuela Fainu, 12. Jack Bird, 13. Alex Twal (c). INTERCHANGE: 14. Charlie Murray, 15. Alex Seyfarth, 16. Sione Fainu, 17. Tony Sukkar, 18. Kit Laulilii.