Wests Tigers coach Jason Taylor has once again ticked the consistency box in naming his team for the round seven clash with Canberra Raiders at Leichhardt Oval this Sunday afternoon.
In contrast injuries and poor form meant a different 17 for just about every Wests match in the previous couple of seasons.
But in what must be a record for the club in recent years Taylor has been able to be consistent when naming his teams so far in season 2015. Only a couple of suspensions have so far forced him to make slight changes.
Form certainly hasn’t been an issue, which obviously has helped Taylor’s cause, with the team three wins from six starts, and possibly unlucky not to have snagged one or two wins from those defeats.
One of the few players whose spot may be slightly under threat is our own Chris “Lawrence of Leumeah, who has been solid without being spectacular.
Lawrence, the youngest player to debut for the Tigers, will play his 160th match on Sunday.
Maybe this Sunday’s clash against Canberra at iconic Leichhardt Oval will help Lawrence rediscover his mojo with a couple of four pointers against Ricky Stuart’s side to add to his career tally of 68.
Don’t want to put any pressure on Chris, one of the nicest fellows playing the game at the elite level, but Taylor has options in Tim Moltzen and Delouise Hoeter, the centres named in the Wests Tigers NSW Cup team taking on Illawarra this Saturday in round 7. Matthew Lodge has also been named to make his return from a knee injury on the NSW Cup team bench.
The only change to the NRL team from the one that was named last week by Jason Taylor comes on an extended interchange bench with back up hooker Joel Luani replacing Asipeli Fine.
Wests Tigers and the Raiders last clashed at Leichhardt Oval in the 2010 season.
♦ Wests Tigers NRL – Round 7 v Raiders:
1. James Tedesco
2. Kevin Naiqama
3. Tim Simona
4. Chris Lawrence
5. Pat Richards
6. Mitchell Moses
7. Luke Brooks
8. Aaron Woods
9. Robbie Farah (C)
10. Keith Galloway
11. Curtis Sironen
12. Kyle Lovett
13. Martin Taupau
Interchange:
14. Dene Halatau
15. Ava Seumanufagai
16. Jack Buchanan
17. Sauaso Sue
18. Joel Luani
