Wests Tigers will celebrate the life of rugby league icon Tommy Raudonikis this Saturday when the club hosts Gold Coast Titans at Campbelltown Sports Stadium in round 9 of the NRL premiership.
The game will mark the first time that Wests Tigers will have played at Campbelltown since Raudonikis passed away last month, with a number of unique game day initiatives set to take place in honour of the Magpies legend.
Wests Tigers will wear a specially-designed jersey for the clash which pays tribute to the talented halfback, while a stage will be set up on the North West hill including the four playing jerseys he wore throughout his career – Western Suburbs, Newtown, NSW and Australia.
Wests Tigers premier partner will donate their Sternum position on the team’s playing jersey to charity organisation Smart Pups Assistance Dogs – a cause close to the heart of Tommy Raudonikis.
The grandstand on the Eastern side of the stadium will also be renamed as the Tommy Raudonikis OAM Stand.
As the players run out for the 5:30pm kickoff, 30 former Western Suburbs Magpies greats will form a guard of honour along with “Smart Pup Tommy” – a dog which Raudonikis developed a strong relationship with through his work with the charity organisation Smart Pups Assistance Dogs.
The Raudonikis family will then distribute the match ball to be used for the game.
Following full-time, each player-worn Wests Tigers jersey will be signed by the entire team and available for auction online, with proceeds raised going towards Smart Pups.
On the football side, Wests Tigers will go into the match full of confidence after their 16-8 win at WIN Stadium over St George Illawarra last weekend.
Joey Leilua, who had one of his best games for the club, including scoring a try, will be a key factor as Wests Tigers shoot for consecutive wins this season.
Leilua will be looking forward to be back at Campbelltown Stadium after enjoying a training session and fan day there last Thursday, pictured above.
Leilua told the South West Voice that he would love to see the club at some stage play out of one home ground.
“It would be good to have one home ground, that’s how you get a good crowd and atmosphere and personally I definitely prefer one home ground, for sure,’’ he said.
Head coach Michael Maguire has made one change for this week’s game with Moses Mbye shifting to centre in place of Tommy Talau, who is ruled out with a one-game suspension.
With Mbye moving into the run-on side, hooker Jacob Liddle returns to the interchange list after a string of impressive performances in the Knock-On Effect NSW Cup competition.
WESTS TIGERS ROUND 9 TEAM
1. Daine Laurie
2. David Nofoaluma
3. Joey Leilua
4. Moses Mbye
5. Zac Cini
6. Adam Doueihi
7. Luke Brooks
8. James Tamou (captain)
9. Jake Simpkin
10. Alex Twal
11. Luke Garner
12. Luciano Leilua
13. Joe Ofahengaue
INTERCHANGE:
14. Jacob Liddle
15. Stefano Utoikamanu
16. Alex Seyfarth
17. Thomas Mikaele
RESERVES:
18. Michael Chee Kam
19. Zane Musgrove
20. Tom Amone
21. Shawn Blore
