Hail Ceasar: Halfback Aidan Sezer has been one of the team’s best contributors this season. BELOW: with young fans after the win over Souths last Saturday night.
Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall has named a 22-man squad for this Thursday’s Round 25 match against the Manly Sea Eagles at Leichhardt Oval.
There are a couple of changes in the outside backs with Adam Doueihi (load management – knee) and Luke Laulilii (HIA) unavailable.
Junior Tupou replaces Doueihi in the centres and will play his first NRL game since suffering a serious foot injury against the Panthers in Round 7.
Solomon Alaimalo returns to the side on the wing, replacing Laulilii.
The other change sees Latu Fainu added to the bench in the No.14 jersey, and Tallyn Da Silva added to the reserves.
In a much more joyful week for the club, the gritty 18-16 win over Souths in front of another great crowd at Campbelltown Stadium (almost 11,500), followed another important signing for next season.
The club announced it had snared the signature of powerful winger Jeral Skelton on a two-year deal.
The 25-year-old has scored three tries in his six NRL appearances for Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, where he made his first-grade debut last season.
He has also scored 24 tries in 34 games for the Bulldogs in the NSW Cup, after arriving at Belmore in 2022.
The Queensland-born outside back will join Wests Tigers in the 2025 pre-season, and says he is excited about the next chapter in his football career.
“I think this is a great opportunity for me, and I’m really happy with this decision,” he said.
“I think Wests Tigers are a club with a very bright future, and to be a part of that is so exciting.
“Obviously I want to finish this season strongly with my current teammates, but I look forward to meeting my new teammates in pre-season.”
Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall says Jeral has much to offer the club.
“We are excited to welcome Jeral and his family to our club for the next two seasons,” Marshall said.
“We love what he brings on the field and the person he is off the field, and we look forward to having him with us in 2025.”
Further signings will be announced in the coming days as the club continues to strengthen its depth in key positions.
WESTS TIGERS TEAM V MANLY:
1. Heath Mason
2. Solomon Alaimalo
3. Solomona Faataape
4. Junior Tupou
5. Charlie Staines
6. Lachlan Galvin
7. Aidan Sezer
8. Stefano Utoikamanu
9. Api Koroisau
10. David Klemmer
11. Alex Seyfarth
12. Samuela Fainu
13. Isaiah Papali’i
INTERCHANGE:
14. Latu Fainu
15. Sione Fainu
16. Fonua Pole
17. Alex Twal
RESERVES:
18. Tim Johannssen
