NRL 2021: St George Illawarra Dragons v Wests Tigers, round 8 preview

Dragons v Wests Tigers: McGuire to start; rookie replaces Roberts

Author: NRL.com
Timestamp: Sun 2 May 2021, 03:05 PM

The Dragons have well and truly come back to earth after their heady four-game win streak had them in the upper reaches of the eight and the talk of the town.

St George Illawarra's winning run had been built on the back of their forwards out-muscling opposing packs but the Warriors flipped that script on its head in round six before Sam Walker and the Roosters blew the Dragons away on Anzac Day.

Anthony Griffin has plenty of work ahead of him to reignite that bully boy spark.

But as difficult as that assignment may be his counterpart Michael Maguire faces a challenge of another magnitude following Wests Tigers' ignominious collapse after a strong start against Manly.

Round 8 - Round 8 - Sunday 2 May

Full Time

Dragons

Wests Tigers

Venue: WIN Stadium, Wollongong

Highlights Latest

The rundown

Team news

Dragons: In a positional switch announced an hour before the match, Josh McGuire will start at lock with Tyrell Fuimaono to come off the bench. Jackson Ford is the 18th man.

Ben Hunt will return from a leg injury. Dragons coach Anthony Griffin has shifted Jack Bird back to the centres after last week's five-eighth experiment.

Max Feagai will play his first game of the season with Jordan Pereira and Mikaele Ravalawa missing through suspension.

Kaide Ellis replaces Adam Clune on the bench. Poasa Faamausili was the other player to drop out of the extended squad 24 hours before kick-off.

Dragons fullback Matt Dufty has scored 13 tries in 14 games at WIN Stadium.

Wests Tigers: Wests Tigers centre James Roberts has been ruled out of Sunday's clash with the Dragons, with Zac Cini to make his debut for the club.

Tommy Talau will start at centre with Cini to line up on the wing. Michael Chee Kam will be the 18th man.

Zane Musgrove and Tom Amone also dropped out of the squad 24 hours before kick-off.

Wests Tigers have won three of their past four games against the Dragons.

Round 8 - Round 8 - Sunday 2 May

Full Time

Dragons

Wests Tigers

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Matt Dufty

Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Daine Laurie
Winger for Dragons is number 2 Cody Ramsey

Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 David Nofoaluma
Centre for Dragons is number 3 Jack Bird

Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Joseph Leilua
Centre for Dragons is number 4 Zac Lomax

Centre for Wests Tigers is number 5 Tommy Talau
Winger for Dragons is number 5 Max Feagai

Winger for Wests Tigers is number 24 Zac Cini
Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Corey Norman

Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Adam Doueihi
Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Ben Hunt

Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Luke Brooks

Forwards

Prop for Dragons is number 8 Blake Lawrie

Prop for Wests Tigers is number 8 James Tamou
Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Andrew McCullough

Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Jake Simpkin
Prop for Dragons is number 10 Paul Vaughan

Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 Alex Twal
2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Josh Kerr

2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Luke Garner
2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Tariq Sims

2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Luciano Leilua
Lock for Dragons is number 15 Josh McGuire

Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Joe Ofahengaue

Interchange

Interchange for Dragons is number 13 Tyrell Fuimaono

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Moses Mbye
Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Daniel Alvaro

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Stefano Utoikamanu
Interchange for Dragons is number 17 Billy Burns

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Alex Seyfarth
Interchange for Dragons is number 18 Kaide Ellis

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Thomas Mikaele

Reserves

Reserve for Dragons is number 21 Talatau Amone

Reserve for Wests Tigers is number 18 Michael Chee Kam

Match Officials

Referee: Chris Sutton
Touch Judge: Jon Stone
Touch Judge: Drew Oultram
Senior Review Official: Steve Chiddy

Last updated: 5/29/2023 4:41:03 AM

Key match-up

Matt Dufty v Daine Laurie: Laurie has been one of the high points of Wests Tigers' season. While other problems have emerged around him, Laurie hasn't needed very long to make the No.1 jersey his own for years to come. On his day Dufty is a match-winner, he just needs to make those days come around with greater regularity.

Stat attack

Wests Tigers play-makers Luke Brooks and Adam Doueihi will have to get their kicks away quickly with the Dragons (three, tied with Penrith) and second-rower Tariq Sims (two) leading the league in charge-downs.

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