Wests hoping to hit back in battle of the big cats

Four of the cavalry will return for Western Suburbs as they attempt to bounce back from last week’s drubbing by Wallaroos and shore up top spot on the Bundaberg Broadcasters A Grade Premiership ladder.

The ladder-leading Panthers will face off against last-placed Waves Tigers in the battle of the big cats in Round 8 action at Salter Oval this Sunday at 3pm.

Earlier on the program at 1.30pm, the stakes are just as high between joint-fourth placed reigning champions Past Brothers and Wallaroos, whilst it will be a clash of the birds with Hervey Bay Seagulls desperate to end a three-game losing streak when they host Easts Magpies at Stafford Park at 5pm on Saturday.

A Wests side which was missing a string of their stars paid the price in going down to Roos 32-8 in Maryborough last Saturday, but they will greatly bolstered by the returns of electrifying fullback Chris Robinson, and powerhouse forwards Josh Tanner, Lachlan Patterson, and Jared Johnson.

The Tigers were savaged by the Panthers 54-16 in their only previous showdown this year on April 17, but after suffering their fourth straight loss at the hands of Wallaroos a week later, they hit form with wins over Brothers and Hervey Bay.

But they were outgunned by the Magpies 28-10 on Sunday and have named a similar side again, except for new signing Jim Naco at halfback.

Brothers snapped a two-match losing sequence on Sunday, but only got home on goal-kicking against Hervey Bay Seagulls 22-18 in a game in which both teams scored four tries.

They will be favoured again after accounting for Roos 40-22 last time and naming a near-full strength side with the exception of captain Kevin Sherriff, who is not expected to recover fully from a fractured cheek bone until July.

Meanwhile, feathers flew as the Seagulls and Magpies fought out a 32-32 draw when they last met in Bundaberg six weeks ago, and another epic duel is on the cards.

The Bay always take a power of beating at home and have all their big guns back with centre sensation Jeremiah Pati returning after missing their past three outings, but Easts will field their best team of the season.

On top of Magpies coach Brent Kuskey making a playing comeback six days ago and producing a signature five-star all-round performance, Hervey Bay resident and former Seagulls premiership captain Clinton Horne will return for the first time since being injured in Round 1, complementing a highly potent backline alongside the likes of Tien Nguyen, Trent Seeds, Arden Lankowski, Andreas Nona, and Tyrell Howard.

Likewise, barnstorming representative front rower Caleb Van Lawick is back to add to an also awesome pack.

Round 8 fixtures