Tigers overhaul spine amid NRL Origin, injury chaos
Scott Bailey |
Wests Tigers have been forced into a complete overhaul of their spine, with mid-season mayhem prompting mass changes across the league.
Several clubs were forced to name depleted sides for round 18 on Tuesday, after a brutal weekend of injuries and State of Origin duties taking away players.
No club was more impacted than the Tigers, who will field a makeshift fullback and five-eighth as well as rookies at halfback and hooker against the Sydney Roosters.
Sunia Turuva has been listed to start at fullback for the first time in the NRL, with Jahream Bula injured and his replacement from last week Mason Heath banned.
Adam Doueihi will line up in the halves for the first time since the end of 2023 with Jarome Luai in NSW camp, while Latu Fainu will play his fourth game as a starting halfback.
Tristan Hope has also been named in the No.9 jersey, after making his debut at hooker in round one for the Tigers and sliding back to reserve grade since.
The Tigers are not the only club impacted with the Roosters also to blood two debutants in the Allianz Stadium clash on Sunday due to mass Origin outs.
Tom Rodwell will come in on the wing for the Roosters with Mark Nawaqanitawase going to centre, while second-rower Max McCathie will come off the bench.
De La Salle Va’a will also make his first NRL appearance since the end of last year after an innocuous hit in a trial game left him in hospital coughing up blood.
At St George Illawarra an injury crisis has prompted Tyrell Sloan’s recall on the wing, just weeks after being told by the club he had permission to look elsewhere.
Sione Finau will also come onto the other wing with Nathan Lawson and Christian Tiuipulotu among a full casualty ward after last week’s gutsy win over Parramatta.
Forwards Raymond Faitala-Mariner, Loko Pasifiki Tonga, Hame Sele and Michael Molo have also come into the side.
Canterbury have failed to have Daniel Suluka-Fifita included to face Brisbane after he was deemed concussed by the independent doctor last week, before passing his HIA.
Blake Wilson and Enari Tuala have both been called into the backline, among a host of changes for the side to face Brisbane through Origin representation.
Selwyn Cobbo will line up at fullback for the Broncos with Reece Walsh in Queensland Origin camp.
Tom Duffy is also back for North Queensland in the No.7 jersey, after Todd Payten opted against moving Jaxon Purdue back to the halves with Tom Dearden in Maroons camp.
And South Sydney have Jack Wighton to five-eighth in their side to face Manly, with Wayne Bennett putting Englishman Lewis Dodd on the bench rather than in the starting halves.
Brandon Smith has been named on an extended bench for the Rabbitohs, as he nears a comeback from the ACL rupture suffered at the Roosters last year.
AAP
