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Wests Tigers v Warriors: Stefano back on deck; Tuaupiki new No.1

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Wests Tigers are the 'home' team in Hamilton on Saturday but it's the red-hot Warriors who will have the crowd in their corner as they surge towards a top-four finish.

The Warriors sit third after getting the job done against the Titans and with their remaining four matches against sides outside the top eight they are in the box seat for a double chance in September.

With Shaun Johnson in supreme form and Addin Fonua-Blake controlling the middle, the Warriors have chalked up 13 wins and to set up their first finals appearance since 2018.

For Wests Tigers, there is still a remote chance they can escape the wooden spoon if they can grab a couple of wins in the run home and the Dragons lose all four of their matches.

At the very least their long-suffering fans will hope they can keep producing the sort of effort they displayed in Canberra on Sunday when they pushed the Raiders to the limit before going down 22-18.

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Team news

Wests Tigers: There are no changes for the home side. Forwards Stefano Utoikamanu and Shawn Blore return from concussion in a boost for Wests Tigers, but Charlie Staines is out with a hamstring injury so Junior Tupou shifts to the wing and Asu Kepaoa comes into the centres. Alex Twal goes back to the bench to accommodate Utoikamanu's return. 

Warriors: The visitors are also unchanged. Taine Tuaupiki will play his fourth game of the season, taking over at fullback from Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (head knock) in the only change to the squad that downed the Titans last week. Freddy Lussick will be 18th man. 

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Jahream Bula
    Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Taine Tuaupiki
  • Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 David Nofoaluma
    Winger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin   Watene-Zelezniak
  • Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Starford To'a
    Centre for Warriors is number 3 Rocco Berry
  • Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Asu Kepaoa
    Centre for Warriors is number 4 Adam Pompey
  • Winger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Junior Tupou
    Winger for Warriors is number 5 Marcelo Montoya
  • Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Daine Laurie
    Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Luke Metcalf
  • Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Luke Brooks
    Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Shaun Johnson

Forwards

  • Prop for Wests Tigers is number 8 Stefano Utoikamanu
    Prop for Warriors is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake 
  • Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Apisai Koroisau
    Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan
  • Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 David Klemmer
    Prop for Warriors is number 10 Mitchell Barnett
  • 2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Isaiah Papali'i
    2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Jackson Ford
  • 2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 John Bateman
    2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Marata Niukore
  • Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Fonua Pole
    Lock for Warriors is number 13 Tohu Harris

Interchange

  • Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Jake Simpkin
    Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Dylan Walker
  • Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Alex Seyfarth
    Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Jazz Tevaga
  • Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Alex Twal
    Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Bayley Sironen
  • Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Shawn Blore
    Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Josh Curran

Reserves

  • Replacement for Wests Tigers is number 18 Justin Matamua
    Replacement for Warriors is number 18 Freddy Lussick

Match Officials

  • Referee: Chris Butler
  • Touch Judge: Chris Sutton
  • Touch Judge: Nick Beashel
  • Senior Review Official: Matt Noyen

Last updated:

Stat Attack

  • Wests Tigers have come up with 240 offloads this season, second only to the Eels with 283.
  • Warriors prop Addin Fonua-Blake averages 170 run metres per game this season and 64.4 post-contact metres per match.
  • Wests Tigers have been outscored 48-6 in their past two games in New Zealand.
  • The Warriors have won their past five games against Wests Tigers.
  • Wests Tigers winger David Nofoaluma has scored eight tries in 12 games against the Warriors.
  • The Warriors will play their 700th game since entering the competition in 1995.
  • Wests Tigers have conceded 40 tries in their past six games.

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the .

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Acknowledgement of Country

National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.