Wests Tigers' win over Souths gives them an outside shot at avoiding a third straight wooden spoon but they face a daunting task against a potent Sea Eagles outfit on Thursday.
With teenagers Lachlan Galvin and Heath Mason leading the way, the Tigers staved off a late challenge from the Rabbitohs to close within two points of Parramatta on the competition table.
If Benji Marshall's men can spring an upset this weekend they then pocket two points for a bye in Round 26 and then face the Eels in the final round in a possible spoon shootout.
The Sea Eagles are coming off a solid win over the Warriors that kept them in sixth place with games against Wests Tigers, Bulldogs and Sharks to come.
SportsBet Betting Preview - Wests Tigers v Sea Eagles
Those two heavyweight showdowns against the fifth-placed Bulldogs and fourth-placed Sharks offer the perfect tune up for Manly's first finals appearance since 2021.
Match: Wests Tigers v Sea Eagles
Round 25 -
home Team
Wests Tigers
16th Position
away Team
Sea Eagles
7th Position
Venue: Leichhardt Oval, Sydney
Team News
Wests Tigers: The Tigers are 1-17 with no late changes. Junior Tupou and Solomon Alaimalo ar the new faces in the backline with Adam Doueihi (knee) and Luke Laulilii (head knock) sidelined. Tupou will play his first NRL game since suffering a foot injury in Round 7. Latu Fainu comes in on the bench. Tim Johannssen is 18th man.
Sea Eagles: No further changes on game day after Ben Trbojevic came into the second row on Wednesday with Corey Waddell joining the bench and Karl Lawton dropping out. Tommy Talau will miss the game after suffering a pectoral injury against the Warriors so Tolu Koula moves into the starting side. Toafofoa Sipley is the 18th man.
Match: Wests Tigers v Sea Eagles
Round 25 -
home Team
Wests Tigers
away Team
Sea Eagles
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Heath MasonFullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Tom Trbojevic
-
Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 Solomon AlaimaloWinger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason Saab
-
Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Solomona FaataapeCentre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Tolutau Koula
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Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Junior TupouCentre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Reuben Garrick
-
Winger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Charlie StainesWinger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Lehi Hopoate
-
Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Lachlan GalvinFive-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Luke Brooks
-
Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Aidan SezerHalfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-Evans
Forwards
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Prop for Wests Tigers is number 8 Stefano UtoikamanuProp for Sea Eagles is number 8 Taniela Paseka
-
Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Apisai KoroisauHooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Lachlan Croker
-
Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 David KlemmerProp for Sea Eagles is number 10 Josh Aloiai
-
2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Alex Seyfarth2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu
-
2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Samuela Fainu2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 15 Ben Trbojevic
-
Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Isaiah Papali'iLock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic
Interchange
-
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Latu FainuInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Gordon Chan Kum Tong
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Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Sione FainuInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Ethan Bullemor
-
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Fonua PoleInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Nathan Brown
-
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Alex TwalInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 18 Corey Waddell
Reserves
-
Replacement for Wests Tigers is number 18 Tim JohannssenReplacement for Sea Eagles is number 19 Toafofoa Sipley
Match Officials
- Referee: Peter Gough
- Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
- Touch Judge: Matt Noyen
- Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- Wests Tigers have won their past four games against the Sea Eagles at Leichhardt Oval.
- The Sea Eagles have won their past six games against Wests Tigers.
- Wests Tigers hooker Aoi Koroisau has scored five tries in seven games at Leichhardt Oval.
- Sea Eagles captain Daly Cherry-Evans has scored 11 tries in his last 11 games against the Tigers.
- Wests Tigers have lost their last nine games against current top eight teams.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services,
