NZ Warriors v Wests Tigers | Sunday, August 28, 2pm (AEDT), Mt Smart Stadium
The Warriors were never in the hunt in Townsville and must now rely on other results falling their way to qualify for September action.
On what we’ve seen of late, they would be cannon fodder against the league’s top teams anyway.
Tuimoala Lolohea is back in the line-up once again, this time on the wing as he continues to get shunted from pillar to post.
The Tigers’ defence was about as a solid as a Ryan Lochte story as they allowed the Panthers to run in some easy tries on a night to forget for the joint-venture club.
Both the Roosters and Rabbitohs have found a second wind with the release of pressure once out of finals contention but not convinced the Tigers are going to go the same way.
Unibet Odds:
Last time they met: Rd 1 – Wests Tigers 34-26 NZ Warriors
Tip: NZ Warriors
Line tip: NZ Warriors -11.5 (Best Bet)
Teams:
Warriors: David Fusitu’a 2 Tuimoala Lolohea 3 Blake Ayshford 4 Solomone Kata 5 Manu Vatuvei 6 Thomas Leuluai 7 Shaun Johnson 8 Jacob Lillyman 9 Nathaniel Roache 10 Albert Vete 11 Bodene Thompson 12 Ryan Hoffman (c) 13 Simon Mannering Interchange: 14 Ata Hingano 15 Sam Lisone 16 Ben Matulino 17 James Gavet 18 Bunty Afoa.
Tigers: 1 David Nofoaluma 2 Jordan Rankin 3 Tim Simona 4 Kevin Naiqama 5 Joshua Addo 6 Mitchell Moses 7 Luke Brooks 8 Aaron Woods (c) 9 Dene Halatau 10 Jesse Sue 11 Joshua Aloiai 12 Christopher Lawrence 13 Elijah Taylor Interchange: 14 Kyle Lovett 15 Avagalu Seumanufagai 16 Tim Grant 17 Joel Edwards 18 Michael Chee Kam.