2020 NRL – Wests Tigers vs Canterbury Bulldogs Preview & Prediction

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THE FACTS

When is Wests Tigers vs Canterbury Bulldogs taking place? Sunday 16th August, 2020 – 07:05 (UK)

Where is Wests Tigers vs Canterbury Bulldogs taking place? Bankwest Stadium, Sydney

What is the expected weather for Wests Tigers vs Canterbury Bulldogs? 17c, sunny

What channel is Wests Tigers vs Canterbury Bulldogs on? Sky Sports Arena will be televising selected NRL games in the UK and you can find their schedule here. For Australian broadcasters, you can find a list here

Where can I stream Wests Tigers vs Canterbury Bulldogs? If televised on Sky Sports, then subscribers will be able to stream the match live via Sky Go. Alternatively, the match will be available to subscribers of Watch NRL

Where can I get tickets for Wests Tigers vs Canterbury Bulldogs? Click here for ticket information on 2020 NRL matches

THE TEAM NEWS

WESTS TIGERS

Starting 13: Doueihi, Nofoaluma, J. Leilua, Mbye, Talau, Brooks, Marshall, Aloiai, Liddle, Packer, L. Leilua, Garner, Eisenhuth – Interchanges: Reynolds, McIntyre, Lawrence, Seyfarth – Reserves: Kepaoa, Taylor

Unavailable: Zane Musgrove (Injured), Michael Chee-Kam (Injured), Alex Twal (Injured), Harry Grant (Injured), Billy Walters (Injured), Thomas Mikaele (Injured)

• ● Wests Tigers suffered a third consecutive loss as they were hammered by Newcastle Knight last week and their hopes of finishing in the top eight already look remote with this match simply a must-win game.
• The Tigers were woeful on both sides of the ball in the 44-4 defeat as they shipped eight tries with their 65% completion rate giving them little of chance of competing which came on the back of 15 errors.
• ● Jacob Liddle will hand the Tigers a boost as he comes in at hooker following a long-term injury so Moses Mbye shifts back to the centres but Wests have lost Billy Walters for the season to a knee injury and Thomas Mikaele is also out.

CANTERBURY BULLDOGS

Starting 13: Meaney, Montoya, Lafai, Holland, R. Smith, Foran, Cogger, Ogden, Katoa, Napa, Jackson, Faitala-Mariner, Thompson – Interchanges: Marshall-King, Tolman, Sue, Doorey – Reserves: Watene-Zelezniak, C. Smith

Unavailable: Joe Stimson (Injured), Will Hopoate (Injured), Adam Elliott (Injured), Jayden Okunbor (Suspended), Jake Averillo (Injured), Lachlan Lewis (Suspended)

• ● Canterbury Bulldogs were on the end of a heavy loss at the hands of Melbourne Storm as they failed to perform at the standard that they had shown in their previous three outings but they will believe they can cause some issues for Wests Tigers in this one.
• ● The Bulldogs applied plenty of pressure in the early stages but a Lachlan Lewis intercept allowed the Storm to open the scoring and they were blown away from that point as they failed to deal with the pressure placed on them.
• ● Lewis will now be suspended for the high shot that saw him sit down for 10 minutes of the 41-10 loss last week so Jack Cogger comes in at halfback whilst Dallin Watene-Zeleniak’s poor form has seen him dropped with Reimis Smith starting on the wing and Matthew Doorey set to debut from the bench.

THE PREDICTION

Wests Tigers have a mountain to climb if they want to mount a challenge for the top eight after losing for the third game in a row in what was a torrid evening against Newcastle Knights last week. The Tigers were awful as they allowed the Knights to amass a big score but Canterbury Bulldogs also shipped over 40 points too. Neither side inspire much confidence ahead of this clash but the Bulldogs may be able to exploit the Tigers’ injury list by keeping things tight and they should come out on top with the benefit of a +6.5 start in what should be a low-scoring contest.