Wests Tigers vs Knights
CAMBELLTOWN STADIUM 6pm,Friday,March 7th.
The moment of truth has arrived. The Wests Tigers are set to turn all the hype and anticipation into victory as they take on Kalyn Ponga and the Knights in their season opener.
Superstar playmaker Jarome Luai, having missed the Pre-Season Challenge, will be fired up for this match. His combination with young talent Lachlan Galvin holds the key to the Tigers’ revival in 2025. After three consecutive wooden spoons, their performances will be crucial in rebuilding the team.
Joining them are captain Api Koroisau, dynamic fullback Jahream Bula, and former Rooster Terrell May—forming a “Big Five” that could change the club’s fortunes and push them back into finals contention.
Koroisau will miss the clash against the Knights due to suspension, but his replacement, Tallyn Da Silva, is a promising player with the potential to step up in the absence of the Fijian superstar.
TIGERS
1. Heath Mason 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Adam Doueihi 4. Solomona Faataape 5. Jeral Skelton, 6. Lachlan Galvin 7. Jarome Luai 8. Terrell May 9. Tallyn Da Silva 10. Fonua Pole 11. Samuela Fainu 12. Alex Seyfarth 13. Alex Twal 14. Tristan Hope 15. Royce Hunt 16. Jack Bird 17. Sione Fainu , 18. Latu Fainu 19. Charlie Staines 20. Kit Laulilii 21. Tony Sukkar 22. Reuben Porter
Heath Mason will start at fullback, with Jahream Bula continuing his shoulder rehabilitation. Adam Doueihi moves into the centers to cover for Brent Naden, who is sidelined with a long-term knee injury.
Tristan Hope will make his NRL debut off the bench in the No.14 jersey, joining a host of debutants for the Tigers, including captain Jarome Luai, Sione Tu’itupou, Gerald Skelton, Terrell May, Royce Hunt, and Jack Bird. Star hooker Apisai Koroisau is unavailable due to suspension.
Meanwhile, the Knights come into the match in strong form after a dominant preseason performance, scoring eight tries in a big win over the Roosters. Wearing the No.6 jersey, Fletcher Sharpe has been a standout.
The 20-year-old Sharpe racked up 192 running meters across two trial matches, using his speed and footwork to slice through defenses and create opportunities for his outside men.
In the middle, Terrell May and Fonua Pole will face off against Jacob Saifiti and Leo Thompson in what promises to be a fierce forward battle. Both teams will be eager to start their 2025 campaign on a high note in what is set to be a hard-fought contest.
KNIGHTS
1. Kalyn Ponga 2. James Schiller 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Fletcher Sharpe 7. Jack Cogger 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Dylan Lucas, 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Tyson Frizell 14. Jayden Brailey 15. Jack Hetherington 16. Brodie Jones, 17. Mathew Croker 18. Thomas Cant 19. Will Pryce 20. Logan Aoake 21. Jackson Hastings , 22. Adam Elliott
The Knights are virtually unchanged after their 48-10 thumping of the Roosters in the trials. Fletcher Sharpe and Jack Cogger to get first crack in the halves.
For the Knights, Fletcher Sharpe impressed in the trials in the halves and will start at five-eighth, with Jack Cogger getting the nod to partner him at halfback. James Schiller has been named to make his club debut on the wing. Phoenix Crossland starts at hooker, with Jayden Brailey shifting to the bench. Jacob Saifiti and Leo Thompson start in the front row, with Tyson Frizell moving to lock and Kai Pearce-Paul named to take his spot in the back row.
After an off-season with a lot of question marks around how the spine will look, Adam O’Brien has stuck strong with his decision to move Sharpe into the halves. A move that could spell danger for a Tigers defence that traditionally has struggled on the edges. How Sharpe combines with Kalyn Ponga and Cogger will be instrumental. Expect plenty of points if they can find their feet early. Elsewhere, the new-look Knights forward pack have a big task ahead. The likes of Leo Thompson, Jacob Saifiti, and Tyson Frizell will need to outmuscle May and the young Tigers forward pack, who will be looking to make an impact. The Knights have a good recent record against the Tigers, winning the last six encounters between the two sides.
- Wests Tigers have not won an opening round game since 2020.
- The Knights have won their past six games against Wests Tigers.
- Wests Tigers winger Charlie Staines has scored four tries in his past three games at Campbelltown.
- Knights five-eighth Fletcher Sharpe scored four tries in his only game against the Tigers in 2024.
- Wests Tigers lock Jack Bird has scored six tries in eight games against the Knights.
Referee: Liam Kennedy, Touch Judge: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski, Touch Judge: Jon Stone
Senior Review Official: Kasey Badger
DOLPHINS v RABBITOHS
NOW AT COMMBANK, NOT SUNCORP, DUE TO CYCLONE ALFRED.
COMMBANK STADIUM, FRIDAY, MARCH 7th, 8pm.
SOUTH SYDNEY
This clash was meant to be all about Wayne Bennett, and ultimately by full-time on Friday night it still could be, but in the meantime something by the name of Alfred – which probably smiles as often – has had an even bigger impact with the match moving from Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium to Sydney’s CommBank Stadium due to the rare event of a cyclone heading straight for the Queensland capital. A speedy and common sense move by NRL given the two teams play each other later in the season.
In official news announced on Tuesday afternoon, the venue for Friday night’s game has shifted to CommBank Stadium due to the impact of Cyclone Alfred in south-east Queensland. The Round 17 match between the Dolphins and the Rabbitohs will now become a Dolphins home fixture.
The match-up of Wayne Bennett’s current and most recent sides gives the game a real talking point, and given the record of teams post-Wayne Bennett, the Dolphins and their new head coach Kristian Woolf will be keen to make a statement. And the Dolphins looked very good in their first trial win, with some encouragement despite losing their second trial game.
1. Jye Gray 2. Isaiah Tass 3. Jack Wighton 4. Campbell Graham 5. Tyrone Munro 6. Cody Walker, 7. Jamie Humphreys 8. Sean Keppie 9. Peter Mamouzelos 10. Davvy Moale 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jai Arrow 13. Lachlan Hubner 14. Jayden Sullivan 15. Siliva Havili 16. Tallis Duncan, 17. Tevita Tatola 18. Liam Le Blanc 19. Fletcher Myers 20. Jacob Host 21. Thomas Fletcher , 22. Salesi Ataata
The master will face off against his former apprentice as Wayne Bennett and the Rabbitohs head to take on the Dolphins in the season opener.
Bennett’s return to Redfern has been anything but smooth, with a turbulent start compounded by the loss of star players Latrell Mitchell and Cameron Murray, who suffered hamstring and Achilles injuries, respectively, during a brutal training session.
Adding to the setback, English recruit Lewis Dodd will miss the Round 1 clash against the Dolphins due to a suspension from the Charity Shield, paving the way for former Manly youngster Jamie Humphreys to step into the halves.
Bennett will need to draw on every bit of experience from his decades-long coaching career to outmaneuver his former protégé, Kristian Woolf, in Brisbane.
Late Mail…. The Dolphins are set to be without multiple players. Mark Nicholls is expected to be one of the players unavailable as the club deals with the impending threat of Cyclone Alfred. It is stated that these players own properties in the path of the Cyclone, and will more than likely be flooded. It is reported Nicholls and Kodi Nikorima would be replaced by Sean O’Sullivan and Josh Kerr. 18th man Kenny Bromwich was reported to be the other player pulling out. This in my opinion ,could well change the result, and I now believe the Rabbits can win. I originally picked the Dolphins.
I think the game should have been postponed, but I am sure the Souths supporters DON’T WANT THAT.
DOLPHINS
1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Junior Tupou, 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Felise Kaufusi , 11. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 12. Max Plath 13. Tom Gilbert 14. Kurt Donoghoe 15. Connelly Lemuelu, 16. Mark Nicholls 17. Ray Stone 18. Kenny Bromwich 19. Josh Kerr 20. Sean O’Sullivan, 21. Harrison Graham 22. Max Feagai
The NRL’s newest team head into their first game of their third season with a new captain in Tom Gilbert, replacing the retired Jesse Bromwich, and Gilbert’s return from injury will be a welcome one, as he has been greatly missed by the Dolphins up the middle. There’s some added muscle up the middle too with Daniel Safiti joining from Newcastle for the season. Another new signing for 2025 whose pre-season form has seen him overtake others into the starting side is ex-Cowboy Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, who was this website’s pre-season pick as the Player to Watch for the Dolphins in 2025. He may well become a fan favourite in time, but will have to wait behind Ray Stone in the meantime.
The backline for the Dolphins is mostly as expected with only Jack Bostock missing after suffering an injury in the second trial. He has been replaced by another canny off-season signing in Junior Tupou from the Wests Tigers. The new signings are key for the Dolphins to overcome the second half of the season fade-outs that have cost them finals football in their first two seasons. Making the finals in 2025 will certainly show Bennett and his curse.
- The Dolphins play at CommBank Stadium for just the second time since entering the competition (Rd 25, 2023, lost 24-23 to Wests Tigers).
- The Rabbitohs won their only game at CommBank Stadium in 2024, beating the Eels 32-16 in Round 18.
- Dolphins centre Herbie Farnworth will make his 100th NRL appearance.
- Rabbitohs five-eighth Cody Walker requires one try for 100 NRL tries.
- Dolphins fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has scored 10 tries in his past 11 NRL games.
- The Dolphins have enjoyed a smoother preparation, but they will have to produce a much-improved showing than last week’s Pre-Season Challenge loss to the Titans.
- Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow will be crucial at the back, while Woolf is looking for halfback Isaiya Katoa to take another big step forward this year.
- The Dolphins have a dreadful record in Sydney with a W1 L6 record away in Sydney – which is a worry. And now with players missing due to Cyclone Alfred, this will be a tough assignment.
Referee. Adam Gee, Touch Judges, Ashley Klein, Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein
I am going with the Knights and the Dolphins. Look for a points start on both.
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