1st Elimination Final
Wests Tigers v Canberra Raiders
Sunday, September 13, 1:30pm, Allianz Stadium – LIVE on Fox Sports 1
Wests Tigers
1. Sione Alofi 2. Ryland Jacobs 3. Obed Karwhin 4. Marion Seve 5. Jayden Wheelhouse 6. Te Maire Martin 7. Jeremy Marshall-King 8. Junior Tatola 9. Jacob Liddle 10. JJ Felise 11. Matthew Woods 12. Bayley Sironen 13. Tyler Cassell. Interchange: 14. Veiru Mapasone 15. Pio Sokobalavu 16. Ray Stone 17. Esan Marsters. Coach: Brett Kimmorley.
Canberra Raiders
1. Chevi Ellis 2. Thomas Cronan 3. Jack Williams 4. Jack Hickson 5. Cameron Booth 6. Lachlan Lewis 7. Dylan McGrath 8. Morgan Boyle 9. Zac Woolford 10. Tevita Pangai Junior 11. Jared McIlwrick 12. Kalani Going 13. Luke Bateman. Interchange: 14. Adam Lucas 15. Daniel Dole 16. Jordan Aiono 17. Cleveland McGhie 18. Taniela Moa 19. William Samuel 20. Ezra Howe. Coach: Mick Mantelli.
The 2012 Grand Finalists will meet in the finals for the fourth time on Sunday afternoon.
These two sides have developed quite a rivalry in the Holden Cup, with a brawl erupting after tempers boiled over in 2013, which saw four players charged.
Their first finals encounter was way back in 2009, when the Tigers defeated Canberra on route to the Grand Final.
The Tigers finished the regular season off strong with big wins over Newcastle and Cronulla followed by a draw against the Warriors and a come from behind win over the Dragons, which saw them leap frog the Roosters into fifth spot.
Canberra on the other hand have won just two games since Round 20, one of which was a two-point victory over the Tigers in Round 22.
In that time they’ve also conceded an average of 45 points a game, a worrying statistic for coach Mick Mantelli.
Ins and Outs
The Wests Tigers have just the one change, with two-time Australian Schoolboy Ray Stone coming onto the bench for Lamar Liolevave.
Canberra welcome back Luke Bateman from NRL duties, which sees Tevita Pangai Junior move from lock to prop.
Adam Lucas, Taniela Moa and Ezra Howe join a seven-man extended bench.
2015 Head to Head
Round 7 – Canberra 40 – 32 Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval
Round 22 – Canberra 36 – 34 Wests Tigers at GIO Stadium
Finals Encounters
2009, Week 2 – Wests Tigers 42 – 34 Canberra at SFS
2012, Grand Final – Wests Tigers 46 – 6 Canberra at ANZ Stadium
2013, Week 2 – Canberra 36 – 18 Wests Tigers at Allianz Stadium
Keep An Eye On
Te Maire Martin (Wests Tigers)
The Panthers-bound Martin has been in sensational form in 2015, The Junior Kiwi leads the competition in try assists (31) and line-break assists (33). In last weekend’s win over the Dragons alone, he set up 3 tries and assisted 5 line-breaks.
Tevita Pangai Junior (Canberra)
It was another dominant display by Pangai against the Eels last Saturday. The competition’s leading offloader (71), scored two tries and broke 12 tackles on his way to 164 running metres. If Canberra are to win on Sunday, he’ll be right in the thick of it.
18TH MAN 