Wests Tigers vs Dolphins Tips & Preview

Wests Tigers vs Dolphins Tips

Saturday’s NRL action will kick off at Commbank with the first-ever meeting between the Wests Tigers and the Dolphins. The newcomers have officially fallen out of finals contention and are suffering a mass of injuries, so the Tigers are favourites against their wounded opponents.

This game is a tough one, with the Dolphins starting as 8.5-point underdogs against the 17th-place Tigers. The Dolphins have performed their best when their backs have been against the wall in 2023, so I am taking them to cover the 8.5 points. 

The Tigers' 26.5 point team total is a little high for me considering they only surpassed that number once this season. Daine Laurie looked the goods in the six for the Tigers last week so I am backing him to score for the second week in a row.

• The Dolphins have covered the line in 7 of 11 games when starting as 8.5 point or more underdogs, in 2023.
• The Tigers have lost both matches when starting as the favourite in 2023.
• The Tigers have scored over 26 points in just 5% of their games in 2023.
• The Dolphins have allowed 3 tries in 2 games to opposing halves

Head to Head 

This is the first meeting between the Wests Tigers and the Dolphins.

Wests Tigers Form

The Wests Tigers once again showed plenty of character but without any reward against the Warriors in Waikato last week. 

The Tigers pushed their top-4 opponents right to the final whistle, going down 30-22 in the end after going into the break 16-12 down. 

The Tigers were resilient inside their defensive 20, deterring the majority of the 48 tackles they faced in their redzone, however, the workload took its toll.

The Tigers are now just one more loss away from securing the wooden spoon for the second year running.

Wests Tigers Team News

Tim Sheens has named the same 17 from the Tigers' loss to the Warriors last week.

Wests Tigers Team List

1. Jahream Bula

2. David Nofoaluma

3. Starford To'a

4. Asu Kepaoa

5. Junior Tupou

6. Daine Laurie

7. Luke Brooks

8. Stefano Utoikamanu

9. Api Koroisau

10. David Klemmer

11. Isaiah Papali’i

12. John Bateman

13. Fonua Pole

Interchange

14. Jake Simpkin

15. Alex Seyfarth

16. Alex Twal

17. Shawn Blore

Reserves

18. Justin Matamua

19. Aitasi James

20. Triston Reilly

21. Josh Feledy

​​​​​​​22. Kit Laulilii

Dolphins Form

The Dolphins' finals hopes have officially diminished after a lacklustre performance against the Roosters last week. 

The newcomers were never in the return match against Sydney, who they beat in round 1, and looked disjointed in both attack and defence.

The Dolphins have now lost four in a row and have still only managed one victory outside of QLD in 2023.

Dolphins Team News

Plenty of changes for the Dolphins this week, with a handful of ‘on the brink’ players getting their shot in first grade.

Kenny Bromwich, Connelly Lemuelu, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Jeremy Marshall-King and Ray Stone are out.

Euan Atkin, Jack Bostock, Robert Jennings, Harrison Graham and JJ Collins are the ins.

Dolphins Team List

1. Kodi Nikorima

2. Jamayne Isaako

3. Jack Bostock

4. Robert Jennings

5. Tesi Niu

6. Isaiya Katoa

7. Sean O’Sullivan 

8. Jesse Bromwich

9. Harrison Graham

10. Herman Ese'ese

11. Felise Kaufusi

12. Euan Aitken

13. Mark Nicholls

Interchange

14. JJ Collins

15. Josh Kerr

16. Anthony Milford

17. Jarrod Wallace