3 minute read
New Zealand Warriors will be keen to bounce back from a disappointing defeat against the Raiders when they take on Wests Tigers on Friday.
The Warriors are watching their top-eight hopes slide away, but a win over the Tigers will keep their slim chances alive.
They can be backed at 8.00 to make finals, but will have to take their chances against the Tigers, something they failed to do when losing by two points in Canberra.
The Warriors have also been hit by more injuries, so their strength in depth will be tested as they look to return to winning ways.
Wests Tigers slipped to another defeat, this time against South Sydney Rabbitohs, but there were signs of improvement on the previous week.
Coach Benji Marshall will want to see more progress between now and the end of the season as they look to avoid the wooden spoon.
The Tigers are priced at 1.61 to suffer most losses.
. What: New Zealand Warriors v Wests Tigers
. Where: Go Media Stadium, Auckland
. When: 18:00 (AEST), Friday 26th July
. How to watch: Kayo, Foxtel
. Odds: New Zealand Warriors 1.22, Wests Tigers 4.20
Warriors injury list grows
The Warriors missed out on a great opportunity to pick up two points when losing 20-18 against the Raiders in the nation's capital.
Despite outscoring the opposition four tries to three, their kicking let them down, and Canberra took the win.
Just to make matters worse, they lost both their two main goal-kickers, Taine Tuaupiki and Adam Pompey to injury.
Fullback Tuaupiki will miss out against the Tigers with concussion, while Pompey is battling a knee injury.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will switch from the wing to fullback, but can still be backed at 2.50 to score a try at anytime.
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has scored 13 tries in the last 14 on home soil and is priced at 5.50 to score the first.
The Warriors have won the last six games against the Tigers and are 1.91 to win this latest meeting by 13+ points.
Tigers welcome back skipper
The Tigers may have lost to the bunnies, but it was a big improvement on the 58-6 defeat they suffered against the Sharks the week before.
It will be a big shock if they can pick up two points in Auckland, where they last won in 2018, but they are boosted by the return of their captain Api Koroisau.
Isaiah Papali'i is also back in the side following an ankle injury, and the back-rower is priced at 4.50 to score a try at anytime.
The Tigers can also take some heart from the fact that the Warriors have struggled against sides outside of the top eight this season.
Indeed they have lost five of the last six and the Tigers can be backed at 10.00 to edge this game by 1-5 points.