Lote Tuqiri tonight will make his first appearance of the 2013 NRL season. Troubled by a long term arm injury, Tuqiri's return will offer a sense of intrigue in to tonight's Monday Night Football clash in what otherwise looms as an unremarkable fixture. The Roosters go into the clash joint leaders on the table and will take back sole leadership with a win at home in what is officially an away game at Allianz Stadium.
Tonight's clash marks a fixture where the Wests Tigers won't be given a chance of victory. Many will say the Roosters are too strong, too quick, too skilful and too confident to be beaten tonight, and they may well be right. For the Tigers, tonight's game represents another test and another chance to gain something to learn from. The challenge tonight will be on two fronts. Out wide and up the middle. The Roosters boast a bulky pack of forwards. The likes of Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Sonny Bill Williams and Frank Paul Nuuausala threaten to tear the Tigers a new one tonight. With Jake Friend scheming behind at hooker and Mitchell Pearce and James Maloney calling the shots. This will the most serious test for the Tigers since their Round 11 clash vs Souths.
Out wide though there are further concerns for the Tigers. In attack the likes of Tim Simona and David Nofoaluma may provide their own threats, however defensively it is where the Tigers will worry. Daniel Tupou, Michael Jennings, Shaun Kenny Dowall and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck all have a minimum 8 tries or more each this season. Defense has not been anywhere near a good enough standard this season for the Tigers and tonight beckons a real serious test of their nerve.
If the Tigers are any chance tonight, as much as I hate to admit it, they will need the Roosters off their game and going through the motions. The Roosters simply look too strong. There is too much experience and too much quality to not take advantage of their situation tonight. The Tigers are in a rebuilding phase and it's unrealistic to expect great things tonight. If they can not present the Roosters with too many gifts and make the best with what they've got then perhaps they stay in the contest. Making the best of what they've got though means improvement from Benji Marshall and Braith Anasta in the halves. Whilst their experience is valuable, their form has not been valuable at all. Tonight these two must simply do better. In recent weeks it has been their mistakes which have put the side under added pressure. Tonight they can't afford to do that.
Ultimately, it's almost impossible to fathom the Tigers winning tonight. It will be tough, never say never though. You just never know.....
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