Tigers to call up another highly rated teen, Blues head west for Origin camp
Wests Tigers are set to replace one teen tyro with another, calling highly rated 18-year-old Latu Fainu up for his NRL debut in place of the suspended Lachlan Galvin.
Galvin starred in Monday’s gutsy upset win over Parramatta only to have his breakout NRL performance soured by a hip drop charge on Kelma Tuilagi.
Galvin has accepted a two-game suspension, ruling him out of Saturday’s trip to Redcliffe to face the Dolphins and the following week’s clash with St George Illawarra.
Fainu has been told he will make his first-grade debut against the Dolphins, though it is not yet clear if that will be stepping into the No.6 jersey alongside veteran halfback Aidan Sezer or coming off the bench.
Fellow young playmaker Jayden Sullivan has played a utility role for the Tigers for the past two weeks and could be elevated back into the starting side, with Fainu to take his place in the No.14 jumper.
Fainu’s signing alongside brother Samuela on lucrative four-year deals was heralded as a much-needed recruitment coup during the Tigers’ wooden spoon campaign last year, the pair lured from Manly after the Dolphins withdrew from negotiations.
The Tigers’ young halves are jostling for long-term positions alongside 2025 marquee signing Jarome Luai along with off-contract local junior Adam Doueihi, who is still recovering from an ACL rupture.
Meanwhile, South Sydney will bring Izaac Thompson in for his first game this season in place of Alex Johnston, who is out for up to six weeks with a torn hamstring.
Thompson trained on the left wing outside Jack Wighton on Tuesday, with Thompson’s bull-at-a-gate carries out of trouble preferred to Richie Kennar against the Warriors on Saturday.
Melbourne are set to name Cameron Munster to make his long-awaited return from a groin injury first suffered slipping in the shower during a pre-season trip to Fiji.
The five-eighth pulled up well from his biggest training session so far on Monday, but will still be given the rest of the week to prove his fitness ahead of Thursday’s home game against Brisbane.Christian Welch (concussion) and Jahrome Hughes (suspension) will also return this week.
Looking forward to seeing how he goes.
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers!
Team List:
1. Jahream Bula - sponsored by Exclusive Estate Agents
2. Charlie Staines - sponsored by Gavmanak
3. Solomona Faataape - sponsored by Mater Dei on behalf of the Kirk Family
4. Justin Olam - sponsored by Ultra Building Works
5. Junior Tupou - sponsored by APN Compounding
6. Jayden Sullivan - sponsored by Leumeah Shopping Centre
7. Aidan Sezer - sponsored by Club Menangle
8. Stefano Utoikamanu - sponsored by ZWealth Group
9. Apisai Koroisau (c) - sponsored by ZRealty Group
10. David Klemmer - sponsored by Tidda Workforce
11. Isaiah Papali'i - sponsored by Murray Kennedy Real Estate
12. John Bateman - sponsored by The Meat Man
13. Fonua Pole - sponsored by LC Wealth
Interchange:
14. Latu Fainu - sponsored by Ellis Consolidated
15. Alex Seyfarth - sponsorship available
16. Alex Twal - sponsorship available
17. Samuela Fainu - sponsorship available
Reserves:
18. Brent Naden - sponsored by Wests Tigers Foundation
19. Asu Kepaoa - sponsored by Wests Tigers Foundation
20. Justin Matamua - sponsored by Wests Tigers Foundation
21. Solomon Alaimalo - sponsored by Wests Tigers Foundation
22. Jake Simpkin - sponsored by Wests Tigers Foundation
Coach: Benji Marshall - sponsored by Pepper Money
I think that if Galvin was playing, Latu would only be14 to replace Api or cover a catastophe in the halves. Now he is there for when Bud S fails to perform at 6 and is subsequently used to relieve Api for for a while before being benched himself.
most important stat not on here…referee is G Sutton 👀Team List:
1. Jahream Bula - sponsored by Exclusive Estate Agents
2. Charlie Staines - sponsored by Gavmanak
3. Solomona Faataape - sponsored by Mater Dei on behalf of the Kirk Family
4. Justin Olam - sponsored by Ultra Building Works
5. Junior Tupou - sponsored by APN Compounding
6. Jayden Sullivan - sponsored by Leumeah Shopping Centre
7. Aidan Sezer - sponsored by Club Menangle
8. Stefano Utoikamanu - sponsored by ZWealth Group
9. Apisai Koroisau (c) - sponsored by ZRealty Group
10. David Klemmer - sponsored by Tidda Workforce
11. Isaiah Papali'i - sponsored by Murray Kennedy Real Estate
12. John Bateman - sponsored by The Meat Man
13. Fonua Pole - sponsored by LC Wealth
Interchange:
14. Latu Fainu - sponsored by Ellis Consolidated
15. Alex Seyfarth - sponsorship available
16. Alex Twal - sponsorship available
17. Samuela Fainu - sponsorship available
Reserves:
18. Brent Naden - sponsored by Wests Tigers Foundation
19. Asu Kepaoa - sponsored by Wests Tigers Foundation
20. Justin Matamua - sponsored by Wests Tigers Foundation
21. Solomon Alaimalo - sponsored by Wests Tigers Foundation
22. Jake Simpkin - sponsored by Wests Tigers Foundation
Coach: Benji Marshall - sponsored by Pepper Money
From watching some of the reserves game, Latu may not be fit enough to play first grade as yet. I didn’t see the whole game but he was invisible for most of the time. I had to check the team list to see if he was playing and then saw his kick charged down. Hope he is fit, I’m looking forward to seeing him play.
Game day
In memory of Geoff Chisholm (1965-2022)
Hopefully we can beat the tinned tuna
I am chanelling my benji and away on a golf weekend
maybe we can win tigers 22 dolphins 14
Game day
this year we have a good record against the aquatic creatures, beating sharks, Eels, hopefully dolphins
we might come unstuck against dragons
Sunny skies in Brisbane today. I’ll be at the game with my daughter this evening so praying we keep it a dry track. Last night’s Newcastle game looked horrid.
Sunny skies in Brisbane today. I’ll be at the game with my daughter this evening so praying we keep it a dry track. Last night’s Newcastle game looked horrid.
Make sure you avoid Steve.
In memory of Geoff Chisholm (1965-2022)
Api carrying a thigh injury
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers!
It was only a matter of time before a team took advantage of that compressed defensive line
