St George Illawarra Dragons vs Wests Tigers Verdict
A competitive game is expected with recent meetings between these sides decided by 1-12 point margin. The Wests to win by that range is the best bet given the Dragons continue to lose games.
- Three of St George Illawarra's last four games have finished by 1-12 points.
- Six of the last seven Dragons v Tigers games have finished by 12 points or fewer.
- Jarome Luai is out for Wests Tigers, with Jock Madden named at five-eighth.
- Setu Tu is named on the wing and profiles as the Dragons' best outside-back tryscorer play.
Head to Head
St George Illawarra have won three of the last five meetings, but the more important trend is margin. Recent clashes between these clubs have consistently stayed close, with six of the last seven decided by 12 points or fewer.
St George Illawarra Dragons Form - Stuck At The Bottom
The Dragons have lost four of their last five games, averaging 18.0 points scored and 27.2 conceded across that run. Their attack remains the biggest issue, with the club ranked 17th for points and 17th for linebreaks.
The positive is that they keep finding ways to stay alive in games. They were right there against Canberra last week, and with a 1-12 result landing in three of their last four, this profiles as another tight contest.
Wests Tigers Form - Inconsistencies Cause Problems
Wests Tigers have been inconsistent, but they enter this as the side with the more appealing attacking ceiling.
They rank 11th in points and eighth in run metres, which is enough to worry a Dragons defence sitting 17th in points allowed and 17th in run metres conceded.
The issue is team disruption. Jarome Luai is out after delayed concussion symptoms, Jock Madden returns from concussion at five-eighth, and Taylan May's shoulder injury sees Heamasi Makasini promoted into the centres. Alex Twal returning at lock is a boost through the middle.