Cricket
Racing
Rugby
League
Motorsport
Football
Golf
Combat Sports
Basketball
Netball
Other Sports
Sport Nation
Why Tigertown needs another top eight win
Nicholas Quinlan • July 11th, 2025 4:37 pm
SEN's Matt Russell wants to see the Wests Tigers build upon their positive form from last week with another win against top-eight opposition.
It’s been a tough year for Tigers fans who have struggled to find momentum this season, having lost seven of their last ten games to sit 14th on the ladder.
Although optimism at Tigertown has slightly risen following their two-point upset over the Sydney Roosters, despite scoring fewer tries last week.
This would be the Tigers' first win since Round 9 and would see them equal their win total from last year.
Off the back of their result, Russell wants to see them deliver another upset. This time, against a top-four side in the New Zealand Warriors.
“The Tigers played with enthusiasm; they played with desire; their energy levels were through the roof,” Russell explained on SEN 1170’s Breakfast.
“Benji Marshall, sideline riding his team, it was great sporting theatre, the Tigers delivered.
“Now I know that the Roosters got close to them in the end, but Samuela Fainu, Latu Fainu and Sione Fainu – the three brothers were fantastic.
“They all scored tries; they need to double down on that with Api Koroisau and Jarome Luai back in the team as co-captains.
“And Adam Doueihi finding the form he found last week, you need to go to New Zealand, double down on last week.
“Last week doesn’t count unless you can go to Auckland against a Warriors team missing Mitch Barnett, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Luke Metcalf. This is a game where the Tigers need to say last week mattered enough to not undo it a week down the track.”
While the Warriors do have Metcalf and Nicholl-Klokstad out, they do welcome back 2023 Dally M Winger of the Year Dallin Watene-Zelezniak back into the side, which will be a handy addition.
As mentioned earlier, the Tigers will add the Origin duo of Luai and Koroisau to their side.
The Tigers will play the Warriors on Sunday afternoon at GO Media Stadium in Auckland.
