Club favors experiences in the halves as they look to take down the premiers.Wests Tigers coach Mick Potter has ended his early season experiment of halfback Jacob Miller, dropping the youngster to NSW Cup for this weekend.
Miller looks to have been the scapegoat for the Tigers humbling 26-point shutout loss at the hands of Manly last round, with his name being the only major omission.
Tigers assistant coach Royce Simmons said he hoped Miller would come back stronger for the experience in the feeder system.
“Braith Anasta will partner Benji Marshall in the halves this week, he (Miller) has been up for the past four weeks and he has played some good football,” Simmons said.
“But we hope he can go back (to NSW Cup) and get some experience and we are hoping Braith will steer us around the park with his experience in rep football will get us in good field position.
“It’s going to be a tough game this weekend against the premiers, I think it’s a good challenge for us and we’re looking forward to the game.”
Bodene Thompson comes into the starting back row in place of Anasta while James Tedesco has retained his wing spot ahead of Matt Utai, who will play NSW Cup.
For the undefeated Storm there are no major changes, with Slade Griffin and Junior Moors added to an extended side.
Storm: Billy Slater, Matt Duffie, Will Chambers, Junior Sa’u, Mahe Fonua, Gareth Widdop, Cooper Cronk, Jesse Bromwich, Cameron Smith (capt), Bryan Norrie, Tohu Harris, Ryan Hoffman, Ryan Hinchcliffe. Interchange: Jason Ryles, Lagi Setu, Siosaia Vave, Kevin Proctor, Slade Griffin, Junior Moors (two to be omitted).
Tigers: Tim Moltzen, Joel Reddy, Blake Ayshford, Chris Lawrence, James Tedesco, Benji Marshall, Braith Anasta, Aaron Woods, Robbie Farah (capt), Jack Buchanan, Bodene Thompson, Liam Fulton, Adam Blair. Interchange: Ben Murdoch-Masila, Ava Seumanufagai, Matt Bell, Eddy Pettybourne (one to be omitted)
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