Tiger’s Boss is excited about the return of a key player who stood out in the match.
The St George Dragons are expected to cover the 7.5-point spread against the injury-ridden and suspension-hit Tigers, who are also predicted to score less than 18.5 points in the game.
The Dragons have been successful at WIN Stadium this season, winning both of their games there. The Tigers have struggled, averaging only 15.7 points per game this season and scoring 18 points or fewer in three of their last four games against the Dragons. Tyrell Sloan has been a standout for the Dragons, scoring eight tries this season, including three in two games at WIN Stadium.
In recent matchups, St George has won four of the last five games against the Tigers over the past two and a half seasons, including a 24-12 victory in round 6 at Campbelltown. The Dragons’ recent 22-10 win over the Panthers, achieved without their three Origin players, was a significant surprise.
The Dragons dominated territory and run meters in that game and applied consistent attacking pressure with 37 tackles inside the Panthers’ 20-meter line, which led to four second-half tries. This victory marks an improvement from the 2023 season, with the Dragons now having six wins compared to five last season. Despite this progress, coach Shane Flanagan seeks more consistency, regardless of the lineup. Key players Ben Hunt, Zac Lomax, and Jayden Su’A are in the extended squad but are unlikely to play due to a short turnaround from Origin duties.
For the Tigers, Sione Finau and Matthew Feagai remain in the backs, with Jesse Marschke in the halves. Coming off a bye, the Tigers aim to ignite their attack after losing their last eight games, with a 28-42 loss to the Cowboys in round 12 being their most recent match. Although they scored 28 points, their second-highest total of the season, this was attributed more to North Queensland’s defensive lapses than to the Tigers’ creativity.
Currently, the Tigers are the lowest-scoring team in the competition, averaging just 15.7 points per game and exceeding 20 points only twice this season. Justin Olam and Brent Naden return to the team, with Declan Casey and Josh Feledy dropping out. Alex Twal replaces the suspended David Klemmer in the front row, and Isaiah Papali’i is out for an extended period due to an ankle injury.
With these changes, Tyrell Sloan is likely to score as the Dragons cover the 7.5-point spread, and the Tigers are expected to fall short of their 18.5-point total.
