Match Discussion: Round 20 vs Gold Coast @ Leichhardt Oval, Lilyfield / Wanngal

[League Unlimited News]

NRL 2025 - Round 20
Wests Tigers v Gold Coast Titans
Leichhardt Oval, Lilyfield / Wanngal (TICKETS)

Sunday 20 July 2025
NRL kickoff 2pm
Live on Fox, Kayo

1. Sunia Turuva 2. Charlie Staines 3. Taylan May 4. Starford To'a 5. Jeral Skelton 6. Jarome Luai 7. Latu Fainu 8. Terrell May 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Alex Twal 11. Alex Seyfarth 12. Tony Sukkar 13. Adam Doueihi 14. Tristan Hope 15. Sione Fainu 16. Fonua Pole 17. Jack Bird 18. Brent Naden 19. Heath Mason 20. Kit Laulilii 21. Luke Laulilii 22. Krystian Mapapalangi

Out: Samuela Fainu (second row)
In: Taylan May (centre)
Changes: Adam Doueihi (centre to lock), Fonua Pole (front row to bench), Alex Twal (lock to front row), Alex Seyfarth (bench to second row)

1. AJ Brimson 2. Jaylan De Groot 3. Brian Kelly 4. Jojo Fifita 5. Phillip Sami 6. Kieran Foran 7. Jayden Campbell 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sam Verrills 10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 11. Chris Randall 12. Beau Fermor 13. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui 14. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 15. Jaimin Jolliffe 16. David Fifita 17. Klese Haas 18. Iszac Fa'asumaleaui 19. Jacob Alick-Wiencke 20. Arama Hau 21. Sean Mullany 22. Tom Weaver

In: Alofiana Khan-Pereira (bench)
Changes: Jaimin Jolliffe (lock to bench), Tino Fa'asuamaleaui (bench to lock)

Referee: Belinda Sharpe
Sideline Officials: Damian Brady, Chris Sutton
Video Referee: Ashley Klein

HEAD TO HEAD - 2007 - 2024​

	TOTAL	WESTS TIGERS	GOLD COAST	DRAWN
ALL MATCHES	27	10	17	0
LEICHHARDT	6	2	4	0

LAST FIVE MEETINGS​

YEAR	ROUND	RESULT	VENUE	CROWD
2021	Round 9	GOLD COAST 36-28	Campbelltown	8411
2022	Round 4	GOLD COAST 8-6	Cbus Super	8774
2023	Round 1	GOLD COAST 22-10	Leichhardt	14667
2023	Round 15	GOLD COAST 28-12	Cbus Super	10232
2024	Round 15	WESTS TIGERS 18-10	Leichhardt	8147

BIGGEST WINS​

YEAR	ROUND	RESULT	VENUE	CROWD
2013	Round 21	GOLD COAST 36-6	Skilled Park	11731
2014	Round 2	WESTS TIGERS 42-12	Cbus Super	12038

NEXT FOUR MATCHES​

	Round 21	Round 22	Round 23	Round 24
WESTS TIGERS	PENRITH (A)	CANTERBURY (H)	(BYE)	MANLY (H)
GOLD COAST	WARRIORS (A)	PENRITH (H)	SOUTH SYDNEY (H)	CRONULLA (A)

LAST THREE MATCHES​

	Round 17		Round 18		Round 19
WESTS TIGERS	MANLY	L 10-28	SYDNEY	W 30-28	WARRIORS	L 14-34
GOLD COAST	NORTH QLD	L 24-30	BYE	-	BRISBANE	L 14-26

STATE OF PLAY: 2025 SEASON​

	POSITION	PLAYED	BYES	W-L-D	FOR	AGAINST
WESTS TIGERS	14th	17	2	6-11-0	334	436
GOLD COAST	17th	16	3	4-12-0	326	482

LOWER GRADES
WESTS TIGERS	GOLD COAST
NSW Cup (Western Suburbs) v Penrith, Lidcombe Oval, Saturday, 2:15pm Jersey Flegg v Penrith, Lidcombe Oval, Saturday, 12:00pm	Hostplus Cup (Ipswich) v PNG Hunters, Santos NFS, Sunday, 3:00pm Hostplus Cup (Tweed) v Central (DOL), Rugby Park, Saturday, 4:00pm

 

[Tigerm]

I think this game will tell us how our season will end up looking.

 

[Tiger Ted]

The ignominy of 4 consecutive spoons is inevitable if we lose this

 

[Perth Tiger]

Geez, Gold Coast have beaten us almost 2 to 1 in our history. Do we have a losing record against every team in the comp?

 

[Perth Tiger]

Courtesy of Rugby League Project https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/teams/wests-tigers/head2head.html

We only have a winning record against the Cowboys and Sharks (and only just) and currently 50% against the dolphins. Haven't even cracked 10 wins against the Broncos.

Opponent	Played	W	L	D	Pts For	Pts Against
NRL​
Parramatta	50	18	31	1	953	1,241	Info
North Qld	47	24	23	0	1,108	1,159	Info
St Geo Illa	47	22	25	0	908	1,080	Info
Canberra	45	20	25	0	898	1,066	Info
South Sydney	45	18	27	0	1,040	1,065	Info
Canterbury	44	17	27	0	909	1,029	Info
Penrith	42	15	27	0	784	971	Info
Newcastle	40	18	22	0	850	934	Info
Sydney	40	10	30	0	629	1,207	Info
Cronulla	39	20	18	1	854	925	Info
Melbourne	39	12	27	0	663	1,016	Info
Manly	38	15	23	0	778	1,034	Info
Warriors	38	16	22	0	829	821	Info
Brisbane	34	9	24	1	610	919	Info
Gold Coast	27	10	17	0	509	561	Info
Northern Eagles	6	4	2	0	166	130	Info
Dolphins	4	2	2	0	82	91	Info
Totals	625	250	372	3	12,570	15,249

 

[Wizardman]

To lose this would be a major blow to Benji's career. If this game is lost at Leichardt, you'd have to think Richo would seriously look at 2026 coaching options.

 

[TheDefinitionOfMadness]

Bring back the Northern Eagles!

 

[Tiger Ted]

To lose this would be a major blow to Benji's career. If this game is lost at Leichardt, you'd have to think Richo would seriously look at 2026 coaching options.

If we lose at the 8th to the team coming last then Richo needs to pull the trigger Monday morning & consequently good luck to Luai triggering the get out clause coz who in their right mind will pay the wanka anywhere near what the rabble are paying him

 

[WA Tiger]

This is the fork in the road for Benji.. Take the difficult decision of turning right and he will see out his contract .Left he will be gone by xmas..it’s all about the halves and all of team dynamic which is where the confidence came from 2 games ago and how the lack of it caused the loss on Sunday.. No way in the world will do what he needs to do..

 

[Tiger05]

I like the team.

Interesting:-

1. Doueihi to lock.
2. Twal starting and Pole to the bench.
3. May has come into the team quickly.

Concerning:-
1. We have a backrow of Doueihi, Seyfarth and Sukkar. We were rolled in the forwards last week.
2. To'a looks to have an injury but he keeps getting picked each week. I hope this doesn't come back to hurt us.

 

[Tigerm]

Doueihi is interesting at lock? Might be looking to keep him in the side for the next few years, as I don't think he will be a centre for us?
I don't mind the side, but I didn't mind last weeks either, we need to dominate in defence, hopefully they can do it.
Exciting to see how Taylan goes.
Us by 8 @ LO, with Tito MoM.

 

[WA Tiger]

I like the team.

Interesting:-

1. Doueihi to lock.
2. Twal starting and Pole to the bench.
3. May has come into the team quickly.

Concerning:-
1. We have a backrow of Doueihi, Seyfarth and Sukkar. We were rolled in the forwards last week.
2. To'a looks to have an injury but he keeps getting picked each week. I hope this doesn't come back to hurt us.

Re Taylan.. just in time..
AD’s amoungst it. He can create tries from there. I like it

 

[Ned Kelly]

This is the most important game of the season for us.
Can we avoid the spoon?
I am keen to see how Taylan May goes. I wish him well.
I would love to see Krystian Mapapalangi have a run before the end of the season. I'm guessing there is too much riding on this game to start him this time.

 

[AKA Das Hassler]

I really like this side...May in with Douehi at lock...GREAT! Assuming Douehi goes well at lock...and i think he will, then i'd offer him a 2 or even 3 year deal to stay there. He's still only 25 and is as good a ballplaying link man as we're likely to get anytime soon unless we put Latu there.
Looking forward to seeing May and no doubt Terrell will be pumped as well

 

[chunk]

Looking forward to see how Taylan May goes and Doueihi at lock for the Tigers

Don't get Bird on the bench.

Titans have bigger, stronger side, Tigers might get steamrolled. Geez we need some new forwards, good ones.

 

[AKA Das Hassler]

Don't get Bird on the bench.

He started out well but now I stress everytime he has the ball in his hands.

 

[WA Tiger]

I like the team.

Interesting:-

1. Doueihi to lock.
2. Twal starting and Pole to the bench.
3. May has come into the team quickly.

Concerning:-
1. We have a backrow of Doueihi, Seyfarth and Sukkar. We were rolled in the forwards last week.
2. To'a looks to have an injury but he keeps getting picked each week. I hope this doesn't come back to hurt us.

Is that a demotion for Pole or is it a return the the missile Pole we saw a while back.. we miss that version .. He’s doing less and less for me every week.. I wonder if Twal has been given a right to be a loud voice up there

 

[WA Tiger]

Bole Pole.. I’m sure he keeps changing his name each week

 

[Tigerm]

In the Seyfarth interview, there was a mention that Luai didn't train yesterday?

 

[Nutz]

I like the team.

Interesting:-

1. Doueihi to lock.
2. Twal starting and Pole to the bench.
3. May has come into the team quickly.

Concerning:-
1. We have a backrow of Doueihi, Seyfarth and Sukkar. We were rolled in the forwards last week.
2. To'a looks to have an injury but he keeps getting picked each week. I hope this doesn't come back to hurt us.

Hunt must go down as our biggest disappointment this year. Our middle is vulnerable.