Match Discussion: Round 8 vs Canberra @ Leichhardt Oval, Lilyfield / Wanngal

[League Unlimited News]

NRL 2026 - Round 8
Wests Tigers v Canberra Raiders
Leichhardt Oval, Lilyfield / Wanngal (TICKETS)

Thursday 23 April 2026
Kickoff 7:50pm AEST
Live on Fox League, Kayo Sports, Nine Network, 9Now

1. Jahream Bula 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Taylan May 4. Starford To'a 5. Luke Laulilii 6. Jarome Luai 7. Adam Doueihi 8. Terrell May 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Fonua Pole 11. Samuela Fainu 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Alex Twal 14. Jock Madden 15. Sione Fainu 16. Royce Hunt 17. Alex Seyfarth 18. Patrick Herbert 19. Tristan Hope 20. Latu Fainu 21. Jeral Skelton 22. Tony Sukkar

Changes from last match:
Out: Heamasi Makasini (wing), Latu Fainu (bench to reserve)
In: Starford To'a (centre), Luke Laulilii (wing), Alex Seyfarth (bench), Tristan Hope (bench)
Changes: Patrick Herbert (centre to bench)

1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Sebastian Kris 3. Simi Sasagi 4. Matthew Timoko 5. Jed Stuart 6. Ethan Strange 7. Ethan Sanders 8. Ata Mariota 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Zac Hosking 12. Noah Martin 13. Corey Horsburgh 14. Jayden Brailey 15. Daine Laurie 16. Joseph Roddy 17. Morgan Smithies 18. Chevy Stewart 19. Savelio Tamale 20. Owen Pattie 21. Jordan Uta 22. Jake Clydsdale

Changes from last match:
Out: Hudson Young (second row), Josh Papalii (bench)
In: Daine Laurie (bench), Joseph Roddy (bench), Chevy Stewart (bench), Savelio Tamale (bench)
Changes: Noah Martin (bench to second row)

Referee: To be advised
Sideline Officials: To be advised
Video Referee: To be advised

HEAD TO HEAD - 2000 - 2025​

	TOTAL	WESTS TIGERS	CANBERRA	DRAWN
ALL MATCHES	46	20	26	0
LEICHHARDT	6	2	4	0

LAST FIVE MEETINGS​

YEAR	ROUND	RESULT	VENUE	CROWD
2023	Round 23	CANBERRA 22-18	GIO	12841
2024	Round 2	CANBERRA 32-12	GIO	16968
2024	Round 16	WESTS TIGERS 48-24	Campbelltown	10106
2025	Round 16	CANBERRA 16-12	Campbelltown	9328
2025	Round 26	CANBERRA 24-10	GIO	23746

BIGGEST WINS​

YEAR	ROUND	RESULT	VENUE	CROWD
2012	Round 13	WESTS TIGERS 40-0	Canberra Stadium	9210
2016	Round 8	CANBERRA 60-6	GIO	13420

NEXT FOUR MATCHES​

	Round 9	Round 10	Round 11	Round 12
WESTS TIGERS	CRONULLA (A)	MELBOURNE (A)	MANLY (H)	(BYE)
CANBERRA	GOLD COAST (A)	PENRITH (H)	(BYE)	DOLPHINS (H)

LAST THREE MATCHES​

	Round 5		Round 6		Round 7
WESTS TIGERS	PARRAMATTA	W 22-20	NEWCASTLE	W 42-22	BRISBANE	L 20-21
CANBERRA	NEWCASTLE	L 12-32	SOUTH SYDNEY	W 36-34	MELBOURNE	W 26-22

STATE OF PLAY: 2026 SEASON​

	POSITION	PLAYED	BYES	W-L-D	FOR	AGAINST
WESTS TIGERS	3rd	6	1	4-2-0	176	113
CANBERRA	13th	7	0	3-4-0	141	204

 

[Shredder]

Im backing us. Hopefully after last week, the boys aim up.
Not expecting too many changes in the lineup. Benji seems pretty happy with the system and I expect him to go with it again.

 

[Tiger05]

Im backing us. Hopefully after last week, the boys aim up.
Not expecting too many changes in the lineup. Benji seems pretty happy with the system and I expect him to go with it again.

It's a really tough game. I have no idea how we will go but I hope you are right. The team has it in them to win this game.

 

[Shredder]

Its strange watching them this year. Usually Ive mentally clocked off by half time, but this year I feel we are in every game, even the 2 we lost. What more can we ask for at this stage of the rebuild?

 

[chunk]

Is this an old 'must win' game, probably if we want to make the eight.

Similar type of team at LO, if we lose the wheels are starting to fall off.

 

[Shredder]

I agree we dont want to lose two consecutive home games

 

[Tigerm]

Is this an old 'must win' game, probably if we want to make the eight.

Similar type of team at LO, if we lose the wheels are starting to fall off.

We lost last game by a field goal, I thought we played well, probably more consistently than the
knights game.
Selections will be interesting.

 

[Fordy20]

Its strange watching them this year. Usually Ive mentally clocked off by half time, but this year I feel we are in every game, even the 2 we lost.

That's what I found particularly frustrating about the two losses. We were well in those matches and shouldn't have lost either. Api and our forwards do all the hard work getting down the other end and our halves couldn't get the job done. In the two losses, Luai and Doueihi didn't ask enough questions of the defence and found it difficult to construct and manufacturer tries. It's going to hard to watch another week of Luai and Doueihi in the halves, particularly if they are going to play left and right halves.

What more can we ask for at this stage of the rebuild?

It's still early and I'd be ok with a little more tinkering, but it would nice if we could simply select the best player for each position instead of trying of trying to fit all the favourites into the 17.

I don't want this to be like 2009 where we had to wait until 2/3 of the season was over and we were languishing in the bottom 4, until Bomber announced he was signing with Sharks and Sheens finally gave up on the season before common sense prevailed and the coach finally put the best players in their best positions.

 

[benched tiger]

So LL and Starford Toa are back in place of Makasini and Herbert this week.

 

[League Unlimited News]

1. Jahream Bula 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Taylan May 4. Starford To'a 5. Luke Laulilii 6. Jarome Luai 7. Adam Doueihi 8. Terrell May 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Fonua Pole 11. Samuela Fainu 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Alex Twal

14. Jock Madden 15. Sione Fainu 16. Royce Hunt 17. Alex Seyfarth 18. Patrick Herbert 19. Tristan Hope

20. Latu Fainu 21. Jeral Skelton 22. Tony Sukkar

Changes from last match:
Out: Heamasi Makasini (wing), Latu Fainu (bench to reserve)
In: Starford To'a (centre), Luke Laulilii (wing), Alex Seyfarth (bench), Tristan Hope (bench)
Changes: Patrick Herbert (centre to bench)

NRL TEAMS & OFFICIALS - 2026 Round 8 (ANZAC Round) » League Unlimited

leagueunlimited.com

 

[Tiger05]

I don't like the team. I reckon Madden should start at 7 or not be there. I'd have Latu at 14. I would have kept Makasini as well.

I assume it'll be To'a and Turuva on one wing and I assume that is how they trained. Luke has been on the left side most of the time as well. I think that left edge may struggle defensively.

In stating that the forwards are killing it and the outside backs can score some points. Can the halves get it together ?

 

[Tigerm]

Us by 10 with Bula MoM.

I hope To'a fires up. Not sure about LL, but I hope it works for us.