nrl round 13 team updates turned sour for Wests Tigers as their injury crisis deepened and a strike outside back was set to miss many weeks. Benji is trying to steady a side in a horror form slide, but the return of the club’s star hooker has been offset by another setback.
Benji's Tigers Get Hit Again
The latest blow leaves the Tigers thinner on the edges just as they need stability. A strike outside back is now set to miss many weeks, which strips depth from a part of the squad already under pressure.
Benji has been dealing with that while staying hopeful amid the team’s struggles. The hooker’s return back on deck gives the Tigers one important selection boost, but it does not cancel out the loss of another outside option for Round 13.
Parramatta And Brisbane Watch Returns
Elsewhere in the same Round 13 team tips discussion, Parramatta and Brisbane were likely set to welcome back two superstars after lengthy injury lay-offs. That sat alongside a broader run of selection news, with the Sharks potentially getting Blayke Brailey and Addin Fonua-Blake back for the clash against Manly.
Brailey was the more likely return of the two, and Hohepa Puru was expected to keep his spot if he came back. Jayden Berrell would make way in that case, leaving the Sharks with a cleaner spine than the one the Tigers are trying to patch together.
Manly And Newcastle Choices
Manly had its own call to make after Tom Trbojevic was ruled three weeks away from returning and Ben Trbojevic was unavailable after a Grade 1 head knock. Kieran Foran said, “It will probably just be Lehi at this stage,” in reference to the fullback spot if Lehi Hopoate was used again.
Newcastle had only two players, Kalyn Ponga and Jacob Saifiti, set to take part in Game I on Wednesday, with Bradman Best still a couple of weeks away from returning. For the Tigers, though, the immediate story is simpler: one back is coming in, and one more is now going out for many weeks.
