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Sydney Roosters vs Wests Tigers Tips & Preview - Tigers to suffer seventh straight defeat in NRL

Andrew Hendrie

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Last updated: 04 Jul 2025

Andrew Hendrie 04 Jul 2025

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Sydney Roosters vs Wests Tigers expert predictions for Sunday's NRL Round 18 game
Roosters have dominated the Tigers, winning 18 of last 19 matches
Tigers are struggling with a six-game losing streak and key players absent

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Sydney Roosters (Getty Images)

Sydney Roosters vs Wests Tigers Preview

The Roosters are missing their Origin stars for Sunday's showdown but should still be much too good for Wests. Sydney have won 18 of their last 19 meetings with the Tigers dating back to 2011 and can dominate again.

Roosters have won five of their last seven games
Roosters have been leading at half-time in six of their last seven games
Tigers are on a six-game losing streak
Tigers have seen Under 50.5 points in four of their last five games
Roosters have seen Under 50.5 points in four of their last five games
Tigers have only beaten the Roosters once since 2011
Under 50.5 points has landed in three of the last four meetings
Mark Nawaqanitawase has scored nine tries in his last seven games

Head To Head

The Roosters have absolutely dominated the Tigers for the better part of the last 15 years, winning 18 of the last 19 encounters - including a most-recent 40-6 thumping in Round 17 last year, with Daniel Tupou scoring a second-half double.

Sydney Roosters Form

After a tough start to the season, the Roosters have steadied, with Trent Robinson doing a great job of guiding his side up to sixth on the ladder.

The Roosters head into this contest having won five of their last seven games and they proved they can win without their Origin stars with a brilliant 42-16 victory over the Sharks back in Round 12.

Attack has become a strength for the Chooks - they also dropped 42 points on the Cowboys in their most-recent game before last week's bye, with Mark Nawaqanitawase and Billy Smith scoring doubles.

Sydney Roosters Team News

Angus Crichton, Connor Watson, Lindsay Collins, Robert Toia and Spencer Leniu are all unavailable on Origin duty.

Makahesi Makatoa, Benaiah Ioelu and Blake Steep join the starting side, while Egan Butcher returns from concussion to replace Siua Wong, who is out with a knee injury.

Tom Rodwell (wing) and Max McCathie also earn NRL debuts, with the latter joining the bench alongside Zach Dockar-Clay, Taylor Losaulu and De La Salle Va'a.

Sydney Roosters Team List

1. James Tedesco

2. Daniel Tupou

3. Billy Smith

4. Mark Nawaqanitawase

5. Tom Rodwell

6. Sandon Smith

7. Hugo Savala

8. Naufahu Whyte

9. Benaiah Ioelu

10. Makahesi Makatoa

11. Egan Butcher

12. Salesi Foketi

13. Blake Steep

Interchange

14. Zach Dockar-Clay

15. Max McCathie

16. Taylor Losalu

17. Delasalle Vaa

Reserves

18. Ethan King

19. Ethan Roberts

20. Chad Townsend

21. Ben Johnson

22. Tyler Moriarty

Wests Tigers Form

It's turned into a disastrous year for the Tigers, who are now closer to the wooden spoon than the top eight after a run of six defeats on the bounce.

You can't criticise the Tigers' effort - apart from that 64-0 loss to the Storm in Round 10, they haven't been blown out, but they simply don't have any spark in attack, especially without Luai.

The late absence of Luai was a huge blow for the Tigers against Manly last week and contributed to one of the worst 1st half performances I've ever seen. Things keep going from bad to worse at Tiger Town, with Tallyn De Silva leaving mid-week to join the Eels.

Wests Tigers Team News

Jarome Luai (Origin) and Api Koroisau (concussion) are out, along with Heath Mason, who was suspended for his push on the referee last week.

Sunia Turuva moves to fullback, Charlie Staines comes in on the wing and Adam Doueihi shifts to five-eighth.

Tristan Hope starts at hooker in just his second NRL game, while Charlie Murray is the new face on the bench. Alex Twal is the captain.

Wests Tigers Team List

1. Sunia Turuva

2. Charlie Staines

3. Luke Laulilii

4. Starford To’a

5. Jeral Skelton

6. Adam Doueihi

7. Latu Fainu

8. Terrell May

9. Tristan Hope

10. Fonua Pole

11. Samuela Fainu

12. Jack Bird

13. Alex Twal

Interchange

14. Charlie Murray

15. Alex Seyfarth

16. Sione Fainu

17. Tony Sukkar

Reserves

18. Kit Laulilii

19. Brent Naden

20. Royce Hunt

21. Solomona Faataape

22. Izaac Tu’itupou

Verdict

Sydney Roosters v Wests Tigers

The Tigers are in shambles and won't even be able to take advantage of a Roosters side missing five players to Origin.

Back the Chooks to win at HT-FT & cover a -5.5 line with Under 50.5 points, while Mark Nawaqanitawase can make it 10 tries from his last eight games.

Roosters/Roosters

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Roosters -5.5 & U/50.5

Alternative Line/Total Points

@6/5 - 2 Units

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Mark Nawaqanitawase

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Mark Nawaqanitawase

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