NRL Round 26 Preview and Prediction - Wests Tigers v New Zealand Warriors @ Leichhardt Oval

Wests Tigers (15th) v New Zealand Warriors (14th) @ Leichhardt Oval
 
Preview - The regular season is rounded off at Leichhardt Oval with the Tigers and Warriors clashing, with nothing other than pride at stake for two teams that have long since been out of finals’ contention. The Tigers, once again, showed some grit last week, before the Cowboys pulled off some big plays late at Campbelltown, to condemn the Tigers to their 17th defeat of a long season. The Warriors finally showed some steel and competitiveness, but blew a game they led by 7 points, with 4 minutes to go, with the Sea Eagles winning 22-21 in Golden Point. Both these sides are on the worst streak in the NRL, having not made the finals since 2011. 

History - This is the first time these sides have clashed this season however the Tigers won both classes in 2016. Both were high scoring affrays with the Tigers winning 34-26 at Campbelltown and 36-24 at Mount Smart Stadium. 
 
Wests Tigers’ Scouting Report - The Tigers get a big boost with Luke Brooks  back after missing the Cowboys’ loss with a hamstring injury. Both Michael Chee Kam and Matt McIlwrick were charged by the Match Review Committee and have taken early pleas which have ended their season.  Kevin Naiqama and Elijah Taylor have both been named after missing Round 25 due to injury. Interestingly, Benji Marshall’s younger brother Jeremy Marshall-King could make his First Grade debut from an extended bench.
 
New Zealand Warriors’ Scouting Report - The Warriors have named an unchanged line-up from the one that went down in Golden Point last week. This will be Kieran Foran’s last game for the Club in what has been a mixed season for the experienced five eight. 
 
 Verdict - Tigers by 6-14 in a high scoring game

What a whacky game to finish the season here on a Sunday night, between two teams with absolutely nothing to play for. Really, anything could happen in this game, with a high scoring result probably the only certainty. To be fair to the Tigers, they have been playing with a lot more grit and resolve than the Warriors, so I expect them to win this game at Leichhardt, with the incentive being getting away from 15th spot on the ladder.