NRL Round 7 Preview - Tigers v Knights @ Tamworth

Wests Tigers v Newcastle Knights @ Tamworth
 
Preview - The highflying Tigers will be looking for a 6th win from 7 starts when they take a home game to Tamworth on Saturday against the Newcastle Knights. The Tigers destroyed the Sea Eagles on their own patch, winning 38-12 at Lottoland, which was their first victory at the ground since 2003. The Tigers have stunned everyone in Rugby League this year by winning 5 of their opening 6 games, and conceding just 67 points, to have clearly the best defence in the NRL. The Knights suffered a heavy loss last week 40-14 at the hands of the defending premiers as they continued their poor form away from home this season. 
 
Wests Tigers’ Scouting Report - The Tigers have lost a couple of senior players with both Chris Lawrence and Josh Reynolds missing through injury. The Tigers get back Elijah Taylor who will further tighten up the defence in the middle of the field while Pita Godinet replaces Reynolds as the back-up hooker on the bench. Jacob Liddle and Luke Brooks killed Manly with their speed last week, and the Knights’ fragile defence could struggle to control the pair. 
 
Newcastle Knights’ Scouting Report - Nathan Brown has made a change in the halves with young five-eighth Brock Lamb dropped for Jack Cogger. Mitch Barnett's return from suspension pushes Herman Ese'ese to prop and Daniel Saifiti to the reserves.
 
Verdict  - Tigers by 6-14

The Tigers are flying at the moment and I think they can get the job done here against a Knights’ side that whilst talented are struggling for resilience and consistency on the road. The Tigers looked to take their game to another level last week, with some attacking combinations starting to take shape, including Luke Brooks in career best form. Wary of the Knights’ bouncing back off a heavy loss, however I just don’t trust their defensive combinations at the moment against a side that is unlikely to let them score more than 3 tries. Manly did gift wrap lots of things for the Tigers, so I don’t expect them to have it all their own way, but I do expect them to make it 6 from 7 and remain firmly entrenched in the Top 4.