Wests Tigers officials will take the unusual step of asking fans to stand on the hill during their NRL Round 7 blockbuster against the Broncos on Saturday night. The move comes in response to the enormous groundswell of support for Benji Marshall‘s men, who will host the reigning premiers in front of an expected sell-out crowd at Campbelltown Stadium as they chase a fourth-straight win.
More than 15,000 fans turned out to see the Tigers thump Newcastle at the same ground last Sunday to jump into second on the ladder. And Wests Tigers chief executive Shaun Mielekamp says the club is planning to make space for close to 2000 extra supporters to pack into the stadium for Saturday night’s showdown against Michael Maguire’s under-strength Broncos.
The Wests Tigers will ask fans to stand on the hill on Saturday night so more fans can watch Benji Marshall’s (L) high-flying side take on the Broncos in Campbelltown. Pic: Getty
Mielekamp noted that many fans were sitting on the hill during the family-friendly Sunday afternoon timeslot against the Knights last weekend. But the club will encourage fans to stand during the Saturday night game against Brisbane, in a move designed to allow an extra 1300 fans to watch from the hill.
There will also be extra space for some 500 supporters on a section of the hill where the Channel Nine marquee is usually set up. The TV network is not broadcasting the Saturday night game so it presents the club with an opportunity to push the ground capacity to more than 17,000 against the Broncos.
“There was a lot of people seated on the hill (against Newcastle),” Tigers CEO Mielekamp told News Corp. “We will ask everyone to stand up, which is more appropriate on a Saturday night than on a Sunday afternoon for families.
“So we can maximise our opportunities on the hill, we will need people to stand as we can get as many people into the ground as we can for what will be a blockbuster match. It’s a little bit different (to the Newcastle game) but we will get a bigger crowd and are definitely expecting a sellout. Our aim is to get 17,000.”
In-form Tigers preparing to host under-strength Broncos
The Tigers will be confident of making it five wins from six games against a decimated Broncos side missing up to 10 players. Hooker Blake Mozer suffered a broken jaw in last week’s loss to the Cowboys to join a growing injury list that includes the likes of star fullback Reece Walsh (fractured eye socket) and veteran Ben Hunt (MCL). Rep forward Patrick Carrigan will also be missing after copping a two-game ban for a high shot on North Queensland’s Tom Chester, while skipper Adam Reynolds and Jordan Riki are both under injury clouds.
Broncos captain Adam Reynolds is confident of overcoming a groin injury to face the in-form Tigers in their NRL Round 7 showdown. Pic: Getty
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Reynolds withdrew from the Cowboys clash with a grade-two groin strain, but will put it through a test at training on Wednesday and is confident he’ll be right to return. While Riki was seen limping at training on Monday with a foot injury he reportedly picked up against the Cowboys and will also have to get through training this week to be given the green light to return.
Brisbane are also hopeful Cory Paix will be cleared by the NRL to face the Tigers, despite his head knock against the Cowboys being ruled a category one that normally comes with a mandatory 11-day stand down. Brisbane are aiming to have it downgraded to a category two after Paix passed his HIA last Friday night. The hooker will undergo an independent assessment before he is potentially cleared.