Sydney Fleet v Western Sydney Rams - Match Preview

Venue & time

North Sydney Oval, Saturday September 15. 3pm (AEST).

Head to head

Debut clash.

Team changes

The Fleet have lost lock Will Caldwell who has been handed a one-match suspension for striking in last week's loss to the Vikings. Matt Whittleson comes into the second row. Gavin DeBartolo returns for Arthur Little after recovering from a hamstring strain, Junior Puroku starts ahead of Anton La Vin on the wing, while hooker Sam Zlatevski makes his debut in the 22-man squad.

Rams blockbusting flanker Ben Coridas is out with a season-ending knee injury suffered in last week's win over the Aces. Hugh Perrett comes into the XV. Winger Fa’atonu Fili is also in doubt with hamstring complaint. Luke Johnson will start should the dynamic winger be ruled out. Chris Siale is still out while Benn Robinson and flanker Gareth Palamo are out for the season. Sam Wykes and Marty Wilson earn bench spots

Form

After working the numbers to defeat Perth at home three weeks ago, the Fleet have slumped to two successive defeats to the Rebels and Vikings respectively. They were right in the match against Melbourne but it is fair to say they were thumped by a rampant Canberra outfit last start.

The young Rams side have impressed everyone to jump to the top of the table with four wins on the trot. They are in-form and confident and show they can cut teams to ribbons in attack and more than hold their own in the set pieces and defence.

Who's hot

Fleet second-rower Dean Mumm continues to progress his game and showed last week his bullocking running style is an asset to the attack. Morgan Turinui has stepped up in recent weeks while DeBartolo will be hoping to pick up his blistering form after a week out with a hammy complaint.

Rams fullback Lachlan Turner confirmed his star status with a hat-trick of tries last start while Kurtley Beale continues to terrorise opposition defences with a growing arsenal of attacking options. Big No.8 Tom Egan is also in form as was Ben Coridas, who is unfortunately sidelined for the rest of the campaign.

Teams

Sydney Fleet

1. Jeremy Tilse,
2. Atonio Halangahu,
3. Dayna Edwards,
4. Matt Whittleson,
5. Adam Byrnes,
6. Dean Mumm,
7. Pat McCutcheon,
8. Tim Davidson [c],

9. Nathan Sievert,
10. Daniel Halangahu,
11. Junior Puroku,
12. Tom Azar,
13. Morgan Turinui,
14. Alfi Mafi,
15. Gavin DeBartolo.

16. Sam Zlatevski,
17. Laurie Weeks,
18. Lachlan McCutcheon,
19. Chris Houston,
20. Danny Kroll,
21. Anton La Vin,
22. Arthur Little.

Western Sydney Rams

1. Ben Alexander,
2. Tatafu Polota-Nau (vc),
3. Aaron Broughton-Rouse,
4. Ben Hand (c),
5. Van Humphries,
6. Hugh Perrett,
7. Wil Brame,
8. Tom Egan,

9. Josh Holmes,
10. Kurtley Beale,
11. Fa'atonu Fili,
12. Lachlan Mitchell,
13. Rory Sidey,
14. Ben Martin,
15. Lachie Turner (vc).

16. Ben Roberts,
17. James Lakepa,
18. Sam Wykes,
19.Marty Wilson,
20. Dave Rimmer,
21. Mark Howell,
22. Luke Johnson.