Struggling Tigers confirm mass changes for round four

Wests Tigers have shuffled their spine in a bid for a first win of 2023, while Nicho Hynes, Josh Papali'i and Ryan Matterson prepare to take their season's bow.

NICHO HYNES.
NICHO HYNES. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

The Wests Tigers have hit the panic button, overhauling their spine in a bid to bring their NRL losing streak to a halt.

For Friday night's game against Melbourne, Adam Doueihi will shift from five-eighth to fullback, Brandon Wakeham from the bench to five-eighth and Daine Laurie from the casualty ward to the bench as the Tigers look to kickstart their faltering attack and prevent a 0-4 start to 2023.

Premiership-winner Charlie Staines moves to the wing to accommodate Doueihi at fullback, pushing David Nofoaluma to the reserves.

The Tigers had scored only five tries in 210 minutes of football this season before making similar changes mid-game against Canterbury on Sunday.

With the spine that has been named for this week - albeit with Brooks and Wakeham on opposite edges - they scored three tries in the last half-an-hour against the Bulldogs.

After the 26-22 defeat, coach Tim Sheens said he would not rule out putting the changes into practice again in round four. He confirmed as much with his team sheet on Tuesday afternoon.

Doueihi's move to fullback comes after the Tigers released Jackson Hastings in the off-season to clear the way for the Lebanon international and Luke Brooks to play together in the halves.

The Tigers also welcome back suspended second-rower Isaiah Papali'i, who joins fellow recruit John Bateman in the second row.

The Tigers' changes coincide with the return of Storm five-eighth Cameron Munster, who will hope to inspire some form in his own struggling side.

Munster has not played since round one when he suffered a finger injury mid-game. Without him, the Storm have lost to Canterbury and Gold Coast - neither of whom played finals last year.

Elsewhere, Cronulla halfback and reigning Dally M medallist Nicho Hynes returns from a calf injury to play his first game of the year in Sunday's local derby against St George Illawarra.

Braydon Trindall, who had deputised admirably in Hynes' absence, drops back to the bench.

Josh Papali'i also missed the first three weeks of the season with a calf complaint but takes his place in a Canberra side missing Danny Levi (jaw) and Nick Cotric (hamstring) for Sunday's clash with Newcastle.

The emaciated Knights welcome Jayden Brailey and Jack Johns back from injury, while Tyson Frizell has been named as a reserve as he continues his comeback from an ankle complaint.

Newcastle's injury woes have not saved Dominic Young, with the winger dropped in favour of Greg Marzhew following a lacklustre start to the season.

Parramatta's Ryan Matterson returns from the well-documented three-match suspension he chose over a $4000 fine after being charged for a hit in last year's grand-final loss.

Facing the Panthers on Thursday in a grand-final rematch, the Eels will hope Matterson can add some spark to a second row left understrength by injury and off-season departures.

"Matto brings a lot of experience, he'll be a big lift to the team," coach Brad Arthur said.

"With that experience, he'll bring that calmness in our defence. We've probably been lacking a little bit of pressure defensively from our edges."