It's only round six but this Easter Monday duel should be a great test for both teams for different reasons.
The Eels went to Canberra intending to make a statement last week, only to be sent home with plenty to think about after a 19-0 shutout.
Teams make it a goal every year to avoid two losses on the trot and that's the challenge facing Parra this week.
The Tigers got the better of the Broncos last week in a gutsy come-from-behind win and have shown they're a team that usually won't beat itself - not withstanding their patchy effort in round three against the Bulldogs.
This game could go either way.
Match: Eels v Wests Tigers
Round 6 -
home Team
Eels
5th Position
away Team
Wests Tigers
9th Position
Venue: CommBank Stadium, Sydney
The Rundown
Team news
Eels: Josh Hoffman replaces Blake Ferguson (ribs) on the wing, and Peni Terepo starts with Tepai Moeroa moving back to the bench, Kane Evans also dropped out of the 19-man squad on game day. Two new faces on the interchange bench for Brad Arthur with 19-year-old Oregon Kaufusi and 21-year-old Ray Stone coming in for Kane Evans and David Gower who have been named as reserves. Stone made one NRL appearance in 2018 and Kaufusi has played just four games. David Gower and Greg Leleisuiao were the two players left out on the eve of the match.
Wests Tigers: Not surprisingly, Michael Maguire has kept last week's winning team intact. The fifth-placed Tigers are chasing their fourth win. Elijah Taylor and David Nofoaluma were both omitted 24 hours out from game time, with Paul Momirovski and Chris McQueen dropping out on game day.
Match: Eels v Wests Tigers
Round 6 -
home Team
Eels
away Team
Wests Tigers
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Eels is number 1 Clinton GuthersonFullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Moses Mbye
-
Winger for Eels is number 2 Maika SivoWinger for Wests Tigers is number 2 Mahe Fonua
-
Centre for Eels is number 3 Michael JenningsCentre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Robert Jennings
-
Centre for Eels is number 4 Brad TakairangiCentre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Esan Marsters
-
Winger for Eels is number 20 Josh HoffmanWinger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Corey Thompson
-
Five-Eighth for Eels is number 6 Jaeman SalmonFive-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Josh Reynolds
-
Halfback for Eels is number 7 Mitchell MosesHalfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Luke Brooks
Forwards
-
Prop for Eels is number 8 Daniel AlvaroProp for Wests Tigers is number 8 Russell Packer
-
Hooker for Eels is number 9 Reed MahoneyHooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Robbie Farah
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Prop for Eels is number 10 Junior PauloProp for Wests Tigers is number 10 Alex Twal
-
2nd Row for Eels is number 11 Shaun Lane2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Ryan Matterson
-
2nd Row for Eels is number 12 Marata Niukore2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Luke Garner
-
Lock for Eels is number 14 Peni TerepoLock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Josh Aloiai
Interchange
-
Interchange for Eels is number 13 Tepai MoeroaInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Ben Matulino
-
Interchange for Eels is number 15 Tim MannahInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Thomas Mikaele
-
Interchange for Eels is number 16 Oregon KaufusiInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Matthew Eisenhuth
-
Interchange for Eels is number 17 Ray StoneInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Michael Chee Kam
Match Officials
- Referee: Gerard Sutton
- Referee: Chris Butler
- Touch Judge: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
- Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
- Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein
Last updated:
Key match-up
There's nothing Robbie Farah loves more than a chance to take on a young up-and-comer and that's what he's got on Sunday against promising hooker Reed Mahoney. The Eels need their rookie rake to hold his own against Farah.
For the Eels to win
Last year a loss like they had to Canberra might've left the Eels feeling sorry for themselves, but you get the feeling they'll be eager to get straight back on the horse. They need to stay pro-active in attack to keep the Tigers guessing defensively - something they didn't do well against the Raiders.
For the Tigers to win
They've proved they can keep teams to low scores and they play as a team, but the Tigers need to keep looking for news ways to score or at least develop their existing offensive system if they really want to be a threat in September.
Brett Kimmorley says
Parramatta weren’t great against the Raiders. Blake Ferguson was nullified to a large part by Canberra. They need a recovery week more than working on a lot of things. The Tigers have been scrapping really well. The thing I’m most looking forward to on Monday is the new Bankwest Stadium. With a sellout crowd it will be amazing. Eels by 4
Eels Stat Attack
Parra completed just 56% (19/34) in the 19-0 loss to the Raiders. They missed 52 tackles and had 18 errors. After five rounds Clint Gutherson leads the NRL in line break assists (6).
Tigers Stat Attack
The Tigers boast the third-best defensive record in the competition, conceding 59 points in five games. They lead the NRL in decoy runs (269) and all runs (957) and are also first in receipts (2,161).
And another thing ...
It might not rank up with Darren Albert's try to win the 1997 grand final, but Michael Chee-Kam etched his name into West Tigers folklore with his improbable match-winning try at the death against Brisbane last week. Extra time seemed a certainty before Chee-Kam had the presence of mind to see no-one was set for a field goal and decided to head towards the try-line. He caught the Broncos off guard and crashed over for a try that will be remembered years from now.
