Parramatta will be looking to make amends for their shock Lottoland loss and claim derby bragging rights against a Wests Tigers side full of confidence after exploding back into form with a 48-0 romp over Brisbane.
It was just the second defeat of the season for the Eels whose grip on top spot was loosened by a desperate Manly side that rattled Parramatta's playmakers and found a way repeatedly through the NRL's No.1 defence.
Parramatta's failure to make the out-on-their feet Sea Eagles pay in the second half allowed arch-rivals Penrith to leap-frog them into the premiership lead.
The return of Benji Marshall in the No.7 jumper ignited a Wests Tigers attack that had failed to fire in its previous two outings, both losses.
Match: Eels v Wests Tigers
Round 11 -
home Team
Eels
3rd Position
away Team
Wests Tigers
9th Position
Venue: CommBank Stadium, Sydney
The Rundown
Team news
Eels: The Eels are 1-17. Halfback Mitch Moses will return to face his former club. The halfback needed to get through the captain's run on Wednesday to be officially cleared to play after missing the past three matches with a calf injury.
Arthur said Moses wasn't hindered by the complaint when he ran six kilometres at training earlier this week.
Ryan Matterson returns from a thumb fracture in time for his highly-anticipated showdown against his old team. Blake Ferguson (knee), Maika Sivo (knee) and Nathan Brown (hip) will all play.
The Eels have won five of their past six games against the Tigers.
Reserve forward Daniel Alvaro and halfback Jai Field were omitted on Wednesday night while George Jennings and David Gower dropped out an hour before kick-off.
Matterson in the middle as fiery battle of the west looms
Wests Tigers: A late change to Michael McGuire's pack with Sam McIntyre coming into the starting side and Michael Chee-Kam switching to the bench. Chris McQueen is out and his place on the bench is taken by Shawn Blore, who will make his NRL debut.
Luke Garner is out due to a head knock while interchange prop Thomas Mikaele (knee) was ruled out 24 hours from kick-off with reserve forward Elijah Taylor also dropping out of the squad.
Oliver Clark has been elevated to the interchange to replace Mikaele. The Tigers have won only three of nine games at Bankwest Stadium.
Match: Eels v Wests Tigers
Round 11 -
home Team
Eels
away Team
Wests Tigers
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Eels is number 1 Clinton GuthersonFullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Adam Doueihi
-
Winger for Eels is number 2 Maika SivoWinger for Wests Tigers is number 2 David Nofoaluma
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Centre for Eels is number 3 Michael JenningsCentre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Chris Lawrence
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Centre for Eels is number 4 Waqa BlakeCentre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Moses Mbye
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Winger for Eels is number 5 Blake FergusonWinger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Tommy Talau
-
Five-Eighth for Eels is number 6 Dylan BrownFive-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Billy Walters
-
Halfback for Eels is number 7 Mitchell MosesHalfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Benji Marshall
Forwards
-
Prop for Eels is number 8 Reagan Campbell-GillardProp for Wests Tigers is number 8 Josh Aloiai
-
Hooker for Eels is number 9 Reed MahoneyHooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Harry Grant
-
Prop for Eels is number 10 Junior PauloProp for Wests Tigers is number 10 Russell Packer
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2nd Row for Eels is number 11 Shaun Lane2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Luciano Leilua
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2nd Row for Eels is number 12 Ryan Matterson2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 14 Sam McIntyre
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Lock for Eels is number 13 Nathan BrownLock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Matthew Eisenhuth
Interchange
-
Interchange for Eels is number 14 Andrew DaveyInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 11 Michael Chee Kam
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Interchange for Eels is number 15 Marata NiukoreInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Luke Brooks
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Interchange for Eels is number 16 Stefano UtoikamanuInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 19 Oliver Clark
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Interchange for Eels is number 17 Brad TakairangiInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 20 Shawn Blore
Match Officials
- Referee: Gerard Sutton
- Touch Judge: Chris Butler
- Touch Judge: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
- Senior Review Official: Jared Maxwell
Last updated:
Key match-up
Reed Mahoney v Harry Grant: The Eels rake, one of the NRL's best defensive hookers, faces a mighty challenge containing one of 2020's biggest revelations. Grant has played so well since his loan swap from Melbourne was approved that he has forced his way into Maroons Origin discussions.
Mahoney tallied an incredible 63 tackles against Manly but will have to put in an equally sterling defensive shift if Parramatta are to nullify the dynamic Wests Tigers dummy-half's impact.
Stat Attack
Wests Tigers will pit one of the NRL's leading attacks - first in tackle busts, second in points and tries, third in offloads and try assists and fourth in line breaks - against a top-ranked Eels defence (11.8 points per game) looking to regain its mojo after coughing up 22 points to a battered and under-manned Sea Eagles outfit.
