FULL-TIME: Eels 18 – Tigers 21
Great game between two exciting football sides in front of a 50,000-plus crowd – lived up to expectations! In the end Parra scored 4 tries to the Tigers’ 3, goalkicking proving the difference.
Two of those Tigers’ tries were from loose balls and intercepts, so the Eels will definitely look at this as one that got away. In the end they lacked a bit of composure.
Luke Brooks on the other hand showed great composure to snap the winning field-goal before a botched short kick-off led to the extra two points from Richards. It was a fast-paced game but I thought the Tigers’ forwards really stood up, Aaron Woods great as always but Bodene Thompson and Adam Blair also had top games.
The two revelations of 2014, the Parramatta Eels and the Wests Tigers, go head to head in what shapes up as one of the most exciting battles of the season. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 4:00pm (AEST).
Four wins, two losses apiece – that’s where the Eels and Tigers sit after six weeks of NRL action, surprising many NRL pundits.
But it’s not just the results that have surprised – it’s the way both clubs have gone about their business.
The Tigers lead the competition in points scored, a throwback to the halcyon days of 2005 when they lit up the NRL on their way to premiership glory.
Just three players remain from that grand final-winning side, including captain Robbie Farah who is arguably the form player of the NRL.
They’ll have to do it without him this week after he picked up an elbow injury against the Warriors. They’ll also again be without livewire fullback James Tedesco who continues his stint on the sidelines with an ankle injury.
It means rookie Luke Brooks, who has taken a backseat to Farah in the last couple of weeks, will really need to stand up and be counted, along with prop Aaron Woods whose work up front this season has him pushing his Origin claims.
They’ve been ably supported by an impactful bench, with Marty Taupau and James Gavet in particular wreaking havoc.
Meanwhile the Eels are playing with the kind of spirit that has been missing in their squad since their grand final run in 2009.
It was Jarryd Hayne leading the way back then and it’s Jarryd Hayne leading the way today, his work in both making tries and saving them has been exemplary so far this season.
Semi Radradra has been just about unstoppable on the left flank with 8 tries from 6 games, Chris Sandow has a spring back in his step, and new recruits Nathan Peats, Corey Norman and Manu Ma’u have breathed new life into the ailing club.
With so much form on display and an afternoon time slot, this one has the makings of an absolute belter.
I’m thinking the loss of Farah might prove the difference, so I’ll be tipping the home side. Eels by 8.
Which of these sides can skip out to their fifth win of the season?
Join us this afternoon at 4:00pm (AEST) for live score updates and debate on our live blog, and be sure to give us your opinion in the space below if you’re watching.
Matt
Guest
You have a crack at soccer here Cathar to go along with your hatred of ALF and Rugby????????
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Excuse me but soccer has a longer history in Oz than rugby league if you say 'league' has a 100 year history. The NSWRL was prior to the NRL just as the National Soccer League was prior to the A League, hence the NRL doesn't have too much of a longer history than A League, so please don't pull that one over us.
alex
Guest
Yea - thats what happens when you sell tickets for $7.50 each ($15 for adult and junior) I wish the AFL do the same, im sick of been charged $32 for general admission for AFL games. I realize they still got 80,000 at the MCG yesterday, but that doesn't help the battlers. It should be at least $20 flat for general admission of all AFL games.
Jimmy
Guest
What he really meant to say was the 5000 strong crowds that Adelaide achieved in the AFC Champions games!
striker
Guest
Muzz 6000 at Campbelltown last week for West Tigers game that has to be a typo too hahaha not even our code gets those numbers.
Muzz
Guest
20,000 for a finals game??? That has to be a typo : )
chris
Guest
Just wish NRL can bin Thursday and Monday night NRL and just have 1 Friday game and 1 Saturday game and have the rest on sunday afternoon.
striker
Guest
Cathar wanderers averaged 15000 this year there the facts,not all members turn to up to all games go ask them why the dont turn to every game we have 16500 members, a league is only 9 years old unlike 100 years league has,to average 13000 compared to rugby leagues which averaged 16000 last year we are very happy the way our game is going, two sellout 40000 derby games this year shows were doing fine as a young competition and will only get bigger.
Zee
Roar Guru
I am so sick to death of night football ... especially with such a busy uni/work schedule. I've been to all Souths home matches this season, but Its just getting boring. I want Sunday/Saturday arvo football to be more a concurrent thing. Listen to the people
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
I thought all Wanderers games are sell outs this season? Since when is a 12-15,000 a sell out at Parra Stadium? We'll see with interest the A league finals crowds. Did MVFC v SYD blockbuster really only get 20,000?
striker
Guest
Cathar I'm pretty sure the wanderers will have a sell out this weekend and Brisbane will get a crowd of 25k for the major semi, so our crowds are doing fine who is comparing it to the NRL. Anyway.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
I won't argue that but you can't win games throwing passes like Parra did. One intercept in a game is bad enough but two? Poor.
Muzz
Guest
What a cracking game of footy !!!!
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Where could 33,000 possibly fit into ANZ? https://twitter.com/DanielMilford83/status/458125296785321984/photo/1
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Fair enough, just giving it to that troll who seems to slink away.
AGO74
Guest
I love both league and soccer. I am happy when they both do well. I suspect most fans - especially in western sydney - are like that. But anyway....
andrew
Guest
I dont think it was a clear cut obstruction, mainly because of when the ball was released by Sandow and Brookes milked it a bit. The vdeo ref had to overrule the ref and therefore must of had no dought to reverse the on field decision. I can live with the call tonight, as long as the refs continue to call that an obstruction. Thats footy. Great game.
Fil
Guest
I don't think it was obstruction. The job of the decoy runner is to divert players away from the ball runner without obstructing defenders. In this case, luke brooks had committed to following tim mannah. Mannah jogged through the defensive line and brooks ran into him. It was a tiny bump and brooks played the hollywood. Cechin and atkins in charge today. Both useless
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Former Sri Lanka cricket international Russel Arnold at the footy with his son. Hey Stevo, no one cares? Really? https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BluSM0ACYAAs9Aw.jpg
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Where's Stevo, the "A League is taking over Western Sydney, no body cares for NRL anymore, the great myth" troll or the numbnut who says NRL is 80% boring? I am seeing great games and now the great crowds. The NRL is back baby. How's the 1/2 empty stadium A League finals going Stevo?