The Parramatta Eels have recorded a tough come from behind victory on Easter Monday over the Wests Tigers at Homebush, breaking a month-long losing streak.
Parramatta Eels 26
Wests Tigers 22
In what could be Mitchell Moses final game in a Wests Tigers jersey, he takes on his reported future club the Parramatta Eels with both sides needing to build form. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 4pm (AEST).
Moses is undoubtedly the key point coming into this match, with the star half asking for a release about a fortnight ago. It was blocked by the Tigers, but reports have been getting stronger he will be at Parramatta by the end of the season.
It’s almost certain it’s where he will play next season and the switch to the blue and gold could happen as early as this week.
The biggest thing for this game will be for both teams to switch off from all of that and everything in the media, to just get on with what they do best – playing footy.
Unfortunately, neither side has been doing it at their best so far this season and it means a lot is riding on the result of this game, with both sides well behind the eight ball.
For Parramatta, it’s getting to the point where they surely can’t play much worse. Their attack has been ordinary to say the least and with a loss to the defensively terrible New Zealand Warriors last week where they only scored two tries, there are urgent changes needed for Brad Arthur’s men.
Even with Corey Norman back from injury they have looked clueless and a four-game losing streak shows how bad things are getting – to put it simply, they haven’t been competitive since a Round 2 win against the St George Illawarra Dragons.
It leaves them 13th on the table and in desperate need of a victory. Tepai Moeroa is back into the side as well, with Frank Pritchard missing.
The Tigers, on the other hand weren’t going much better only having a single victory until last week when they pulled off a massive upset in Townsville over the North Queensland Cowboys.
Their second win of the season has moved them to 14th on the ladder, just a spot behind the Eels but they still rely on Mitchell Moses and James Tedesco far too much for anything to go their way, and if Moses does happen to leave it’s only going to get worse.
What Tigers’ supporters can hang their hat on is new coach Ivan Cleary. It was a changed attitude in defence from the club last week with Cleary in his first match and if that continues, they will start winning matches given the point-scoring potential.
Prediction
The Tigers picked up a win last week and with the Eels playing quite poorly, they should do the same on Easter Monday. Expect James Tedesco to have a field day and the Eels defence to be powerless to stop him.
Tigers by 12.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this contest from 4pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add your own comments throughout the course of the coverage.
davo
Guest
Another Cummins game - what did you expect??
TigerMike
Guest
The big four losers again and again Can't blame the coach anymore So thanks your commentary from what I heard is Woods drops his ball.. Teddy misses tackles Moses Jesus although he scores he still Knocks on, can't kick much or tackle most times sooo let em all go as long as they go without payment right? No more overs whatever their contracts say if the tigers need help In that Dept I'll be on touch
Roberto
Guest
Called it...Eels by 4 Could be the win they need to turn around their season.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me this evening for The Roar's live coverage of the 2017 NRL Season as the Parramatta Eels closed out the Easter weekend with a win over the Wests Tigers. Hopefully you enjoyed the coverage. It's been a fantastic weekend of league and it's been a pleasure to be behind the keyboard for five of them. We will have our talking points for the round up in about quarter of an hour, and a match report hopefully not far behind that. Be sure to join us next weekend for more NRL action. Bye for now.
Matt
Guest
Is Aaron Woods the most overrated Captain? Needs less time on tv shows and more time spent understanding his role and responsibility.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Match Statistics Tries: Eels (5), Tigers (4) Conversions: Eels (3/5), Tigers (3/4) Possession: Eels (49%), Tigers (51%) Completions: Eels (23/31), Tigers (28/36) All runs: Eels (177), Tigers (174) All run metres: Eels (1672), Tigers (1790) Line breaks: Eels (5), Tigers (4) Offloads: Eels (9), Tigers (13) Tackles: Eels (316), Tigers (295) Missed tackles: Eels (38), Tigers (23) Penalties: Eels (3), Tigers (4) Errors: Eels (12), Tigers (12) Score Parramatta Eels 26 Wests Tigers 22
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the game Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
You're not wrong mate. No worries! Thanks for reading.
Tom
Guest
Thats the biggest referee influenced turn of a game i've ever seen. Twice in that second half the Eels should have had a player sent off for a professional foul after a break slowing the play the ball down. Then EVERY call goes there way for the rest of the game. Now you're even allowed to tackle around the neck. What a terrible state the game is in.
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME The Eels bring it up to halfway in three through Mannah before Alvaro has the next. Brown with a run now and he must have wasted 15 seconds playing the ball there before a kick goes over the sideline on the last. The Tigers off the mark trying to set a scrum and the siren goes before they can pack it down. The Eels finally break their losing streak. Parramatta Eels 26 Wests Tigers 22
Johnybulldog
Guest
Rats....bloody hard to get a perfect round,cheers for the call Scotty.
Scott Pryde
Expert
79' - Nofoalluma with a strong run now and then it's Woods over halfway before a ball from Taylor to Littlejohn sees him tackled 40 out. They come left now and Suli beats a few. Last play and Moses kicks across the field, but it's way too big and the Eels will have seven tackles as Jennings takes it ingoal.. 80 seconds to go. Idris has done a hamstring as well. Eels 26 Tigers 22
Scott Pryde
Expert
78' - The Eels are up to halfway in two before Mannah brings it inside 40. They come left and Norman turns a ball underneath for Norman who then links with Pritchard. That'ss four and Norman kicks early finding the grass with Tedesco beating a few on the way back. Eels 26 Tigers 22
Scott Pryde
Expert
77' - The Tigers have 90 metres to go here and they bring it away from the scrum through Naiqama. Tedesco with the next before Suli comes through the middle for a decent carry. Right from Moses to Idris and then on for Nofoaluma who goes over halfway, then runs backwards behind halfway. Sue with the next and they are 40 out so Moses goes inside to Tedesco who is smoked by Terepo. Looked high. Looked very high. Tedesco hasn't moved and it will be a handover. Might have been an arm a little high, but it doesn't look as bad on replay. Eels 26 Tigers 22
Scott Pryde
Expert
76' - The Eels work it down the right hand side of the park, then it's Brown back to the middle on the third. Mannah back on the park and he heads to halfway before Takairangi takes a run to within 40. Norman with a bomb on the last and it's allowed to bounce - straight over the sideline. Eels 26 Tigers 22
Scott Pryde
Expert
74' - The Tigers bring it left from the scrum for Idris and he is almost dragged over the sideline after fending off one. Aloiai and Seumanufagai with the next couple to bring them to halfway before Woods offloads to Chee-Kam and he is pulled to ground. Liddle runs from dummy half now and surely they were offside. No call coming though and as they try to keep it alive on the last, an offload from Littlejohn to Moses goes to ground. Moses up with a bit of a limp as well. Eels 26 Tigers 22
Scott Pryde
Expert
74' - The Tigers will need some Tedesco magic, but they have the complete opposite. Nofoaluma has knocked it on in a tackle. Hang on. Whistle has gone and it looks like it'll be called a knock on against the Eels. Not sure how or why, but that's the call. Looked like Noforaluma lost it for mine. Eels 26 Tigers 22
Scott Pryde
Expert
72' - Pressure on the Tigers defence this set then. Vave the man to bring it back from the kick-off before Ma'u runs, offloads and it's Pritchard away. They come over halfway on the next, spreading left with Vave taking a second run. Matagi with the next and he is held 30 out. Brown now with a spirited carry and on the last it;s Norman grubbering, getting a deflection into the path of Gutherson and he came within about a metre of wrapping the game up. It's all happening for the blue and gold now. Eels 26 Tigers 22
Scott Pryde
Expert
CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL by CLINT GUTHERSON Eels 26 Tigers 22
Scott Pryde
Expert
Absolutely.