The Wests Tigers have overcome the toughest early-season draw in the competition to be in the NRL’s top four after the first month – something they haven’t accomplished since April 2014.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Wests Tigers 30
Parramatta Eels 20
In what is fast becoming a traditional Easter Monday clash, the Parramatta Eels will take on the defensively strong Wests Tigers. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 4pm (AEST).
For a team who were supposed to be among the competition’s premiership contenders, the Eels have been woeful.
They have lost three straight to start the season, and it’s gradually gone from bad to worse for the blue and gold, who have scored just one try in their last 160 minutes of football, which included a 54-0 thumping at the hands of the Sea Eagles in Round 1.
While that was bad, squandering a lead against Penrith and being beaten by an equally poor Cronulla Sharks outfit last week isn’t much better and Brad Arthur has a lot of work to do.
Now, without Jarryd Hayne, they have made a slew of changes. Will Smith takes over at fullback, with Bevan French and Clint Gutherson still out, and his role is key if the Eels are to succeed.
On paper, they are strong enough to turn things around and may have no better opportunity than this week against a Tigers outfit who lost to the Broncos in golden point last week.
They beat the Melbourne Storm and Sydney Roosters on the back of their defence to sit at the right end of the ladder after three rounds, but the attack for Ivan Cleary’s side still leaves a lot to be desired.
Luke Brooks and Benji Marshall have started the season strongly, but there is a chance the latter may be out this week with an ankle injury. Given the amount of control Marshall has had over the side, it would be a killer blow if he was out.
Despite that, it’s not the halves winning them games. The forwards have been superb and held their own against two premiership contending packs to start the season.
Part of you still expects the Tigers to come crashing back down to Earth. They were expected to be at the bottom of the ladder, but are currently riding a wave and will be a huge challenge for Parra.
Prediction
The Eels have to bounce back at some point – the law of averages says they must – and the Tigers’ attack hasn’t been good enough, despite their strong defence.
It’ll be low-scoring, but the blue and gold will finally get on the board.
Eels by 2.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the NRL from 4pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Cheers Pedro!
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
Jeez - some people are never happy are they - be thankful that you have 3 wins on the board
Pedro the Maroon
Guest
Thanks for a huge (long) weekend of commentary. You've done well to keep on top of everything.
KenoathCarnt
Guest
LOL!
jamesb
Guest
NRL ladder with Wests Tigers and teams with ex- Tigers players Wests Tigers 6 Roosters 4 ( Tedasco) Bulldogs 2 (Woods) Parramatta 0 (Moses) Interesting.....
Scott Pryde
Expert
Full match report will be up soon. Thanks for joining me this evening on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2018 NRL season as the Wests Tigers got the better of the Parramatta Eels. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. That's the end of Round 4 and so my talking points for the weekend are up on site. Be sure to check them out. I'll be back on Wednesday night with the Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games from 7pm (AEST) and more rugby league next week. Be sure to check in for team list Tuesday at 3:30pm (AEST) tomorrow afternoon. Bye for now.
Sean
Guest
Another good win. However Liddle needs to play 80 minutes be cause at the moment dummy half is a concern.
Sean
Guest
I'm dissapointed the tigers let in 20 honestly. Need to remember its a 80 minute game.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the match Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME Hoffman away from the scrum for Parramatta, then Michael Jennings tramples Luke Brooks before being pulled to ground. Tim Mannah the next, then it's Moses left to Norman who is over halfway but pulled to ground.Alvaro an offload now before they spread left from Terepo to Jennings and then it's brother George Jennings who is tackled. He will get the play the ball in and on the last play of the game it's Moses to Norman who is tackled, but he is held and that'll do it. The Tigers stumble in the final 20, but after a dominant first hour, they sit equal third with Penrith winning three of their first four at the end of the first month of footy. The Eels - another shocking performance and they are zero for four needing a major spark from somewhere. Tigers 30 Eels 20
Scott Pryde
Expert
79' - 65 seconds and the Eels need two tries so it's all over here. Tigers 30 Eels 20
Scott Pryde
Expert
79' - The Tigers back up to halfway, then it's Lawrence before Marshall rolls it over halfway. Tigers 30 Eels 20
Scott Pryde
Expert
78' - Has that defensive set taken a bit out of the Eels? They take four plays to get back over halfway and it looks like Auva'a has done a leg injury. Parramatta push right now and Michael Jennings drops it before Packer gets involved with him in a bit of a blue. That should do it here. Tigers 30 Eels 20
Scott Pryde
Expert
77' - The Tigers struggling for ground here. Naiqama a run, then it's Packer and they are only over the 30 on the fourth. Matulino up the middle for another ten or so metres and on the last it's Brooks kicking low down the middle with Smith asking Jennings to bring it back. Tigers 30 Eels 20
Scott Pryde
Expert
76' - Tim Mannah comes charging back, then it's Edwards and Terepo and they are almost at halfway in three. Over halfway goes Smith now, before they spread left from Norman to Moses and a long ball finds George Jennings who offloads to Michael then another offload for Moses and Norman who is eventually tackled 25 out. On the last, Moses fires the bomb and there's blockers everywhere as Lolohea takes it. Tigers 30 Eels 20
Scott Pryde
Expert
CONVERSION MISSED by MITCHELL MOSES 4:46 left. Tigers 30 Eels 20
Sean
Guest
Not with the 2nd half from the tigers. Fundamental mistakes.
Scott Pryde
Expert
75' - TRY EELS, KIRISOME AUVA'A The Eels need to score quick smart here. Messy on the first, then it's Mannah settling things down up the middle. Now they spread left from Terepo to Moses and then Auva'a who straightens, goes all the way to the line, but it looks like Thompson might have kept the ball off the turf. It's a try on ground from Gavin Badger. He was tackled about ten metres short of the line, but somehow took the defence with him. Touch and go here, but it's been called a try on ground. Can't overrule this. All of a sudden, this game is alive. Tigers 30 Eels 20
Cadfael
Roar Guru
In theory, if you can't see it, you can't award it.
AFL Man
Guest
Corey Norman playing today ?