Wests Tigers recorded a convincing 52-34 win over Parramatta Eels at Parramatta Stadium tonight in round 22 of the Holden Cup.
Exciting full back Kurtis Rowe scored three tries and half-back Luke Brooks two in the dominant win which keeps Wests Tigers in sixth place on 28 points.
The win moves Wests Tigers to within one point of fourth placed Canterbury and fifth placed Warriors subject to weekend results.
Parramatta opened the scoring in the third minute when prop Pauli Pauli caught a spilt crossfield kick by Wests Tigers to score a soft try. Full-back Mitchell Brasington failed to convert the try for a 4-0 lead.
Wests Tigers levelled at 4-all in the seventh minute when half-back Luke Brooks took the line on and then produced a wonderful flick pass inside for hooker Manaia Cherrington to score next to the posts. Centre Manaia Rudolph converted for a 6-4 lead to Wests Tigers.
The Eels regained the lead in the 11th minute when hooker Kaysa Pritchard crashed out wide. Brasington converted the try to give Parramatta a 10-6 lead.
Wests Tigers full-back Kurtis Rowe levelled the scores in the 20th minute when he chimed into a backline play to slice past two defenders to score 10 metres in from the sideline. Rudolph failed to convert the try for a 10-all scoreline.
Parramatta went to a 14-10 lead in the 28th minute when centre Connor Broadhurst scored out wide. Brasington converted the try to give the Eels a 16-10 lead.
Wests Tigers got back to 16-14 in the 36th minute when forward Andrew Kazzi swooped on a grubber kick to score behind the posts. Rudolph converted for a 16-all scoreline.
Two minutes later, Wests Tigers went to a 20-16 lead when winger Leva Li finished off a backline play to score in the left corner. Rudolph converted for a 22-16 lead. The score remained that way until half-time.
2nd Half
A chip kick and regather by five-eighth Mitchell Moses saw Brooks back up on the inside to score next to the posts two minutes after half-time. Rudolph converted the try for a 28-16 lead.
A grubber kick by Moses saw the Eels spill the ball for forward Shane Lalogafau to pounce on the ball to score for a 32-16 lead. Rudolph converted the try for a 34-16 lead.
Rowe scored his second try in the 49th minute when he backed up a break by centre Nathan Milone to score next to the posts. Rudolph converted the try for a 40-16 lead.
Brooks scored his second try when he stripped the ball off Pauli in a one man tackle to race 45 metres to score behind the posts. Rudolph converted the try to give Wests Tigers a 46-16 lead after 57 minutes.
The Eels got back to 46-20 when forward TepaTepu-Smith pushed off three defenders to score under the posts from close range. Brasington converted for a 46-22 scoreline in favour of Wests Tigers.
Parramatta half-back Zach Dockar-Clay got the home side back to 46-26 when he scored next to the posts. Brasington converted for a 46-28 scoreline after 66 minutes.
Rowe grabbed his third try of the match when he crossed out wide for a 50-8 scoreline. Rudolph converted the try to give Wests Tigers a 52-28 lead after 72 minutes.
Parramatta scored a consolation try in the 78th minute when centre John Folau crossed over out wide. Brasington converted the try for the 52-34 scoreline at full-time.
Wests Tigers Coach Todd Payten would have been happy with the win but would be concerned with the amount of points the team let in late in the second half.
Wests Tigers team
1 Kurtis Rowe, 2 Delouise Hoeter, 3 Nathan Milone, 4 Manaia Rudolph, 5 Leva Li, 6 Mitchell Moses, 7 Luke Brooks 8 Andy Fiagatusa, 9 Manania Rudolph, 10 Nathan Brown 11 Kyle Lovett (c), 12 Jake Dooner, 13 Fosio Tatola; interchange 14 Dallas Graham, 15 Andrew Kazzi, 17 Matt Mulcahy, 19 Shane Lalogafau
Exciting full back Kurtis Rowe scored three tries and half-back Luke Brooks two in the dominant win which keeps Wests Tigers in sixth place on 28 points.
The win moves Wests Tigers to within one point of fourth placed Canterbury and fifth placed Warriors subject to weekend results.
Parramatta opened the scoring in the third minute when prop Pauli Pauli caught a spilt crossfield kick by Wests Tigers to score a soft try. Full-back Mitchell Brasington failed to convert the try for a 4-0 lead.
Wests Tigers levelled at 4-all in the seventh minute when half-back Luke Brooks took the line on and then produced a wonderful flick pass inside for hooker Manaia Cherrington to score next to the posts. Centre Manaia Rudolph converted for a 6-4 lead to Wests Tigers.
The Eels regained the lead in the 11th minute when hooker Kaysa Pritchard crashed out wide. Brasington converted the try to give Parramatta a 10-6 lead.
Wests Tigers full-back Kurtis Rowe levelled the scores in the 20th minute when he chimed into a backline play to slice past two defenders to score 10 metres in from the sideline. Rudolph failed to convert the try for a 10-all scoreline.
Parramatta went to a 14-10 lead in the 28th minute when centre Connor Broadhurst scored out wide. Brasington converted the try to give the Eels a 16-10 lead.
Wests Tigers got back to 16-14 in the 36th minute when forward Andrew Kazzi swooped on a grubber kick to score behind the posts. Rudolph converted for a 16-all scoreline.
Two minutes later, Wests Tigers went to a 20-16 lead when winger Leva Li finished off a backline play to score in the left corner. Rudolph converted for a 22-16 lead. The score remained that way until half-time.
2nd Half
A chip kick and regather by five-eighth Mitchell Moses saw Brooks back up on the inside to score next to the posts two minutes after half-time. Rudolph converted the try for a 28-16 lead.
A grubber kick by Moses saw the Eels spill the ball for forward Shane Lalogafau to pounce on the ball to score for a 32-16 lead. Rudolph converted the try for a 34-16 lead.
Rowe scored his second try in the 49th minute when he backed up a break by centre Nathan Milone to score next to the posts. Rudolph converted the try for a 40-16 lead.
Brooks scored his second try when he stripped the ball off Pauli in a one man tackle to race 45 metres to score behind the posts. Rudolph converted the try to give Wests Tigers a 46-16 lead after 57 minutes.
The Eels got back to 46-20 when forward TepaTepu-Smith pushed off three defenders to score under the posts from close range. Brasington converted for a 46-22 scoreline in favour of Wests Tigers.
Parramatta half-back Zach Dockar-Clay got the home side back to 46-26 when he scored next to the posts. Brasington converted for a 46-28 scoreline after 66 minutes.
Rowe grabbed his third try of the match when he crossed out wide for a 50-8 scoreline. Rudolph converted the try to give Wests Tigers a 52-28 lead after 72 minutes.
Parramatta scored a consolation try in the 78th minute when centre John Folau crossed over out wide. Brasington converted the try for the 52-34 scoreline at full-time.
Wests Tigers Coach Todd Payten would have been happy with the win but would be concerned with the amount of points the team let in late in the second half.
Wests Tigers team
1 Kurtis Rowe, 2 Delouise Hoeter, 3 Nathan Milone, 4 Manaia Rudolph, 5 Leva Li, 6 Mitchell Moses, 7 Luke Brooks 8 Andy Fiagatusa, 9 Manania Rudolph, 10 Nathan Brown 11 Kyle Lovett (c), 12 Jake Dooner, 13 Fosio Tatola; interchange 14 Dallas Graham, 15 Andrew Kazzi, 17 Matt Mulcahy, 19 Shane Lalogafau
