Wests Tigers Holden Cup side have gone down 48-16 to a strong Parramatta Eels outfit at ANZ Stadium today in their annual Easter Monday match.
Dealt a blow before kickoff with five-eighth Jai Doolan ruled out of the match, Wests Tigers trailled the Eels 18-6 at half-time, before suffering further blows in the second half Ryan Papenhuyzen and Corey Kurnoth were taken off with injuries.
After conceding the opening try of the game through Eels forward Ray Stone, Wests Tigers hit back through Liam Pakau to level the match at 6-6 with 20 minutes remaining in the half.
However, a second try to Stone as well as a sharp left edge move finished off by John Fonua restored the Eels' advantage to give Luke Burt's side a 12-point lead at the break.
Needing to score first in the second half to stay in touch with the Eels, it was the home side who extended their lead in the 46th minute when Greg Leleisiuao crossed under the posts.
Kamren Cryer's fourth conversion of the day gave the Eels a commanding 24-6 lead.
Oregon Kaufusi extended the Eels' lead out to 24 points in the 55th minute when he crashed through some flimsy goal-line defence to score the home side's fifth try of the afternoon.
The points would continue to flow for the home side as Dean Matterson crossed untouched in the 58th minute before Peter Pakoti crossed on debut to cut the score to 36-10.
Blake Higgins' sideline conversion saw the scoreboard read 36-12 after 65 minutes.
Parramatta's 30-point lead was restored with 10 minutes to go as Reed Mahoney burrowed his way over from close range, with Cryer's perfect day with the boot continuing for a 42-12 lead.
Connelly Lemuelu would cross late in the match to give Wests Tigers some respectability on the scoreboard, before Mahoney grabbed his second as the siren sounded to ensure the win.
Parramatta Eels 48 (Stone 2, Mahoney 2, Fonua, Leleisiuao, Kaufusi, Matterson tries; Cryer 8/8 goals) def. Wests Tigers 16 (Pakau, Pakoti, Lemuelu tries; Higgins 2/3 goals).
