Neds Match Preview: Round 20
Wests Tigers will look to end their 2020 season on a winning note when they take on the Parramatta Eels in their final home game of the year at Bankwest Stadium this Saturday night.
Despite a disappointing campaign that has left Michael Maguire's side outside the top eight, Wests Tigers will certainly head in to the contest determined to finish the year with a positive performance and sending departing Life Members Benji Marshall and Chris Lawrence out as winners in their final club game.
Both Marshall and Lawrence have been named to start in a new-look side for Saturday's game with Tommy Talau, Zane Musgrove and Luke Garner all returning to the run-on side. The trio take the place of Joey Leilua, Josh Aloiai and Sam McIntyre, while Michael Chee Kam and Shawn Blore also return on the bench for their first game in Wests Tigers colours in over a month.
Luke Brooks' return is key for Wests Tigers as he takes his spot in the number seven jersey once again following a suspension last weekend and will complete the club's regular 2020 spine of Adam Doueihi, Marshall, Brooks and Harry Grant.
NRL.com preview Eels clash
While Wests Tigers will head in to the contest playing for pride, Parramatta will head in to the contest knowing whether or not they need to win to secure a top-four finish — something the blue and gold have not managed since 2017.
Should Canberra beat Cronulla in the 5:30pm game on Saturday, Brad Arthur's side will need to win to preserve their spot in the top four and earn a crucial double chance in the finals series — meaning their clash against Wests Tigers is likely to be another high-octane and emotion-filled contest at Bankwest Stadium.
Interestingly, despite sitting in different positions on the ladder, Wests Tigers head in to the contest with a far better attacking record in 2020 than the Eels — having scored 52 more points across the year. However, it is on the defensive end that Parramatta have excelled with the fourth best defensive record of any team, while Wests Tigers currently rank 14th after a number of recent heavy defeats.
MATCH DETAILS
Date — Saturday, September 26, 2020
Time — 7:35pm AEST
Venue — Bankwest Stadium
TV, RADIO AND LIVE STREAM INFORMATION
TV — Live via FOX League (Ch.502)
Radio — AM 702 ABC Grandstand, AM 873 2GB
Live Stream — Foxtel Go, KAYO, NRL Digital Pass and Watch NRL (int.)
Match: Wests Tigers v Eels
Round 20 -
home Team
Wests Tigers
away Team
Eels
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Adam DoueihiFullback for Eels is number 1 Clinton Gutherson
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Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 David NofoalumaWinger for Eels is number 2 Maika Sivo
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Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Tommy TalauCentre for Eels is number 4 Waqa Blake
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Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Chris LawrenceCentre for Eels is number 19 Brad Takairangi
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Winger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Asu KepaoaWinger for Eels is number 5 Blake Ferguson
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Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Benji MarshallFive-Eighth for Eels is number 14 Will Smith
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Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Luke BrooksHalfback for Eels is number 7 Mitchell Moses
Forwards
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Prop for Wests Tigers is number 8 Zane MusgroveProp for Eels is number 10 Junior Paulo
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Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Harry GrantHooker for Eels is number 9 Reed Mahoney
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Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 Thomas MikaeleProp for Eels is number 16 Kane Evans
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2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Luke Garner2nd Row for Eels is number 12 Ryan Matterson
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2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Luciano Leilua2nd Row for Eels is number 15 Andrew Davey
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Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Alex TwalLock for Eels is number 13 Nathan Brown
Interchange
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Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Matthew EisenhuthInterchange for Eels is number 11 Shaun Lane
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Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Elijah TaylorInterchange for Eels is number 17 Oregon Kaufusi
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Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Shawn BloreInterchange for Eels is number 20 George Jennings
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Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Michael Chee KamInterchange for Eels is number 21 Daniel Alvaro
Match Officials
- Referee: Ben Cummins
- Touch Judge: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
- Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
- Senior Review Official: Steve Chiddy
Last updated:
LATEST NEDS ODDS
H2H — Wests Tigers ($4.00), Parramatta Eels ($1.25)
Line — Wests Tigers (-10.5) $2.00, Parramatta Eels (+10.5) $2.00
Odds correct as of 4:00pm, September 19. 18+ only. Gamble responsibly.
HISTORY
Head-to-Head — Played 41, Parramatta Eels 24, Wests Tigers 15, Draw 2
At Bankwest Stadium — Played 3, Parramatta Eels 3, Wests Tigers 0
Last Time They Met — Parramatta Eels 26 def. Wests Tigers 16 (Rd.11, 2020)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee — Ben Cummins
Touch Judges — Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski and Belinda Sharpe
Review Official — Steve Chiddy
