Neds Match Preview: Round 4
Fresh from a confidence-boosting win over the Newcastle Knights, Wests Tigers will look to record back-to-back wins for the first time this year when they take on the Parramatta Eels in Round 4.
Michael Maguire's side showed plenty of grit and determination to get the better of the Knights in a milestone game for the home side — fighting back late on to get the two points — and their maiden victory of the season will certainly fill Wests Tigers with plenty of confidence heading into Monday's showdown against the Eels.
Parramatta themselves come into the contest in red hot form, having not dropped a game through their opening three matches.
Brad Arthur's men were comfortable last-start winners against the Cronulla Sharks — albeit in a game where their opponents were ravaged by injury — and are set to welcome back a number of key players for the Easter Monday game.
Wests Tigers will head into the game unchanged for the first time this season, with Alex Twal free to play despite being found guilty at the Judiciary on Tuesday night — his charge attracting only a monetary fine.
NRL Team Announcement: Round 4
Zane Musgrove and James Tamou will start up front for the hosts, who have again named three middle forwards on the bench in Thomas Mikaele, Stefano Utoikamanu and Joe Ofahengaue. Moses Mbye's inclusion as the utility offers cover in a number of positions, having played at hooker and centre in the win over Newcastle.
Having missed out on the fixture in 2020 due to the COVID-19 shutdown, the return of the Easter Monday game is certainly a huge win for Members and fans with a healthy crowd expected to fill out the former Olympic venue this week.
In the five Easter Monday games played at Stadium Australia, an average of 36,000 people have filled the ground each time, and all signs are pointing to another healthy attendance this time around.
MATCH DETAILS
Date — Monday, April 5, 2021
Time — 4:00pm AEST
Venue — Stadium Australia, Sydney
TV, RADIO AND LIVE STREAM INFORMATION
TV — Live via FOX League (Ch.502)
Radio — AM 702 ABC Grandstand, AM 873 2GB, FM 104.9 Triple M, NRL Nation
Live Stream — Foxtel Go, KAYO Sports, Watch NRL (int.), Sky Sport 4 (NZ only)
LATEST TEAM NEWS
Wests Tigers — Unchanged from their last start win over the Knights. Tommy Talau and James Roberts will line up in the centres with Moses Mbye on the bench.
Parramatta Eels — Ryan Matterson (concussion) is out, with Isaiah Papali'i to start in the back row and Keegan Hipgrave called on to the bench. Mitchell Moses has been cleared to return after failing his concussion test last week.
Match: Wests Tigers v Eels
Round 4 -
home Team
Wests Tigers
away Team
Eels
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Daine LaurieFullback for Eels is number 1 Clinton Gutherson
-
Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 David NofoalumaWinger for Eels is number 2 Maika Sivo
-
Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Tommy TalauCentre for Eels is number 3 Tom Opacic
-
Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 James RobertsCentre for Eels is number 4 Marata Niukore
-
Winger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Asu KepaoaWinger for Eels is number 5 Blake Ferguson
-
Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Adam DoueihiFive-Eighth for Eels is number 6 Dylan Brown
-
Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Luke BrooksHalfback for Eels is number 7 Mitchell Moses
Forwards
-
Prop for Wests Tigers is number 8 Zane MusgroveProp for Eels is number 8 Reagan Campbell-Gillard
-
Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Jacob LiddleHooker for Eels is number 9 Reed Mahoney
-
Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 James TamouProp for Eels is number 10 Junior Paulo
-
2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Luke Garner2nd Row for Eels is number 11 Shaun Lane
-
2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Luciano Leilua2nd Row for Eels is number 15 Isaiah Papali'i
-
Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Alex TwalLock for Eels is number 13 Nathan Brown
Interchange
-
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Moses MbyeInterchange for Eels is number 14 Oregon Kaufusi
-
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Thomas MikaeleInterchange for Eels is number 16 Will Smith
-
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Stefano UtoikamanuInterchange for Eels is number 17 Ray Stone
-
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Joe OfahengaueInterchange for Eels is number 20 Keegan Hipgrave
Match Officials
- Referee: Ashley Klein
- Touch Judge: Dave Munro
- Touch Judge: Liam Kennedy
- Senior Review Official: Alan Shortall
Last updated:
LATEST NEDS ODDS
H2H — Wests Tigers ($3.50), Parramatta ($1.30)
Line — Wests Tigers +10 ($1.90), Parramatta -10 ($1.90)
Odds correct as of 12:00p, Tuesday, 30th March. 18+ only, Gamble responsibly.
HISTORY
Head-to-Head — Played 43, Wests Tigers 15, Parramatta 25, Drawn 3
At Stadium Australia — Played 11, Wests Tigers 4, Parramatta 7
Last Time They Met — Parramatta Eels 28 def. Wests Tigers 24 (Rd.20, 2020)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee — Ashley Klein
Touch Judges — David Munro and Liam Kennedy
Review Official — Alan Shortall
