Match Preview: Round 17 vs Parramatta Eels

Author: Thomas Beauchamp
Timestamp: Wed 6 Jul 2022, 08:14 PM

Wests Tigers will return to Leichhardt Oval on Saturday night to host the Parramatta Eels in a blockbuster Western Sydney derby.

This will be Parramatta’s first trip to Leichhardt since 2013 and only their fifth match at the venue since the formation of the Wests Tigers joint-venture in 2000.

Brett Kimmorley’s men will be hoping to repeat their winning performance from Round 6, when Jackson Hastings kicked a last-minute field goal to defeat the Eels on Easter Monday.

Incredible Hastings wins it for Tigers

After an impressive month of football, Justin Matamua will become the first local junior to graduate from the Wests Tigers Pathways Program and make his NRL debut since Alex Seyfarth in 2020.

Wests Tigers will welcome the return of captain James Tamou, with Seyfarth and Austin Dias dropping back to the reserves.

Adam Doueihi was among the club’s best performers in last week’s match against the Warriors and will return to the starting line-up for the first time since rupturing his ACL last season.

For Parramatta, Junior Paulo will be on representative duties for New South Wales and will miss the clash, while Clint Gutherson is set to be released from Blues camp to skipper the Eels.

Round 17 - Round 17 - Saturday 9 Jul

Full Time

Wests Tigers

Eels

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Daine Laurie

Fullback for Eels is number 1 Clinton Gutherson
Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 David Nofoaluma

Winger for Eels is number 2 Maika Sivo
Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Starford To'a

Centre for Eels is number 3 Will Penisini
Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Adam Doueihi

Centre for Eels is number 4 Waqa Blake
Winger for Wests Tigers is number 20 Junior Tupou

Winger for Eels is number 5 Bailey Simonsson
Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Luke Brooks

Five-Eighth for Eels is number 6 Dylan Brown
Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Jackson Hastings

Halfback for Eels is number 7 Mitchell Moses

Forwards

Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 Zane Musgrove

Prop for Eels is number 8 Reagan Campbell-Gillard
Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Fa'amanu Brown

Hooker for Eels is number 9 Reed Mahoney
Prop for Wests Tigers is number 17 Fonua Pole

Prop for Eels is number 10 Marata Niukore
2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Luke Garner

2nd Row for Eels is number 11 Shaun Lane
2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Kelma Tuilagi

2nd Row for Eels is number 12 Isaiah Papali'i
Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Joe Ofahengaue

Lock for Eels is number 14 Makahesi Makatoa

Interchange

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Stefano Utoikamanu

Interchange for Eels is number 15 Tom Opacic
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Justin Matamua

Interchange for Eels is number 16 Oregon Kaufusi
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Jacob Liddle

Interchange for Eels is number 17 Ky Rodwell
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 18 Austin Dias

Interchange for Eels is number 18 Nathan Brown