In a tight contest that was in the balance till the full-time siren sounded, Wests Tigers’ Jersey Flegg Cup outfit emerged with a gritty 18-12 victory over the Parramatta Eels.
Match: Wests Tigers v Eels
Round 17 -
home Team
Wests Tigers
away Team
Eels
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Jahream BulaFullback for Eels is number 1 Dantoray Lui
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Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 Malie-J TownsendWinger for Eels is number 2 Matthew Komolafe
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Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Livai SaukuruCentre for Eels is number 3 Lachlan Blackburn
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Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Kurt PickenCentre for Eels is number 4 Jabriel Kalache
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Winger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Joseph DelleWinger for Eels is number 5 Arthur Miller-Stephen
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Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Zane CamrouxFive-Eighth for Eels is number 6 Josh Chappell
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Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Jamie LawlerHalfback for Eels is number 7 Ethan Sanders
Forwards
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Prop for Wests Tigers is number 8 Tray LolesioProp for Eels is number 8 Taylor Mauala
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Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Michael TannousHooker for Eels is number 9 Kruz Niutili-Schmidt
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Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 Tukimihia SimpkinsProp for Eels is number 10 Larry Muagututia
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2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Brandon Tumeth2nd Row for Eels is number 11 Peter Taateo
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2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Henry O'Kane2nd Row for Eels is number 12 Ryan Jones
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Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Sione VaihuLock for Eels is number 13 Brock Parker
Interchange
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Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Brandon Webster-MansfieldInterchange for Eels is number 15 Jacob Davis
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Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Samuel KamuInterchange for Eels is number 16 David Hollis
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Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 18 Apisalome SaukuruInterchange for Eels is number 17 Nikau Wrathall
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Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 24 Jaycob AnjoulInterchange for Eels is number 18 Jack Colovatti
Reserves
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Replacement for Wests Tigers is number 15 Cayne NicholasReplacement for Eels is number 21 Saxon Pryke
Last updated:
Teenage winger Joseph Delle scored a hat-trick in the tight win that keeps Wests Tigers in the hunt for a top-four spot come finals time.
After an early right-side shift led to Delle crossing in the corner, the home side almost went back-to-back, with hooker Michael Tannous making a clean line break before ultimately losing the ball in contact with the ground.
From there, Parramatta’s Arthur Miller-Stephen scored a scrappy try in the left corner, with the ball hitting the deck before a second-phase back-line shift proved successful.
The away side got another four-pointer through a late offload when Ethan Sanders burst through a gap to cross next to the posts.
Wests Tigers’ right-side backline shifts again worked a treat when a soft Kurt Picken pass allowed Delle to score his second.
After the break, the Tigers extended their lead with a crash ball from Jaycob Anjoul putting Tuki Simpkins over next to the posts, before the Eels hit back through an acrobatic Matt Komolafe finish.
However, Joseph Delle completed his hat-trick to secure a critical victory for the home side and keep their top-four hopes alive.
Coach Scott Kenna discussed the victory post-match.
We needed that one; we’d lost two in a row when we should’ve probably won at least one of those games, so it keeps us in touch with that top four."
Scott Kenna
“Joseph Delle has really been adapting well to our work in allowing him to finish off the back of our shape and his improvement in that space showed tonight with him getting three tries.”
“I thought Brandon Tumeth was another standout, he captained the side today, and he’s got a really good football IQ for a young player.”
“He’s obviously very willing, and he’s really a leader with his actions; the boys listen to him too, and his experience in the U/19’s Origin shows he’s one to look at in the future.”
