Match Preview: NRL Round 4 vs Eels
Wests Tigers head into Easter Monday’s match against Parramatta Eels in great shape following last weekend’s victory over the Sharks, while the blue & golds are also coming off a last start win.
Match: Eels v Wests Tigers
Round 4 -
home Team
Eels
7th Position
away Team
Wests Tigers
10th Position
Venue: CommBank Stadium, Sydney
No need to mess with a winning formula and Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall agrees, making just the one forced change to his bench with Asu Kepaoa replacing Alex Twal (HIA protocols).
The Eels have lost star playmaker Mitchell Moses for an extended period (foot fracture) handing an opportunity to Blaize Talagi who moves from the centres to five-eighth in just his second NRL appearance.
Interestingly, the 19-year-old will line up against his former Westfield Sports High teammate, Lachie Galvin, who is a year younger and playing just his third NRL game.
While Moses is certainly a big ‘out’ for the home side, Maika Sivo is a big ‘in’, the Fijian flier returning from suspension.
The last two Easter Monday 'eggs-travaganzas' have gone down to the wire. The Eels held on for a six-point victory last season at Accor Stadium, while Wests Tigers staged an epic one-point win in 2022.
Incredible Hastings wins it for Tigers
Wests Tigers record in recent years against the Eels is nothing to write home about, with just one victory in the past 10 meetings.
But don’t let those numbers ‘fool’ you, even though this match does fall on April 1st.
Remember, before last Saturday, Wests Tigers had only beaten the Sharks once in their past 11 meetings!
Number Crunch:
- Wests Tigers have won only one of their past five games at CommBank Stadium.
- Eels winger Maika Sivo has scored eight tries in eight games against Wests Tigers.
- Wests Tigers are chasing back-to-back wins for the first time since Rd 10 last year.
- The Eels have won nine of their past 11 games at CommBank Stadium.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services.
